The lunacy of the Anit-Spam bill

[ProdigalJunkMail]

I was reading through the text of the Anti-Spam bill and this is yet another example of our government 'appearing' to do something...but it will have little or no real effect.

This Anti-Spam bill will do NOTHING to stop spam. Due to the structure of the Internet there is no conceivable way to stop or really even successfully track the origin points of spam. And even if you CAN track the originator, it could very easily be out of country where U.S. laws have no weight.

Why, oh why, does our government waste so much effort? I say it is to simply placate the masses into believing that there someone or something in D.C. actually getting something done...

TheProdigal

[eyesroll]

1. That's precisely the reason.

This is a politically popular bill that will have absolutely no impact on anything. Except maybe re-election.

[liberalhistorian]

2. I agree. I hate spam

especially the damn porno sites, but I really don't see how it can be significantly stopped given the structure of the Internet. People will always find ways around any restrictions.

[SpiralHawk]

3. What we need is: an International Spam Covenant

With this, the UN could finally win the hearts and minds of netizens all over the world.

Whod'a ever thunk it would come to this? International frikking Spam Covenant, indeed.

[salin]

4. Not just wasting time... but $.

Money for staff hours spent on symbolic efforts that have little impact.

But it is much easier than addressing core/fundamental issues to which there are not "popular" solutions (esp if it involves spending, or reducing deficit via increasing revenues), or those issues that to address would help voters but might not please big campaign donors. Thus do little. Do the symbolic.

I place along side this efforts in the past to pass a Constitutional Amendment regarding Flag Burning. Not an issue in the sense of a 'crisis' of flag burnings around the country, and an issue that seems to have been contained by social norms (that is - people tend to be upset by the events the events have little effect - thus they are rare). Yet a whole lot of political patriotic capital can be stoked up. However to really undertake a Constitutional Amendment is expensive in terms of government (state and federal level) resources. The newest version of this - the proposed Constitutional Amendment around the pledge of allegiance. Again a tremendously symbolic issue, but not one that is causing crises, gain political momentum on symbol and spend a whole lot of money doing something.

You are correct about the spam bill.

Funny thing, is my internet provider has a spam filter - and I don't get spam. Wow. Easy solution. Can be done with no government action and no government cost.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

5. all different sorts of solutions

The one that I have in place is a challenge response mechanism. The first time I get an email from someone, the system sends a quick email to the sender asking them to identify something on the screen. If no response is sent in a set amount of time, it is deleted and never even forwarded to my mailbox.

There are myriad solutions to this problem, yet we somehow need government to intervene in YET ANOTHER AREA WHERE IT CAN DO NO REAL GOOD! I just don't get it and it really lowers my expectation of gvoernment...oh, wait...maybe that IS the reason for passing the bill!

TheProdigal

[salin]

6. Hadn't thought of that aspect...

the depress likely voters out of voting by blatantly wasting time/money and discouraging public participation. Protects the status quo.

Now I am depressed.

See Prodigal - there are many things across the political philosophy spectrum upon which we (collectively) agree.

Btw, good to see you! :hi:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. sorry to depress...

but good to see you this morning as well!!!

:pals:

TheProdigal

[mbartko]

8. Right you are.

n/t