- I don’t usually go around wondering, “What would Ayn Rand think …?” But that notion stayed with me the whole time I was reading this odd property-rights story. Wonder what Ayn Rand would’ve thought of this guy — “the buzzard of the backcountry”?
- Paul Rosenberg continues his series on basic computer privacy with “What is PGP and why you need to know.” It’s too bad so many people find email encryption so daunting. With the feds seeking backdoors for all encryption that’s done by third-party providers, having our own encryption could become even more crucial in the not-too-distant future.
- Don’t you wonder, when you see articles like this one, why nobody ever demands that the government stop making false claims? I mean, which is a bigger deal — lying about Listerine or lying about … oh, everything.
- Yeah. Precisely.
- The “silent power grabs” of China. Didn’t that used to be called “diplomacy”? And might it not be a good idea?
- Well, that’s a relief. World War ONE is officially over. And paid for.
- Per Wendy McElroy, a cartoon that’s too true to be funny.
A more subtle message in “the buzzard of the backcountry” article is that the govt does NOT own land within its borders, it has to buy and sell it like everyone else. Just because it CLAIMS title does not entitle it to ownership. Likewise we are not “citizens” of the U.S. (or any geographical area), but individuals with our own rights apart from what the govt lays claim to us.
The problem with PGP and email encryption isn’t that it’s hard, really. It’s the fact that it takes two to tango. I had email encryption 10 years ago, but couldn’t find hardly anyone that was even the slightest bit interested in implementing it on their own side.
People will — unfortunately — generally go the path of least resistance. How many Internet users out there almost exclusively communicate over Facebook now? ALL of those emails are stored, analyzed, and collated for maximum revenue possibility, but probably no more than 1-2% of their users could care less. And email WITHOUT encryption is a million times more secure than Facebook email.
Aside from all the other despicable parts of the land issues, bottom line is that building on such beautiful and natural places is just completely wrong……
I looked at PGP some time ago and put it off After reading the post I decided to get motivated and do it.
So this morning I got on and started to read and found that the language alone is daunting unless one is a tech geek.
Unless I can find a friend (whom I would trust) to help install this there is no way I will try it on my own.
Three cheers for Thomas Chapman!
The FedGov has no business owning land. Other than DC, the only reason the Feds should own land is “and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;”
The States should start levying real estate taxes on all Federal lands, (I can’t find anywhere in the Constitution that makes the Feds exempt), except on “Forts, Magazines, etc.” Eventually the land would be turned over to the States, or sold to the people, generating more jobs and income, which seem to be badly needed these days.