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Comment by studentrob | Hacker News Reader

Some technologists hold an anarchist view that the government is evil and should be displaced.

There are extremists within any group. These folks do not want to bother fighting the government for rights because they think the public is too dumb and the government will win that fight. In thinking this way, they become apathetic themselves.

They're not all bad. Some of them contributed a lot to free software. But some times the ideas are toxic and hold people back from their best.

For example, many believe Snowden deserves a full pardon, and anything short of that is wrong. Well, Snowden himself has said he would return to face a fair trial. So it seems we are divided on some issues, and that can weaken our side in fighting for digital rights.

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Well, the USG considers Linux users to be extremists also. I think the phrase "One person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter" applies. There should be no moderation in freedom (outside of the absolutes of killing another or dispossessing them of their property).

My response to these types of comments is precisely - when it is demonstrated that people make laws rather than governments in collusion with corporations - then I will pay attention.

> There should be no moderation in freedom (outside of the absolutes of killing another or dispossessing them of their property).

Why the focus on property rights? Much libertarian thought is expended on equating freedom to how you/others interact with property. It hardly gives credence to other man made rights that should be equally, if not more, recognized.

When you look at the group of people it dogmatically and absolutely resolves, and who funds think-tanks promoting the ideology, it is the well-propertied.

I find it hard to believe that all other freedom can be derived from and ensured by deifying property rights.

> Well, the USG considers Linux users to be extremists also.

That's interesting, since the National Laboratories employ tens of thousands of people who not only use Linux, but use Linux at work. Perhaps you should let the FBI know about this so they can revoke their security clearances?

> My response to these types of comments is precisely - when it is demonstrated that people make laws rather than governments in collusion with corporations - then I will pay attention.

This sounds like an excuse to selectively not follow any laws you don't like. The core law surrounding warrants in the US, which is sufficient for a lot of cases (no All Writs Act or FISA needed), are in the Constitution and some very early bills. Were these also made by collusions between the government and the corporations?

I don't blame you a bit.

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