Subject: RE: IETF *is* computer crime.

From: Bob Allisat <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 07:14:50 -0400 (EDT)

Mark Paton writes:
> The IETF does a great job and does'nt deserve or
> warrent this attack.  The people who deserve it
> are the politicians who are trying to implement
> "laws" on the use of the InterNet, have a go at
> them and leave this group alone.

 Hate to belabour a point that is probably 
 hopeless but .... those politicians include
 the blessed leaders of the blessed IETF. Who,
 through ICANN, ISOC, IAB, support of the ITU 
 & the WTO and so on advocate a "law" of their
 own. With no oversight or real popular democratic
 checks, balances or controls. That only seems
 to increase centralization, inhibit  innovation
 and enhance the power and influence *not* of
 citizens but of corporate power-holders and
 executives. Which they just happen to be.

 For example the horrendous manner in which
 competition and participation by individuals 
 and small businesses in the creation of New
 Domain Names was suffocated. Anyone remember
 what happened to Alternic? And that was thanks
 to core IETF insiders and friends. Another
 example is the manner in which IP addresses
 are being artificially restricted and marketed.
 I mean there is no shortage of numbers is there?
 The last example is the increasingly complex
 and rarified atmosphere in which standards and
 protocols are being mortified. By the same
 people who stand the most to gain fom any
 development: industry insiders. All in the
 interests of a very few fellow citizens.

 But all that doesn't matter, does it. As long
 as the network works no-one (meaning anyone
 making money hand over fist from all this)
 complains. The hugely inflated paper profits
 keep rolling in for all those stock option
 holders who make up the IETF, ICANN, IAB and 
 so on and so forth. Problem? Not for these
 folks. For the rest of us, maybe. Not for the
 bloody IETF, oh no.

 Bob Allisat