[sllug-members]: HB 139: Hitler's opinion.

[Mike F.]

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Michael Heath wrote:
> When did "because Hitler said it" become the gold standard on if
> something was wrong or not?
I admit, I was grandstanding with the Hitler references, and yes,
Godwin's Law fits.

Just to clarify, Hitler wrote nothing about the internet.  The example
*IS* relevant because truly awful things can be proposed for the good
of the people, and especially for the good of the children.  Eugenics,
segregation, prohibition, and book banning have all been justified
this way.

I believe that HB 139 is as misguided as any of these causes.
>
> Autobahn,highway system Volkswagen.
Of course good things came out of Germany, even during the 3rd Reich.
Good things came out of Soviet Russia, Communist China, and even Mike
Leavitt's Utah (whoah!)
> evil because Hitler said something vaguely
> similar in a different context 70 years ago".
I think justifying HB 139 "to protect the children" is *exactly* the
kind of political switch-up that Hitler was talking about. Justify bad
policy with "protection for our children." Anyone who argues against
you must not care about their kids. Unlike Hitler, Senator Daw
probably has honourable  intentions; this does not change the fact
that the result will harm business, technology infrastructure, and
open both the company and the Consumer Protection Division to lawsuits
from the same parents who failed to protect their own children and are
looking for a scapegoat with deep pockets.

Besides the older examples in paragraph 1, a slew of new, misguided
policies includes: the Adam Walsh law, Megan's Law, Patriot Act,
Freedom Act, No Child Left Behind, and the Supreme Court's recent
interpretation of Imminent Domain (to name a few.)

Of course we want to find and thwart terrorists. Of course we want to
protect children. Of course we want good schools, and economic growth.
Fear of perverts, porn, and poor schools does not justify expensive,
draconian, punitive mandates. Fear of terrorists does not justify the
government listening in on every call, email, and all the back doors
in Windoze Vista.

If Hitler quotes are too offensive or too outlandish, perhaps Ben
Franklin's will suffice.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."  -- Ben
Franklin (Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, Tue, Nov 11, 1755)

Mike F.
> On Jan 26, 2008 9:21 AM, u235sentinel <u235sentinel at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> But Hitler and his writings concern me especially since I see it
>> frequently in American society.  It freaks me out that our Government
>> has lost it's mind.  And now they IMO seek to weaken our country (yeah,
>> I've been called a conspiracy theorist but how else can it be
explained??).
>>
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