In Reply to: IMPORTANT MESSAGE.. PLEASE READ posted by Hank on November 09, 1999 at 19:32:05:
okay i'm an idiot for allowing myself to be baited into this discussion, BUT,
that message does sound really damn suspicious to me -- personally, i'm not buying it really is the government ... but let's just say it is ...
it's really, really important to remember that the government is made up of the people -- government employees work for US, all of us. so, in my opinion, you should tell this government head the following ("you" is the government head, "i" is hank):
1. you're a government employee. you work for me and not vice versa.
2. stamping bills is not against the law, i know that.
3. defacing bills to the point of illegibility/use is not cool -- possibly not even legal. i know that, i don't encourage it, in fact i publicly discourage it.
4. if you have a problem with my web site, you need a court injunction and/or warrant to:
a) shut down my site.
b) seize my records.
at that time you will have identify yourself and not hide behind this namby-pamby sheild of anonimity since i have the legal right to face my accuser.
5. since stamping bills is not illegal, and since i'm not inciting nor enticing people into illegal behavior, you need to make a *law* before you can do number 4. above.
6. writing on a bill -even multiple times- may well be seen as a freedom of expression ... the consitution guarantees an individual's freedom of expression. if the government, or an employee of the government, tries to deny that freedom, there are serious penalties to pay -- up to, and including, financial reimbursement.
7. remember, this site is NOTHING compared to doing something like printing the "anarchist cookbook" -- which is also very legal.
8. you have friends in the a.c.l.u. that are interested in talking with him/her. {you do, trust me on this one.}
so there you have it. like i said, i too doubt the memo is real -- it smacks of the same kind of style as urban legend, but if it is, bring this person on. in fact, send them this message and my email address: wheresgeorgeATmindlessDOTcom (replace the @ and . appropriately -- it's written that way to keep the spam robots away) and i will GLADLY go toe-to-toe with them.
oh, and while i'm on my soapbox, hank, you don't have to use all-caps in your message -- it just seems shrill, lecturing, and maybe a little demeaning.
for what it's worth, i remain,
mark "the red" harlan
u.s. resident, citizen, taxpayer & nut