🚀 go-pugleaf

Actually I see less of a need for E-Mail than Web access, since that is
where the majority of the "information" that people could need exists.
For example, if everyone had access, there would be no reason for all
those millions of copies of the tax forms in the Post Office.  Just at
the IRS, Library and on the Web.

My approach to this was to give access free to libraries, and allow them
to have their clients use the libraries computer for access.  Not perfect,
but what in life is?

All this reminds me of the plans of putting access points in the Post
Office, a very chilling thought in my book.  Almost as good as the Post
Office selling Internet stamps for reliable e-mail (we all know how
reliable the US postal service is).

Going to be a hard sell for e-mail.  It has several real world
equivilants, isn't needed for a life-line, and has very little information
contant.  If the Postal Service isn't free, why should E-Mail be?

If you want to argue the cost/enviornment savings of Web based info and
public access terminals vs the current tree-killing mass distribution
method, then we have a basis of talking.  For me, it isn't a money issue
as much as a purpose.  For most US citizens in the Middle/Upper category,
giving money for services we do not receive is nothing new.  However, is
the purpose worth the cost.

The last killing point I see is apparent.  If E-Mail is so needed, why
doesn't more of the population who can afford it have it?

Chris 

On Wed, 29 Apr 1998, Brian Bartholomew wrote:

> I read your URL.  As Russ said, email is cheap enough that anybody who
> wants it can buy it.  Are you proposing to subsidize it down to
> "free", so you can assume everyone has it, and then the government can
> use it to communicate?
> 
> Perhaps you should back up a few steps, and justify why it's in the
> middle and upper class' interests to give money to the poor.  I would
> expect to see arguments like "if you turn the poor into peasants they
> will riot", "feudalism takes most players out of the economic game",
> etc.  Justify handouts to the poor as an investment in middle and
> upper class lifestyle.  I'm sure there's something to your position,
> just explain to me what it is.  Treat it as an exercise to teach
> idiots like me who came through the US school system.