🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <bmartin-1610951400050001@bmartin.utmem.edu>, bmartin@utmem1.utmem.edu (B. Martin) writes:

BM> In article <qumivlt3j11.fsf@cyclone.Stanford.EDU>, Russ Allbery
BM> <rra@cs.stanford.edu> wrote:

BM> [Much Deleted]

>> It's this "I'm a taxpayer, so I *OWN* EVERYTHING you've EVER
>> TOUCHED!" crusade that gets on my nerves.

BM> Do you realize that most state univeristy systems are subject to
BM> that state's open meetings laws?  In the states I am familiar with,
BM> the average taxpayer can attend any lecture s/he chose on a random
BM> basis.  Most just do not choose to use this right (and it is a right
BM> under most open meeting laws).  Multiple attendance is regulated
BM> because of the question of tuition.

BM> Likewise, most technical equipment on the campuses of state
BM> universities is likely required to be accessible to qualified users
BM> by similar legislation and with appropriate arrangements to prevent
BM> chaos.  Thus, a gateway operated by a state institution likely must
BM> be made accessible to all state citizens with equipment/knowledge of
BM> using that gateway.  The commercial provider is not relevant becuase
BM> the provider is not being punished by the actions.  The actionds of
BM> the administrator is more analogous to denying campus to citizens of
BM> city 1 because of other citizens of city 1 were unruly.  It simply
BM> can't be done this way at a state university.

	This is like saying that the computers of the Texas Employment
Commission, or Department of Family Services, must be made available.
This is plainly ludicrous.  These computers, like those of the
University of Texas, are for the use of a limited class of users, not
all residents of the state of Texas.

BM> Now, much of this is likely applicable to citizens of Texas in this
BM> case, but the general principles remain.  Denying access to a
BM> specific user based on previous acts by other people is essentially
BM> prior restraint and out of place for a government representative.

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