Government Intervention Of The Internet Essays (2723 words)

Government Intervention Of The Internet Government Intervention Of The Internet During the past decade, our society has become based solely on the ability to move large amounts of information across large distances quickly. Computerization has influenced everyone's life. The natural evolution of computers and this need for ultra-fast communications has caused a global network of interconnected computers to develop. This global net allows a person to send E-mail across the world in mere fractions of a second, and enables even the common person to access information world-wide. With advances such as software that allows users with a sound card to use the Internet as a carrier for long distance voice calls and video conferencing, this network is key to the future of the knowledge society. At present, this net is the epitome of the first amendment: free speech. It is a place where people can speak their mind without being reprimanded for what they say, or how they choose to say it. The key to the world-wide success of the Internet is its protection of free speech, not only in America, but in other countries where free speech is not protected by a constitution. To be found on the Internet is a huge collection of obscene graphics, Anarchists' cookbooks and countless other things that offend some people. With over 30 million Internet users in the U.S. alone (only 3 million of which surf the net from home), everything is bound to offend someone. The newest wave of laws floating through law making bodies around the world threatens to stifle this area of spontaneity. Recently, Congress has been considering passing laws that will make it a crime punishable by jail to send "vulgar" language over the net, and to export encryption software. No matter how small, any attempt at government intervention in the Internet will stifle the greatest communication innovation of this century. The government wants to maintain control over this new form of communication, and they are trying to use the protection of children as a smoke screen to pass laws that will allow them to regulate and censor the Internet, while banning techniques that could eliminate the need for regulation. Censorship of the Internet threatens to destroy its freelance atmosphere, while wide spread encryption could help prevent the need for government intervention. The current body of laws existing today in America does not apply well to the Internet. Is the Internet like a bookstore, where servers cannot be expected to review every title? Is it like a phone company who must ignore what it carries because of privacy? Is it like a broadcasting medium, where the government monitors what is broadcast? The trouble is that the Internet can be all or none of these things depending on how it's used. The Internet cannot be viewed as one type of transfer medium under current broadcast definitions. The Internet differs from broadcasting media in that one cannot just happen upon a vulgar site without first entering a complicated address, or following a link from another source. "The Internet is much more like going into a book store and choosing to look at adult magazines." (Miller 75). Jim Exon, a democratic senator from Nebraska, wants to pass a decency bill regulating the Internet. If the bill passes, certain commercial servers that post pictures of unclad beings, like those run by Penthouse or Playboy, would of course be shut down immediately or risk prosecution. The same goes for any amateur web site that features nudity, sex talk, or rough language. Posting any dirty words in a Usenet discussion group, which occurs routinely, could make one liable for a $50,000 fine and six months in jail. Even worse, if a magazine that commonly runs some of those nasty words in its pages, The New Yorker for instance, decided to post its contents on-line, its leaders would be held responsible for a $100,000 fine and two years in jail. Why does it suddenly become illegal to post something that has been legal for years in print? Exon's bill apparently would also "criminalize private mail," ... "I can call my brother on the phone and say anything--but if I say it on the Internet, it's illegal" (Levy 53). Congress, in their pursuit of regulations, seems to have overlooked the fact that the majority of the adult material on the Internet comes from overseas. Although many U.S. government sources helped fund Arpanet, the predecessor to the Internet, they no longer control it. Many of the new Internet technologies, including the World Wide Web, have come from overseas. There is no clear boundary between information held in the U.S. and information stored in other countries. Data held in foreign computers is just as accessible as data in America, all it takes is the click of a mouse to access. Even if our government tried to regulate the Internet, we have no control over what is posted in other countries, and we

The Guillotine

The Guillotine The Guillotine Doctor Joseph Ignace Guillotin was a man with the right idea during the French Revolution. He lived in a time and place when you never knew when death was coming. Death seemed to be all over the place. Most of the time, in result of how strict their rules were, death came at the hands of an executioner.During the French Revolution there were quite a few ways of dealing with the guilty. One of them was the act of hanging, most of the time from lampposts on the street. Another means of punishment was to be burned at the stake, which was how Joan of Arc was abruptly killed. Quartering was yet another way to end someone's life for not following their rules. The quartering method involved an excruciatingly painful death by tying the guilty person's ankles and wrists to four horses and spooking them to run in opposite directions, tearing the accused into 5 different pieces.The execution of Robespierre and his supporters on...This was also done while they were still very aliv e. Yet another way was putting the accused on the rack. This was a very slow and painful way to die. The executioner would use multiple tools of pain to slowly kill the accused. They also used death by drowning, where the unfortunate person was held underwater for long periods of time until they took that last gasp for air and filled their lungs with water instead. After seeing all of this, you can probably say that the judicial system of France wasn't a very kind, and caring system of punishment during this time.The most used way to execute someone was death by decapitation. But during this time frame, this type of execution was very sloppy and inconsistent. Most of the time, the executioner's ax missed the very unfortunate...

Health communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Health communication - Essay Example sment and intimidation are common when a person is in a new environment, and for that reason, it is essential to use open-ended questions that encourage a person to talk freely (Duggan, 2006). I am not aware of a good policy/procedure to improve interpersonal communication skills specifically. Health literacy is the ability to access health information about diagnoses, treatment, and medication, and use it appropriately and in an informed manner (Duggan, 2006). It is advisable for patients to have sufficient information about the management of their disease. To ensure a patient understands health literacy, it is essential to improve communication skills and create an environment in which one can understand such concepts. Wendy Johnson presents an interesting insight into the argument. The point about understanding other cultures is vital because of the racial and ethnic differences inherent in the society. It is only through passable communication that a patient can gain health literacy and be actively involved in the treatment process. I agree with Shaylee Read’s post, especially about communication skills. At times, it is essential to have an interpreter to ensure a smooth flow of the communication process and to guarantee that the physician understands the exact problems and requirements of the patient. Even so, in case there are no interpreters, a physician must exercise patience, appreciate, and respect all