Slashdot Mirror
Michigan's Proposed Spam Law Called Toughest In U.S.
goats_in_boats writes "A new bill (PDF
or HTML)
was presented to the Governor
of Michigan that would require spam sent to residents of the State to be identified
as such. Highlights include the requirement that unsolicited email 'Include in
the e-mail subject line "ADV:" as the first 4 characters' and that 'a person who
violates this act is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not
more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.' An article
in the Detroit Free Press calls the bill 'the most stringent anti-spam law in
the nation.'"
There is no freedom to not be harmed by the negligence of others. There is the freedom to sue them or the executor of their estate for damages. There is also no such thing as a law that supports/fosters/preserves individual freedoms. Any time a law is passed, we collectively lose a little bit of freedom [note: the First Amendment is not a law, it is a restraint on the laws the government can make]. If I want to endanger myself I should have that right.
But, most importantly, it is irresponsible to pass laws that keep genes in the gene pool that would otherwise be removed therefrom. Seatbelt laws and helmet laws for motorcycles/bikes are just two prime examples of laws that work against natural selection and cause the devolution of our species. I have always argued that such laws are against public policy, but the easiest way for a politician to get votes is to pass a law that shows he "cares" about the safety of his constituents. Individual freedoms and the sanctity of the gene pool go right out the window when re-election comes into the picture.
Stupid people make stupid things profitable.
Fun. Let's see how they screw this up. Our roads suck ass, our schools are bankrupt, with the state close behind, but at least I won't get junk e-mail.
Honestly, when intellegent sounding ideas come out of the michigan legislature, it usually means a lawmaker has shoved his/her head so far up their own ass they've begun to see daylight.
There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
No, but in good free-market fashion the expense of solicitation will keep the kiddies away. Then again, if little johhny (pun intended) cuts all the lawns on the block once a week so he can get his groove on, well there is another good lesson of the free market.
between the greater and lesser infinities sleep the dreams undreamt