I think the Dies Committee might have been in operation before the Canwell bunch, Don. They were making "news" in the 1930's.

The statement by the wimpy three (AOL MSN yahoo) that no personal data is being collected is BS. Microsoft "allows" Avenue A, Double Click and Multiplex to "reside" in Internet Explorer. These three "programs" collect data about your use of the internet. I have a good spyware detection program (SpyBot, free download) which catches spyware. Every time I use Mircosoft's Internet explorer it shows me these three collectors. SpyBot also gives me a message about these programs and SpyBot is not convinced that they are benign.

I rarely use MSIN any more and use FireFox instead. My internet ramblings have been spyware free now for almost a year. My email, is still crammed with crap. My 'phone is also a conduit for unwanted contact. I'm on a national "no-call" list but it does no good. Predictive dialing has been supplemented with recorded messages so whether you are on a list or not the jerks get through. Some offer you the chance to remove your name from their calling list. In truth it doesn't stop them. I have taken to getting connected to one of their "live" operators and telling them that since the cable (or dish network installer) is "in my neighborhood" I am going out to find the installer and his truck and I am going to beat the crap out of the installer and set his truck on fire.

That doesn't do any good either.

I wont say that this attempt to spy on it's citizens is any worse than it ever was. What is different is the arrogance displayed by the president. Nixons' attempt to curtail our civil liberties has been revived. 9/11 is an excuse. GWB trots it out to beef up support for his program every chance he gets.

OBL's real terrorist act was to give the Republicans an "excuse" to restrict our freedom.

Coyote Breath