Bureaucrats Nix Your Right To Privacy

The following is from Bob Parsons, founder of GoDaddy.com (domain registrations):

Today I have the unfortunate responsibility of informing you that there has been a decision made by bureaucrats of a Federal agency that takes away your right to privacy as guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

This decision was unilaterally made by the National Telecommunications and Information Association ("NTIA") -- http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ -- without hearings that would determine the impact on those affected, and delivered without notice -- in short, the NTIA decision was made without due process of any kind. This is exactly how our government is not supposed to work.

The effect of this decision is to disallow new private domain name registrations on .US domain names. In addition, if you already own a private .US domain name registration, you will be forced to forfeit your privacy no later than January 26, 2006. By that time, you will need to choose between either making your personal information available to anyone who wants to see it, or giving up your right to that domain name.

I personally find it ironic that our right to .US privacy was stripped away, without due process, by a federal government agency -- an agency that should be looking out for our individual rights. For the NTIA to choose the .US extension is the ultimate slap in your face. .US is the only domain name that is specifically intended for Americans (and also those who have a physical presence in our great country). So think about this for a moment. These bureaucrats stripped away the privacy that you're entitled to as an American, on the only domain name that says that you are an American. I am outraged by this -- you should be also.

If, like me, you are outraged at the NTIA's decision to strip away our constitutional right to privacy, the Web site http://www.TheDangerOfNoPrivacy.com will provide you with a petition to sign. (Only your name will be published, your address and email information will be kept private.) This Web site also provides a very easy way for you to send either a fax or an email, expressing your outrage, to your Congressperson and Senators. This is all provided at no cost to you. All that is required is for you to take the time to visit http://www.TheDangerOfNoPrivacy.com sign the petition, and send the fax or email to your legislators.

On my personal Blog -- http://www.BobParsons.com -- there are a number of articles where you can learn more about the NTIA's unfortunate decision and what you can do to help get it reversed.

I also will be talking about our right to privacy on Radio Go Daddy, our weekly radio show that debuts today, March 30, at 7 PM PST. To find out how to listen in, please visit the Web site dedicated to the show, http://www.RadioGoDaddy.com

You can be sure that I, and everyone at GoDaddy.com, will do everything in our power to get the NTIA decision reversed. However, we need your help. Please visit http://www.TheDangerOfNoPrivacy.com to sign the petition and express your feelings to your Congressperson and Senators.

Sincerely,

Bob Parsons
President and Founder
GoDaddy.com

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Self Marketing Alert!

Not to self-market or anything, but I've totally re-vamped and organized the CivilDisobedience.us Web Store! All t-shirts are now $17.76 with tons of great, original designs to choose from. Like my infamous "Please Spay & Neuter Your Politicians" shirts!

So go check it out! http://www.cafepress.com/phenrycd_us

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Uncle Sam wants to tax your Ebay sales

So I'm reading today's Capitol Hill Blue and come across this article titled Uncle Sam wants to tax your Ebay sales.

Interesting, since I happen to sell on various online auction sites and run one of the larger online newsletters about the subject... So I read on.

"In tax law, there is no clear, bright line that separates fun from profit, or a hobby from a business. But IRS instructions make it clear that all income - a category that includes bribes, gambling winnings, kickbacks and money made in illegal activities - can be taxed."

I found this particularly interesting. Ever wonder if those politicians that take bribes from lobbyists and PACs report those bribes to the IRS? Hmmm...

""When the person that you owe the money to can throw you in jail, it's always a good idea to get professional advice," he said."

That line was the real kicker for this article. I was prepared to ignore it as just another "Tax Day Angle" from the news until I saw that line... That quote is from Bob Miller, who lives in Northern Utah here. Methinks Bob is on to something.

""When the person that you owe the money to can throw you in jail, it's always a good idea to get professional advice," he said."

That really spells out our American income tax system and how theIRS operates. Debtor's prisons are illegal in the USA...sort of. We do put people who don't pay their taxes in prison... Interesting since taxes are technically a civil matter and are considered a "debt" when you receive your "pay us now or face the consequences" letters from theIRS.

""When the person that you owe the money to can throw you in jail, it's always a good idea to get professional advice," he said."

I think he should have said: When the person that you owe the money to can throw you in jail, it's always a good idea to pay up.

That's a pretty good wrapup of the whole Internal Revenue system... Couldn't have said it better myself...

When the person that you owe the money to can throw you in jail, it's always a good idea to pay up.

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