Keep the Feds out of the Internet pie

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The recent conviction of the "Buffalo Spammer," Howard Carmack, and the seven-year prison sentence meted out to him, demonstrates the right way to keep illegal, unwanted Spam from clogging email on our computers.

Lawmakers are grandstanding by calling for new legislation to stop spam altogether, but the Buffalo spammer’s conviction came by applying the existing "old" laws, specifically those that cover fraud and identity theft.

Mr. Carmack set up over 300 false email accounts to fire off his 800 million emails. Setting up false accounts is fraud. It can be prosecuted under existing law.

My concern is that new laws, designed to protect email users, will in the long term become a burden to those who use the Internet. The Net has grown and prospered because it has been largely free of government interference and taxation. The cry from some politicians to tax email, as a way of discouraging spammers, will become a drag on that now-cherished liberty. Over a century ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the "Power to tax is the power to destroy." Taxing emails will only stifle this freedom.

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Legislation creating the "Do Not Call" telephone list is a recent example of government wisdom. That wisdom, as can only be discerned by Washington politicians, made sure that "political phone calls" were exempted from the list. In other words, we are protected from every unwanted telephone call, except those from politicians.

Email Spam filters have become more and more effective, providing an efficient free market solution to junk. Anti-fraud laws will enforce penalties on those who steal IDs and set up false accounts. So we say, Let’s keep the federal finger out of the Internet pie.

Steve Marr is the former CEO of the fourth largest import-export firm in the U.S., a company which facilitated international trade for many of the largest companies in America. Currently, Steve consults with with businesses and ministries utilizing ancient Biblical principles for success in today's marketplace. Clickhereto contact Steve, or visit his website atwww.businessproverbs.com

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