Re: [ga] VeriSign fends off critics at ICANN confab and ALAC's ligitimacy

[Don Brown <donbrown_l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

See below --
Thursday, October 9, 2003, 9:47:09 PM, Jeff Williams <jwkckid1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
[SNIP}

JW> Seems for now at least Site Finder may be back and soon....

Well, "N.S.," Sherlock.  What was the first clue?

V$ writes big checks to ICANN and, I assume, takes good care of BoD
and staff. Regulators, even if ICANN is worthy of that label, have, in
our American form of Gov and Society, a way of being overly benevolent
to those they are charged to regulate. ICANN is no different, and even
worse, in my view.

The only way for this dragon to be slain, in my opinion, is for
Congress to do it and that won't happen until it becomes a political
football, which they "have to" handle.

The Registrars have done good things getting the WLS issue before
Congress, with the introduction of the most recent bill.  I have also
written to our Representatives in protest of WLS.  But, alas, I am
just a little guy running a little business.  I don't have the grease
(spelled grea$e in TX), to make an impact.  I've even written
Gephardt, who I know personally from when I lived in MO, but didn't
even receive a form letter.  It takes a lot of letters from a lot of
people to make a dent . . . .

Just like WLS, ICANN initially came out strongly opposed, but then in
spite of overwhelming opposition from almost all constituencies, their
own committee and the GA, they approved it.  Therefore, I'm not very
surprised, at all, that they are softening on this Site Finder issue
as well.

It has been said many times before: "Follow the money and the truth
will set you free."

Jeff, as a Marine Pilot, Attorney, Judge, Planner of Desert Storm,
maybe a candlestick maker - I don't know, among other things, and with
a following of a Ca-gillion (or whatever number) members, you need
to take the lead on getting the attention of the legislature. I'm
reasonably convinced that we can talk and complain about ICANN all we
want, but that it won't be productive or make any difference. It is no
different than when a little guy, a common citizen, goes into
litigation with big insurance or a big corp - it is much harder to
win, although right as rain, against the almighty dollar.

That's the fight here and until the Calvary (Legislature) takes a real
charge, those ICANN and V$ Indians are going to hang scalps in their
teepees.

That's the reality of it, as I see it and the reason you don't see me
very active on the list. Let's cut through the B.S., call it like it
really is and then do something about it.  Make it a political issue,
particularly in an election year, and we've got a chance.  Otherwise,
just resign to the reality and spend your energy somewhere else which
is more profitable to you - life is too short to fight windmills.

Thanks,



[SNIP]

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Don Brown - Dallas, Texas USA     Internet Concepts, Inc.
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