I went to Forest Lake for hydraulics parts yesterday and couldn't help 
stopping in an Office Max next door to browse the software shelves. Nothing 
Linux there. The sales help was nice and I asked if it was true what I 
learned from the TCLUG that Windows XP maintains open control of your 
computer's software. He said yes, and it was, in part, to protect us 
against the bad guys.

We've come a long way from worrying about phone taps and opening another's 
mail, to acceding to such flagrant violations of Constitutional privacy. 
Being software stupid, I'd like to know what you software experts know 
about all of this.

I've seen my kids taught to accept compromises to their Constitutional 
rights at school. I've protested with limited success. They can get 
expelled by bringing an aspirin (and with three daughters, we go through 
aspirin). But I can't believe its acceptable for M$ to rummage through your 
personal computer via the internet.

The M$ money monopoly is not new, but disregard of our Constitution is 
historic. Please inform.