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In no way should the internet be taxed. We already have to pay Internet Service Providers to get on the web, and we have to pay companies to keep hackers out of our computers, etc. Indeed - if the Internet *is* taxed it had better mean that all hackers and virus spreaders are tracked down instanta and thrown in jail, and our computers fixed for free. If our tax money can't give us that protection, the government had better not charge us taxes!

The government should not be spying on people via their websites, in the same way that the FBI used to bug and harass suspected communists or annoying people such as Martin Luther King.

However, certain law enforcement agencies should be monitoring the internet. Not *individuals*, but rather organizations.

We already have police monitoring internet chatrooms in an effort to catch pedophiles. Until parents start teaching their children not to give personal information over the internet, or to meet people whom you only know over the internet, this is a good thing.

There are various websites on the internet that are run by hate groups, from American white power sites to those that encourage terrorism around the world. It is only common sense that these sites be monitored to see if anything is "brewing". Yes, one would think people would be too intelligent to publish their plans on their websites - but there are a lot of stupid people in the world who might do so.

The important thing about monitoring such websites is that it be done intelligently. That would require that our law enforcement agencies hire intelligent people, and listen to what they have to say.

Knowledge is power. Our law enforcement agencies must have as much knowledge as they can get. But, that knowledge, and that power, must be used wisely. In the *spirit* of the freedoms of the United States of America, not as it has been up until this time!

Learn more about this author, Barbara Peterson.
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