I came across a really interesting quote tonight while I was researching the balance between state laws that try to regulate the internet and congresses right to regulate interstate commerce. The quote is from 1829 - Martin Van Buren, the Governor of New York at the time, wrote to President Andrew in an effort to get him to forestall the development of a new form of transportation - the railroad:
"As you may well know, Mr. President, 'railroad' carriages are pulled at the enormous speed of 15 miles per hour by 'engines' which, in addition to endangering life and limb of passengers, roar and snort their way through the countryside, setting fire to crops, scaring the livestock, and frightening women and children. The Almighty certainly never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed."
I think it is pretty crazy to think about the railroad that way, but I can imagine that it was a big deal back then. The book (on page 332) discusses that Van Buren's thoughts about the railroad are similar to how we see the internet today, especially in the Courts. It is true that society is becoming more and more comfortable with our lives on line, but there are still a lot of questions.
I completely agree Heather. Especially with our generation. Think about how quickly technology has came up during our lives, from old crappy cell phones to text messages phones to video phones. From the internet, msn messenger to hi5 to myspace to facebook. I wonder what "railroad" our children will face and how the courts will keep up. Kinda scary. lol
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