Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET) [LWN.net]

Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET)

Posted Jul 25, 2013 5:12 UTC (Thu) by k8to (guest, #15413)
In reply to: Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET) by kragil
Parent article: Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET)

I think the real issues are:

* Legislative capture
* Disproportional 'military' spending

Should we approve of half our budget being 'defense' but be offended that a small fraction of that is on spooks? That seems .. a very small part of the issue to me.

The issue of legislative capture means effectively the will of the populace is neutered.

to post comments

Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET)

Posted Jul 25, 2013 22:04 UTC (Thu) by dlang (guest, #313) [Link] (4 responses)

If you think that half our budget is spent of defense, you haven't looked at the actual numbers. It's a staggering 20% of the budget.

Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET)

Posted Jul 26, 2013 4:15 UTC (Fri) by shmget (guest, #58347) [Link]

"It's a staggering 20% of the budget"

that is because retirement and healthcare is counted in the operational budget of the federal government and not in a separate accounting structure, like they are treated in some other countries...
that dilute the discretionary spending and make the 50% become 20%

in the mean time we are up to $4,000 per capita/year for military-related spending... (I find it hard, at that level, to call them 'defense' spending)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PerCapitaInflationAdjus...

Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET)

Posted Jul 26, 2013 4:38 UTC (Fri) by k8to (guest, #15413) [Link] (2 responses)

As shmget states, it's half the decidable funding.

Debt servicing is the largest chunk, in absolute terms.

Even then, 20% would be pretty staggering.

Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET)

Posted Jul 26, 2013 5:11 UTC (Fri) by dlang (guest, #313) [Link] (1 responses)

"decidable" is such a flexible term, it allows you to define things any way you want so you get the result you want

Feds put heat on Web firms for master encryption keys (CNET)

Posted Jul 26, 2013 7:37 UTC (Fri) by k8to (guest, #15413) [Link]

Don't lower yourself to making such implied accusations.

That way of slicing the federal budget is the norm.