Re: Authentication Cops and Wobbers

[Jeff Williams <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com>]

Bob and all,

Bob Allisat wrote:

> "Jeff Williams" (ironies of ironies) said...
> !!   Using digital certificates is a very valid method of authenticating
> !! individualsand should be used whenever and wherever possible.
>
> Chris commented:
> > Bingo. You heard it, direct from "Mr. Williams" himself.
> >
> > Verisign has a nice certificate procedure where you identify yourself
> > to them, show proper ID, and they issue the cert. And Jeff, you can't
> > require them to post a cash bond in order to see your ID, either.
> >
> > Perhaps not on this list, as that's after-the-fact, but I would sure like
> > to see this implemented for whatever list we eventually agree upon
> > will be used for the non-profit corporation creation discussion.
>
> Kent wrote:
> >> ........... if you look just a bit deeper, any general-admission
> >> policy body probably need to charge dues, as well -- someone has to
> >> pay to collect those signatures, and be sure that they are valid.  Or
> >> you could use digital certificates, in which case you are offloading
> >> the verification of identity to the Certificate Authority, and the
> >> cost to the user getting the cert.  You can get a membership in ISOC
> >> for $35/year, or you could pay $35/year to a "policy advisory body"...
>
>  I will not pay one cent for the franchise
>  to vote or the right to participate. Not a
>  single penny. Niether will I present any
>  credit or bank card number. That leaves
>  some form of digital or personal process
>  of verification or identification that
>  does NOT involve a financial transaction.
>  If you require money you exclude most of
>  the citizens of a world dominated largely
>  by poverty and want. Universal sufferage
>  is what it's called. All we have to do is
>  figure out a way to make it work here.

  Bob is right here.  And what Kent is suggesting is really just another
rendition of a "Club Mentality".  Some stakeholders don't want to join
Clubs.  Should that exclude them from participating in the process?
We think not.

  So again what we see here is yet another example of those among us
that want to attempt to EXCLUDE some stakeholders and members
of the Internet community by pricing them out of the process.  This
is just another scheme to swindle stakeholders into believing that they
cannot be represented unless they pony up some money to some organization
that they have little or not input into individually and do not even have the
slightest
idea what the leadership of that organization really stands for.  Now this is
really
a POOR method of providing representation and is done so under false
pretense.  It is this kind of thing that Kent Crispin and others of the MoUvment

have been attempting to force down everyone's throat for too long....  Dam
shame.

  Now, one can obtain a Digital Cert, from many different sources
free of charge.  Verisign has one that is good for 6 months I believe.
And I also think you can obtain one from Consensus www.consensus.com
for free as well.  Netscape is a Cert authority as well and offers free
Digital Certs as well.  So, Bob, you don't have an excuse not to obtain one.
Nor does anyone else.  I believe the renewal cost is something like $5.00us.

>
>
>  Bob Allisat
>  Director, World TeleVirtual Network
>  bob@wtv.net - (416) 534-1999 - http://www.wtv.net
>  Free Community Network - .FCN free TLD Registry - http://fcn.net
>
>

 Regards,

--
Jeffrey A. Williams
DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com