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July 26, 2007 12:28 PM PDT

Poll: Is Congress clueless?

Posted by CNET News staff

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News.com Poll

Judging from recent events in Washington concerning peer-to-peer file-sharing software and allegations that it threatens national security, there's some doubt about Congressional competency in creating sound policy governing a technology they may not thoroughly understand. Following up on the scads of readers who responded to recent coverage of Senators seeming to blame security problems on P2P sites, CNET News.com editors decided it was time to get down to business and clarify the issue at hand, in case it wasn't plain enough: Is Congress really clueless about the relationship between P2P and national security?

Topics:: Security,; Media,; Politics

Tags:: Congress,; clueless,; P2P,; national security

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 19 comments

Ok, honestly, who said 'no'?

by zizzybaloobah July 26, 2007 1:12 PM PDT

I'd like to hear the justification, lol.

Reply to this comment

RE: Poll: Is Congress clueless?
by GoogleFreak July 26, 2007 1:34 PM PDT: "Ok, honestly, who said 'no'? - zizzybaloobah"

That's exactly what I was thinking. lol; View reply
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Re:Ok, honestly, who said 'no'?
by KiraiAnca July 26, 2007 3:19 PM PDT: *raises hand* I refuse to believe a group of people is THAT clueless.; View reply
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Actually, the case can be made that
by ordaj July 26, 2007 1:36 PM PDT: ...they're not clueless, just working at the behest of Hollywood (MPAA, RIAA, etc). They know exactly what they are doing. A direct attack wouldn't work. But even this oblique one is dubious.; Reply to this comment

Clueless????
by rjpotts July 26, 2007 2:12 PM PDT: This is just the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to technology it might as well be the year 1776.; Reply to this comment

This poll is clueless too.

by smilin:) July 26, 2007 2:22 PM PDT

Regarless of how clueless congress is this is a stupid poll. A single yes/no answer to a biased question asked of a biased population is supposed to have meaning? Congress may be in bad shape but it's better than the pollster running the country.

Reply to this comment

Right - that's why I answered NO
by shoffmueller July 26, 2007 3:03 PM PDT: That's about the most unscientific of polling methods. On that type of thing, I automatically vote against the intent of the pollster.; View reply
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Thank you for playing
by shurre July 26, 2007 4:49 PM PDT: Hi All, and thanks for reading. The poll's meant to be provocative and possibly even fun, as you might have guessed by our informal language. You're right--this isn't "scientific" polling--this is meant to spark discussion about a current issue of interest to people in the technology field. Enjoy the conversation!; View all 2 replies
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RE:Poll: Is Congress clueless?
by unknown unknown July 26, 2007 3:11 PM PDT: If they're aren't, they're certainly doing a good job hiding it. I would think the solution to sensitive material on P2P networks is that sensitive material and P2P software shouldn't exist on the same system.

It looked like at least two of the committee members where there to act as mouth peaces for the content industry.; Reply to this comment

Clueless, no. Corrupt, and Criminal, yes.
by R. U. Sirius July 26, 2007 3:29 PM PDT: One thing none of these "politicians" care about, from Bush to Waxman, is something called the Constitution. To them it's a troublesome "piece of paper." But these jokers got where they are because they and their corporate cronies could control the message in the old media. So to them, and their buddies in the MPAA/RIAA, it's all about losing control. In short, they don't like democracy. So they use their old fear tactics to try to get laws passed that will take these tools away from us.; Reply to this comment

NO...Congress IS NOT "clueless"...

by Had_to_be_said July 26, 2007 5:38 PM PDT

...They know EXACTLY what they are doing... and it ABSOLUTELY-STINKS.

However, "The American People" ARE "clueless"... if they continue to let "OUR Government" continue to get away with ALL of these CRIMINALLY-CORRUPT, entirely UN-AMERICAN, obscenities.

This has got to stop.

Reply to this comment

Good point
by ÆL July 26, 2007 11:01 PM PDT: Guess they should have defined clueless

I don't have a clue(but really I do)
by ÆL July 26, 2007 11:00 PM PDT: I think that more research is needed in order to fully understand the P2P problems and how it doesn't have a detriment to society.

Take that Mr. senator!; Reply to this comment

Yes, but no more so than Cnet's own staff
by Geistbear July 29, 2007 12:07 AM PDT: Why do I say this? On Buzz Out Loud Friday Tom and Molly didn't know if Waxman was a Representative or a Senator. Since Waxman is from Cali and they are if they knew their own Senators, the answer was easy. So much for their tech policy experts. No offense to Tom and Molly but frankly it's the same level of clueless as that issue is.; Reply to this comment

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