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> Politics/government is not an optional system; everyone has to take part (whether they want to or not.) Consumer technology is not enforced by police and armies, and should be free from the demands we may rightly have on our state.

In the information age, if you want to live a full life, then consumer technology is no more optional than government and politics.

This is not to say that there should be a strict separation of hardware and software. But it is an interesting idea.




It is very much more optional. Government and politics have a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.

Note that I'm not referring to consumer technology as a whole; I'm saying no specific consumer technology is forced upon you. While it's hard to avoid the idea of it, I don't have to buy an iPad if I don't like it. I do have to pay property tax.




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