My concern, and it isn't a small one
is that the tyranny of corporations is fast replacing the tyranny of governments. We have forced our governments to a large degree to recognise human rights and let us be free, but we have placed very little limit on what very large, and very powerful companies can do.
When you consider that between them, Paypal, Mastercard, and Visa control 90% of international electronic payments, it is not simply the case of saying "it's their business, they can do what they like". Consider if it were a government taking a similar action and prevented a person from using cash?
We cannot pretend that these companies do not wield power, or that the consumer and these business are on a level playing field. The reality is that they hold a position in electronic commerce of a public trust or utility, and as governments have realised that public trusts and utilities need to be regulated (or more commonly government controlled/owned) for the good of society, so must businesses such as these.
These companies can make capricious, arbitrary and deeply damaging decisions to deny service and in some cases even withhold monies to anyone for any reason.
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Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Thu 9 Dec 2010, 11:44,
Reply)