If you live near a college/university, one possible solution would be to see if you can get something called a "Community Borrower's Permit." The university where I live provides this service for all of their libraries except for the law library.

enough said

One thing to consider is that nothing is as good at exposing the arbitrary and superficial nature of the borders between nations than a network of people communicating freely across the globe. What I'm getting at is that, yes, for me in 'States I probably don't need to worry about the powers that be knowing about my rather quotidian usage of the Net. However, it's not entirely unlikely for me to be in communication with someone in a nation that isn't so free, and can't feel safe communicating with me by any other means.

"almost all "good" citizens would not be against"

I share your fear. Here's what I think the key is: tie this type of tech up with something that almost all "good" citizens would be against from the start. Ie debut this as a vehicle for freedom of information in oppressive, countries. I think we have enough people in the US who believe that there is some sort of Axis of Evil out there that needs to be defeated by Freedom. Iran would be ideal, China would probably work. We need to give John Q Public a good first impression. Maybe an author writing a nice novel would be helpful too.

I think you are probably right and this type of thing will be attempted. However, in that situation, I would think that one could argue they had no knowledge that that's what they were partaking in. After all, that's the design of the system, right? Hell, if I help out a guy with a flat tire who happens to proceed to rape a child, am I guilty of aiding a pedophile? No, because there are plenty of legit reasons why a guy would be driving around in a car. Just as there are plenty of legit reasons why someone would want to surf entirely anonymously.

IANAS(cientist), but couldn't the demand for oxygen-producing crops that go into beer creation offset the co2 produced by beer fermentation?

It seems like the news these days is filled with reports of various countries implementing legislation that limits the Freedom of Internet users. One can only guess that as we speak, demand for a sort of darknet is growing. It's like prohibition in the 'States and the war on drugs. These countries are creating a necessity. Such is evolution...that which was once a solution becomes something from which to differentiate.

Actually ancient Indian spiritual literature is filled with accounts of various spiritual leaders debating each other. Often times, if one lost the debate they'd have to study under their victor. It was during this era that one of the world's great international universities, Nalanda, was created. Later it was burned to the ground by invading Muslims.

Hooray for new jobs!

You're right. It's the present. I'm very entertained by this.

To quote Abe Lincoln: "If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four hours sharpening the axe"