I disagree because the way things were going bitcoins would be outlawed in months within the US. The ignorance of the two senators blows my mind. And how they act on that ignorance without even taking the time to look into bitcoins shows you how sad our government and our representatives have become. The only way to keep bitcoins alive is to have some transparency with the government only to the extent as to keep drug dealers and money launderers away from bitcoins. If we cannot seperate ourselves from illegal activity bitcoin as a whole will fall.
I do understand though that it can be a shady area cooperating with the federal government. If they do just enough to help seperate criminals from upstanding citizens it will be fine in my eyes. But if they go as far as letting the government in as any kind of a regulatory role then it will ruin the whole purpose of bitcoins. But thankfully as of now MtGox seems to only want to help fight crime when asked not open the doors. A quote from that article:
" Quote from: Bind on June 15, 2011, 10:37:36 pm
I think ONLY under legal and required circumstances (court orders), all bitcoin business should cooperate with the law. Not to appease an outraged and out of control legislator, general public, or governments, and certainly not make bitcoins appear more legitimate.
That is we intend to do.
I do not want however to see US politicians go all over the place claiming incorrect things about Bitcoin, just because they are ignorant. They will cause global misinformation as whatever they say is echoed broadly.
We will comply to court orders valid under our jurisdiction after our lawyers confirm there is no other recourse available.