I don't disagree with Byrne's position on Swartz's actions. But Byrne's implicit comparison of the feds to Inspector Javert -- he might have done better to pay

I don't disagree with Byrne's position on Swartz's actions. But Byrne's implicit comparison of the feds to Inspector Javert -- he might have done better to pay more attention to that facet of the case. Imagine whom the feds might have cut loose to make room for Mr. Swartz -- probably a killer or rapist. Based on incidents like these and others -- such as Tommy Chong's stretch in the poke for selling paraphenalia -- it's not hard to justify the hypothesis that the state jails hackers and paroles murderers to keep the rest of us in a state of perpetual, dependent fear.