From the article:

"He was a 17-year-old, and the curator of the museum was close, like a father to him," said Seattle attorney Daniel Harris, who is representing Anderson.

Like a father father, your statement is false, your argument is invalid. The moon rocks were given by Nixon to the various government bodies, not licensed by NASA or distributed with a EULA. NASA's interest ended, and they are using the only tools they have available, intimidation and shame. Can someone please explain to me why it is important that we collect every spec of dust brought back with that moon mission? We have some, and if we want more moon rocks, well we know where they are, right?

I couldn't disagree more vigorously with Ms. O'Neill, it's exactly what I expect of a professional educator. Mature thought is supposed to make us challenge our current assumptions, not change them, but at least think about them.

This teacher is making people think. And on a completely different note, this is standard practice in a security audit. Think like the bad guy.

Move along, the only story here is an administrator acting stupidly and hindering someone trying to practice their profession well.

Here OP, let me make an analogy to explain why Apple is not entirely responsible, only partially, for Foxconn.

Why should we let the OP (or any other poster) abdicate responsibility for their supply chain? If OP chooses to work with a grocery store, then OP is on the hook for ensuring the grocery store is a reputable and humane supplier.

Or is it okay to let a poster like OP accrue the benefits of outsourcing (i.e. not having to have a farm or barter with farmers directly) while ignoring negative consequences (i.e. environmental damage, inhumane working conditions, etc.)?

See how silly that sounds? Now, in reality responsibility scales proportionally to percentage of gross sales you make up for your supplier. OP to his grocery is a many to one relationship, giving him little responsibility. Apple to Foxconn is a few to one relationship, giving apple more, but not total responsibility. However, when a supplier has only one customer, that customer has total responsibility.

Actually even if there was a strong criminal / intentional exclusion on the policy it probably wouldn't matter. Business insurance policies have an innocent party carveback, so the policies would defend everyone who did not commit an intentional / criminal act. So, an individual who gave an order to ignore a safety regulation in violation of a criminal statute would not be defended against civil litigation individually, his company would still have the policy defend them unless the rest of the company knew / agreed to violate the law.

If you don't like the duties of the federal government spelled out in the constitution - amend it. Don't ignore it.

Actually - you're really on point. Let's take a look at the current government.

Roads - should be privatized ($x/mile driven)

Yes - we have this. They are called toll roads - see NJ turn pike, and may tunnels and bridges. The person using it pays, great idea. Honestly, the gas tax is also a roads usage based tax (hence the discount for farm diesel)

Water supply - should be privatized ($x/gallon taken into the house)

I'm sorry - you don't pay a water utility based on consumption now? Where do you live?

Sewage treatment - should be privatized ($x/gallon taken out of the house)

Check - my sewer bill is on the same bill as water. And my parents have a well and septic tank. No fee for them, because they are "off the grid" - More common than you think.

Police - should be privatized ($x/call to 911 etc)

Actually, that's a damn good idea if you bill them after the service. Police do this now in some states with the "accident fee" - call the cops to the scene of a car accident and you get a bill for 500 dollars.

Fire department - should be privatized ($x upfront to have your fire put out, but the neighbors can chip in so their houses won't be next)

I'm sorry - you've never heard of a fire department fee? Check your homeowners policy - your insurance company pays it for you. Many areas are still "subscription" - ever given money to a volunteer fire department? Yup - that's what you're paying for.

Army - should be privatized (don't want that North Korean missile [popsci.com] landing in your backyard? I hope you have the money to pay for it)

Actually national defense is one of the few responsibilities of a federal government - check the constitution when you get pouncing on it.

Schools - should be privatized ($x/day of school, and of course for missing school, turning in homework, missing homework etc)

Correct - I went to private school and so did my parents. Their parents worked hard to put 8 kids into catholic school. My grandparents went to catholic school too, they remember tuition cards that the nun stamped every week.

Power (including lease of the lines that feed your house) - should be privatized

Um - it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Electric_Deregulation

Even before that I paid power bills to a private utility.

Street lighting - should be privatized (why not charge neighborhoods for the privilege of light?)

I see you've never gotten a bill from a homeowners association? What do you think that pays for?

Garbage collection - should be privatized ($x/lbs of garbage, extra charges if you don't sort everything perfectly)

Yup - we have to pay for that too, as I recall it's $100 every three months for the privilege of BFI to pick up my two cans. No charge for recyclables though.

Ambulance - should be privatized (got mugged, wallet and ID stolen, head smashed in? Too bad - if you don't have the cash or picture ID to show that you're covered, the EMTs won't help you)

I see you haven't taken a ride in one lately. A few weeks after, look out for a bill of about $1000.