At least, so say the Americans. The latest Tom Hanks film, You've Got Mail, is about an affair that starts on the Internet. There is also a study in America which blames the Net for a third of divorces there. The alleged dangers are virtual chat rooms, spending too long online and ignoring your family. But at a conference of Internet providers, most thought the dangers were being exaggerated.
Counsellors say there is increasing numbers of people blaming the Internet for their problems.
But excessive time online is seen as a symptom, not a cause of marriage breakdown. It has a lot of values and uses, but if you are spending a lot of time on it and that has got in the way of your relationship, then it may be a good idea to have a look at your relationship. It wouldn't be easy to vote against the Taxpayer Relief Act. With 535 senators and representatives vying for attention in Washington, lawmakers are increasingly finding that getting their legislation passed starts with coming up with a good name even if it sometimes is somewhat misleading. Stearns' bill would separate the Social Security Trust Fund and the general budget, a move that could change the whole concept of budget surpluses.