Re: This should not be a free for all
"You don't need to control the CAs for that, you just need to control the ISPs. What would be more efficient in controlling snail mail use? Controlling the issuing of stamps, or controlling the postal delivery?"
Most ISPs are outside sovereign control, and unlike the post, a lot of the Internet traffic these days is black-boxed, preventing casual inspections like back in the old days (things like the Chinese Cannon). CA control provides the means for them to get back inside the boxes.
"Definitely the ancient ones!"
And last I checked, practically all of them were autocratic. Hierarchical structures seem to be the most natural for us if history is any indication, good or ill.