RE: Underwater mortgages and the economy (Dan Minette)
-Original Message- From: brin-l-boun...@mccmedia.com [mailto:brin-l-boun...@mccmedia.com] On Behalf Of Doug Pensinger Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 12:25 AM To: Killer Bs (David Brin et al) Discussion Subject: Re: Underwater mortgages and the economy (Dan Minette) Keith wrote: Unfortunately I have no ideas about how to get this going, at least not in the US. I think a rule change favoring longer term investments in physical plant will be needed before anyone will consider any such ideas. It needs to be recognized as a matter of national security. I hate to say it, but I would put this type of spending in with the vast amount of money put into 5th generation computers by the Japanese, which helped trigger their lost two decades. This is not a black swan type of new technology that comes out of nowhere, where costs come down a factor of two every year or two, etc. Its old technology, long promised as just around the corner. It will be very good at providing electricity in small amounts at high prices. IMHO, the long history of these two ventures put this as a cross between the cost effectiveness of solar power and the space shuttle. Dan M. ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
RE: Underwater mortgages and the economy (Dan Minette)
On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Dan Minette danmine...@att.net wrote: snip Third, to get out of this, the US needs a positive black swan to change all the rules again. This will soak up investment capitol, with a real return on investment, because wealth will be created. Until it comes, we're treading water. I know about two positive black swans. However the first one (power satellites through cheap lift to GEO) is only being discussed in China, and the second one (StartoSolar) will probably go that way as well. It looks like StratoSolar could sell electric power at 1-2 cents per kWh and (under the current price for renewable solar power) pay back the expense of building one in as little as two years. Unfortunately I have no ideas about how to get this going, at least not in the US. I think a rule change favoring longer term investments in physical plant will be needed before anyone will consider any such ideas. Keith ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Underwater mortgages and the economy (Dan Minette)
Keith wrote: Unfortunately I have no ideas about how to get this going, at least not in the US. I think a rule change favoring longer term investments in physical plant will be needed before anyone will consider any such ideas. It needs to be recognized as a matter of national security. Unfortunately, it seems like the right wing would rather see the country go down in flames than give Obama any kind of victory. Doug Sanity and/or Fear ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
