Quoting Case <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > [Platt] > Electromagnetic spectrum? Like a highway? Seems to me you left out a couple > of steps between the former and the latter... > > [Case] > The electromagnetic spectrum is carved up in to frequency ranges called > channels which are licensed to private concerns to be operated in the public > interest. When licenses are issue to private interests who use them to > generate profit that revenue is taxed.
Radio was invented by "private interests," not government bureaucrats. And without those and other "private interests" investing their time and effort, the spectrum would be worthless. As for "the public interest," when you hear that phrase being used to justify another government program, run for your life. Every dictator that ever lived came to power appealing to "the public interest." > [Platt] > ...the first step being the creation of wealth so it can be taxed to build a > highway. (Don't think you'll gain much revenue from taxing > electromagnetism.) > > [Case] > There is no requirement that wealth must be created privately. How else can it be created? Slavery? > As I say > there is a great deal of wealth that we hold in common. You can't "hold" what hasn't first be created. > One could also make > a very good case that much private wealth is merely private interests > seizing and co-opting knowledge that was generated at public expense. I have > cited the pharmaceutical industry before. But satellite communications, the > internet, medical and computer technologies and a host of others were > developed at public expense and then exploited in the private sector. You cannot spend "public money" without it first having been confiscated from private wealth. What you "exploitation" is simple justice. > [Platt] > Demean the value of public service? I guess you missed my positive comments > about the police and military. > > [Case] > This is one of the most disingenuous proclamations it has ever been my sorry > lot to endure. Ignoring for a moment your tacit admission to ongoing insults > to teachers, judges, sanitation workers, postal employees, social workers, > elected representatives and public administrators; at least half of your > references to the police and military revolve around how they are forcing > you to do things at gun point and about to ship you off to a Gulag. The activities of the police and military stem from the essential nature of government as legalized force which can be used for good or ill. It's been my sorry lot to endure your inability to make such distinctions. As for insulting government workers, far from it. They are the smart ones. If I had my life to live over, I would seek government employment. Then I could say that I devoted my life to "public service" and retire with a many more benefits than I have now. ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ moq_discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
