Social and Political commentary -
Off track, but it is good to see sharp minds in action.
The main reason things tend to get overly expensive is when government gets
in the way and intervenes.
One of the reasons that the Internet in the USA is so successful (and cheap
and accessible), and has spawned so many new businesses (many of which are
also losers) is because of the LACK of government involvement.
The biggest burden business and entrepreneurs face is the burden of
government (particularly taxes). The classic is the property tax - due
every year (not to mention the sales/use tax) on tooling and production
equipment. This asinine concept penalizes business for purchasing (read
invest at their own risk) plant and equipment to improve worker
productivity. Improving productivity is the ONLY way to raise the standard
of living and quality of life on an ongoing sustainable basis. [So
government taxes it to discourage it.]
The main reason for the "Clinton Economic Boom" was improved productivity as
a result of the development and manufacture of the personal computer on a
grand scale (and consequent low price caused by legitimate competition).
Remember, ONLY business creates jobs and Gross Domestic Product {Government
does not and cannot - though it can redistribute it and claim to have
created it.}
The fall of the Soviet Union proved that central planning ( and know better
how to run your life than you do) government doesn't work. Don't ever
forget what Boris Yeltsen said at the collapse of the Soviet Union.
(Paraphrased a little. "We have good news and bad news. The good news is
that we have proved that Communism doesn't work. The bad new is that we
were the people the experiment was played upon."
Now back to Airstreaming.
Oliver Filippi
P.S. If anyone would like to expand on this discussion off line, I would
consider it. Perhaps a new discussion group.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Smilie, Dal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Multiple recipients of VACList" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 11:06 AM
Subject: [VAC] Re: LED lighting. patents.
> We are really off subject on all this argument against intellectual
> property rights. If the government really had a department of
> "Conservation" would we be allowed to have and enjoy "recreational"
vehicles
> like travel trailers? Pulled by vehicles with big V8? Would anyone
invent
> anything if they had no or little further right in their invention? The
> government would decide what was meritorious to promote? Wow, I'd sure
> trust that.
>
> Just buy your stuff from those countries that bootleg and pirate the ideas
> developed by others. No real patent protection there.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Kiger [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 11:22 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of VACList
> Subject: [VAC] Re: LED lighting. patents.
>
>
> >At 09:28 AM 4/18/01 -0700, you wrote:
> >I just slapped my own wrist for going off topic, but
> >oftentimes the reason why things are so expensive
> >(i.e. LED's or pharmaceuticals) is that the company
> >that developed the technology has to recoup the US
> >patent fees, and the Research and Development costs.
>
> Sometimes, when the public interest is vital, the government uses it's
> powers to promulgate new technologies. The Genome Project is one such
> example. In that case the government literally went into competition with
> private industry to avoid scurilous patents. For example (in the 20's &
> 30's) RCA filed and lost 165 patent interference cases against the true
> inventor of TV. This set back the launch of television at least a decade.
>
> Many promising technologies die on the vine because the government does
not
> use it's substantial powers to encourage widespread awareness of the
> benefits and distribution of these products. These days Conservation is
> imperative. There ought to be a US Department of Conservation.
>
> Why should low wattage light bulbs cost more than high wattage bulbs?
> How come so many Americans go to Canada or Mexico to buy their
> prescriptions?
> Why are hardly any bicycles produced in America? (most from Taiwan)?
> Why is a mature technology like "solar" still so costly that it's a small
> market.
>
> It would take only a moderate reduction in demand to counter our energy
> shortage. I'm sure glad no one company has a patent on gas :)
>
> Every Airstream owner should be proud that they are doing their part,
> because of the basic elegance of our (full or part time) habitats. But I,
> for one, am tired of having to pay a premium just because I want to
> conserve. US Social Engineering needs improvement.
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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