Re: Cheap Access to Space

On 19 Dec, 23:04, simberg.interglo...@xxxxxxxxx (Rand Simberg) wrote:
On Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:35:21 -0800 (PST), in a place far, far away,
Ian Parker <ianpark...@xxxxxxxxx> made the phosphor on my monitor glow
in such a way as to indicate that:





A market requires technology developments to be privately financed.

Nonsense.

If
they are not then there is not competition on a level playing field. I
think you are inclined to want it both ways, you want private
developments in space (code for space tourism) but you want hidden
subsidies, you do not want true transparancy.

Again, no one care what ignorant, unfounded, and stupid things that
you "think" (using the term generously).

Most reputable economists are stupid and ignorant too. All this has in
fact been thrashed out by the EU. EU rules do not allow nationalised
indusries to compete directly for precisely the reasons given.

Your nutty fantasies about what I want, or am "inclined to want" have
nothing to do with what economists think, or EU rules.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You keep showing your complete ignorance of everything. It should be
obvious to anyone that you cannot have a nationalized industry with a
large subsidy competing in the marketplace. However you seem ununually
dense.

If you are talking about fantasies - well space colonies and space
tourism really are. As I have said before what you want is space
tourism based on an industry which is both nationalized and
subsidized.

Again talking about my fantasies. I speak (and read) French and German
fluently. Seeing a translation was NOT a fantasy. Google has achieved
what it has without being nationalized and without a subsidy. To
listen to ypou one can only come to two conculsions. The first of
these is that space cannot survive in the commercial world. Progress
cannot be made without a massive subsidy. Computing and AI are doing
very well without subsidies without which space by your own admission
cannot surviive. The second is of course the fact that the US can
never win hearts and minds anywhere.

To my way of thinking there is only one justification for bucking a
market, and that is to level it for the less fortunate. Provide
Medicare and Medicade. Socialism for the rich is fascism, it is
National Socialism.

You really should seek treatment for your attention deficit problem.
Not to mention your inability to follow or complete a train of
thought.- Hide quoted text -

Well for a start you never make a point by point reply. You always
respond with general abuse, so who are you to talk.

To me Capitalism represents truth. Under a Captalist system assertions
can be tested. Under Socialism every fact is spun, that is probably
why you like it.

Let us take a few simple facts. Risk - The Suttle was safe. It made
120 flights with 2 total losses. This would hardly impress any
underwriter. Under a capitalist system underwriters at Lloyds, have to
provide capital themseves and have unlimited liability. The
traditional phrase is "the buttons on your shirt". In the 18th century
fashionable shirts had expensive buttons.

Sylvia Else has taked abut a resusable vehicle making 250 flights and
the insurance issues. To me it is absolutely clear that if there is
any question of a vehicle NOT making 500 flights the ordinary Joe
should not be riding on it. The people to decide on 500 flights should
not be NASA but Lloyds. If they are happy with their buttons. The
insurance industry is traditionally cautious and looks for an
actuarial precedent.

I would in fact go further than privatising NASA, I would also
privatise the State Department, or at any rate that part of it that
gives advice to travellers. If Condolezza Rice wants to replace Assad
with some Mullah - new tyrants for old, she should not be making
dishonest risk assessments. BTW - Typically American - apparantly
being a lesbian is more important than all the lies she has told.
Still perhaps she should be condemned for being a lesbian. After all
she is backing the people who would impose a death penalty.


- Ian Parker
.

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