[9242] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Nation: Highway Robbers (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Russell Nelson)
Fri Dec 24 22:32:30 1993
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1993 21:52:26 EST
From: "Russell Nelson" <nelson@crynwr.com>
To: "Arthur R. McGee" <amcgee@netcom.com>
Cc: com-priv@psi.com, misc-activism-progressive@uunet.uu.net
Sigh. The problem with forwarding things like this is that you end
up with several disparate discussions.
On Thu, 23 Dec 1993 21:59:56 -0800 (PST), "Arthur R. McGee" <amcgee@netcom.com> wrote:
> /* Written 12:17 pm Dec 14, 1993 by nation in igc:nation.online */
> /* ---------- "Highway Robbers" ---------- */
> ... Market forces alone will not ensure that societal goals
> are met."
If the market approaches the size of the society, then societal goals
ARE being met, provided, of course, that people spend their money in
accordance with their values.
> A privately built electronic network "geared to mass entertainment
> and maximum profit" may be far different from what is needed for
> public use.
But if the public is not using this [an] electronic network, and if
they actually *want* something other than mass entertainment, then a
market segment is being ignored.
My advice to people who think that someone else is making too much
profit is "It's a free market -- go undercut them. If you can, they
were making too much money. If you can't, they weren't."
--
-russ <nelson@crynwr.com> ftp.msen.com:pub/vendor/crynwr/crynwr.wav
Crynwr Software | Crynwr Software sells packet driver support.
11 Grant St. | 315-268-1925 (-9201 FAX) | Quakers do it in the light
Potsdam, NY 13676 | LPF member - ask me about the harm software patents do.
