> Gautam Mukunda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- Warren Ockrassa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Ahh, but the other side of that is (for instance) > > how rare asteroid > > strikes to Earth have been; it's probably not > >going to happen as long > > as our species is around. However, would you agree > > with capitalism's > > logic that it's inefficient -- therefore unwise -- > > to plan for such a > > contingency and develop technology to help us > > prevent it? > That's not the logic of capitalism. It's barely > even > the logic of some sort of cliched stereotype of > capitalism. Protecting against risks like that is > what is called a public good. Somewhere around your > second week of a first year economics class, they'll > explain that public goods are things that markets > don't provide for adequately, and this is when > governments have to step in. Gasoline is, however, > not much of a public good.
It is when driving your car is the only way to escape death. It is when critical patients stuck in generator-powered-only hospitals can't breathe. It is when food and water have to be trucked miles into a disaster zone where refugees haven't had any for days. Debbi But Then That Explains Your Take On Drug Prices Maru (Hey, just following your shining example of argumentation, ol' boy.) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
