As for the first part. There are abuses and the bigger you are the more you are able to abuse things. The answer is not to allow (theft) sin but to make patents and copyrights smaller and more manageable.
As for Bach, he had control of his scores. Anyone who stole them had to deal with the church. But that control is one of the reasons that the scores were almost lost to the world until Mendelssohn found them in a trunk. The same with Ralph Kirkpatrick and the works of Domenico Scarlatti. Also, anyone in the art world who claimed someone else's work would have been blackballed by the artistic community and never trusted or hired again. The whole issue is whether you believe in a transient stereotypical "Gypsy-like" aesthetic, I don't believe you do, or the concept of private civil property which is the basis of the marketplace. I see no reason for private property at all given your comments about Intellectual private property. One could make just as good a case for rent of all property if it lasts longer than the life of the user. In our societies if you give your property away before you die you maintain control over where it goes but if you die it goes back to the common to be distributed to whomever. I don't think you would advocate such a system but maybe I'm wrong. But if you don't why do so in relation to intellectual inventions? Personally I'm comfortable with our old way but this European way is the norm so I live within it. But I'm perfectly happy to do away with the concept of property beyond the body, completely. No private property at all since I might be able to use your property better than you and that might be better for all. I've dealt with training people to work in my company for years only to have them take highly expensive training plus salary and then walk to someone else who is better established. I couldn't stop it legally. As for company loyalty then ask micro-soft. They have big issues around software theft. Not being micro-soft has hampered my educational creativity severely and has made my competition with the more established, staid and less creative institutions that pay more, impossible. I feel strongly that my pioneering research is more important than their no brain types of education that you constantly complain about yourself. But that is because I can't protect my intellectual capital because teaching skills are not economically controllable. So I don't think you know what you are talking about on this one. Am I allowed to hack your data base and take what I want just because I like it and can hire a hacker to break into your network? I don't think so. But you certainly do talk as if you knew what you were talking about. REH ----- Original Message ----- From: "Keith Hudson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Ray Evans Harrell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 10:34 AM Subject: Re: [Futurework] NYTimes.com Article: For Middle Class, Health Insurance Becomes a Luxury > Ray, > > At 10:02 08/12/03 -0500, you wrote: > >Once you get rid of the patent system which includes copyrights how would > >you pay people for their creativity? > > > >REH > > By instituting legal agreements between inventor and company that wants to > develop it. Then the business had better get a move on. Patents only work > against the individual inventor or the employee because they can't afford > to sue a business when the latter steals it when it's patented. The patents > office is a showcase for plunder. Most of the most important patents are > broken by large companies by pretend-patents and reverse engineering and > they rarely sue each other because it's loo time-consuming and by the time > it's resolved someone else will have invented something better. Usually, in > the rare cases that companies sue each other they come to a financial > agreement long before the lawyers run up big bills. The best strategy for a > business with a good idea is to retain the loyalty of its staff, keep it > secret for as long as they can, and then market it as quickly as possible > when it's ready and if the bsuiness has got anything about it, it ought to > be able to keep its lead. > > Bach wrote plenty without copyright. Copyright is nothing whatever to do > with true creativity. It's a spurious and artificial system designed for > the already big-boys as opposed to the lone creator. > > Keith Hudson > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Harry Pollard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; > ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 3:01 AM > >Subject: RE: [Futurework] NYTimes.com Article: For Middle Class, Health > >Insurance Becomes a Luxury > > > > > > > Arthur, > > > > > > We could start by getting rid of the patent system that > > > articially raises drug prices along with the bottom lines of the > > > huge drug companies. This money helps them pay off Congress. > > > > > > If you saw the Bill Moyer show on Friday you would appreciate why > > > Eisenhower originally intended to call it the > > > military-industrial-congressional complex. > > > > > > Of course the other privileges should also go - primarily the one > > > that gives some people the ability to collect Economic Rent - or > > > rather an amount much higher than economic Rent, because the > > > price mechanism doesn't control Rent. Thus it becomes something > > > known throughout history - rack-rent - the path to poverty for > > > generations of peasants. > > > > > > So, we are back to the problems in the article. If the basics are > > > not dealt with, such problems will always be with us. But as > > > Thoreau said: "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of > > > evil to one who is striking at the root . . . . " > > > > > > So, I'll keep striking, perhaps to little avail, leaving the rest > > > of you to get sweaty hacking away at those branches. Of course > > > there is great benefit to doing that, That's the psychological > > > uplift that reformers get even if nothing of consequence is > > > accomplished. I know - I've been one. > > > > > > So, work on a dozen or a hundred programs designed to ameliorate > > > rather than end misery. It passes the time. > > > > > > Harry > > > > > > PS It costs $266 a month for a 59 year old to join Kaiser. That > > > $275 for Ms Pard's nine year old seem a bit stiff. > > > > > > > > > ******************************************** > > > Henry George School of Social Science > > > of Los Angeles > > > Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 > > > Tel: 818 352-4141 -- Fax: 818 353-2242 > > > http://haledward.home.comcast.net > > > ******************************************** > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 4:45 PM > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Subject: RE: [Futurework] NYTimes.com Article: For Middle Class, > > > Health Insurance Becomes a Luxury > > > > > > So, Harry P., how do you deal with this?? > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 3:38 PM > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Subject: [Futurework] NYTimes.com Article: For Middle Class, > > > Health Insurance Becomes a Luxury > > > > > > > > > This article from NYTimes.com > > > has been sent to you by [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > For those who are not NYT subscribers. > > > > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ > > > > > > FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: IN AMERICA - IN THEATRES NOVEMBER 26 > > > > > > Fox Searchlight Pictures proudly presents IN AMERICA > > > directed by Academy Award(R) Nominee Jim Sheridan (My Left > > > Foot and In The Name of the Father). IN AMERICA stars Samantha > > > Morton, Paddy Considine and Djimon Hounsou. For more info: > > > http://www.foxsearchlight.com/inamerica > > > > > > \----------------------------------------------------------/ > > > > > > For Middle Class, Health Insurance Becomes a Luxury > > > > > > November 16, 2003 > > > By STEPHANIE STROM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > DALLAS - The last time Kevin Thornton had health insurance > > > was three years ago, which was not much of a problem until > > > he began having trouble swallowing. > > > > > > "I broke down earlier this year and went in and talked to a > > > doctor about it," said Mr. Thornton, who lives in Sherman, > > > about 60 miles north of Dallas. > > > > > > A barium X-ray cost him $130, and the radiologist another > > > $70, expenses he charged to his credit cards. The doctor > > > ordered other tests that Mr. Thornton simply could not > > > afford. > > > > > > "I was supposed to go back after the X-ray results came, > > > but I decided just to live with it for a while," he said. > > > "I may just be a walking time bomb." > > > > > > Mr. Thornton, 41, left a stable job with good health > > > coverage in 1998 for a higher salary at a dot-com company > > > that went bust a few months later. Since then, he has > > > worked on contract for various companies, including one > > > that provided insurance until the project ended in 2000. "I > > > failed to keep up the payments that would have been > > > required to maintain my coverage," he said. "It was just > > > too much money." > > > > > > Mr. Thornton is one of more than 43 million people in the > > > United States who lack health insurance, and their numbers > > > are rapidly increasing because of ever soaring cost and job > > > losses. Many states, including Texas, are also cutting back > > > on subsidies for health care, further increasing the number > > > of people with no coverage. > > > > > > The majority of the uninsured are neither poor by official > > > standards nor unemployed. They are accountants like Mr. > > > Thornton, employees of small businesses, civil servants, > > > single working mothers and those working part time or on > > > contract. > > > > > > "Now it's hitting people who look like you and me, dress > > > like you and me, drive nice cars and live in nice houses > > > but can't afford $1,000 a month for health insurance for > > > their families," said R. King Hillier, director of > > > legislative relations for Harris County, which includes > > > Houston. > > > > > > Paying for health insurance is becoming a middle-class > > > problem, and not just here. "After paying for health > > > insurance, you take home less than minimum wage," says a > > > poster in New York City subways sponsored by Working Today, > > > a nonprofit agency that offers health insurance to > > > independent contractors in New York. "Welcome to > > > middle-class poverty." In Southern California, 70,000 > > > supermarket workers have been on strike for five weeks over > > > plans to cut their health benefits. > > > > > > The insurance crisis is especially visible in Texas, which > > > has the highest proportion of uninsured in the country - > > > almost one in every four residents. The state has a large > > > population of immigrants; its labor market is dominated by > > > low-wage service sector jobs, and it has a higher than > > > average number of small businesses, which are less likely > > > to provide health benefits because they pay higher > > > insurance costs than large companies. > > > > > > State cuts to subsidies for health insurance to help close > > > a $10 billion budget gap will cost the state $500 million > > > in federal matching money and are expected to further spur > > > the rise in uninsured. In September, for example, more than > > > half a million children enrolled in a state- and > > > federal-subsidized insurance program lost dental, vision > > > and most mental care coverage, and some 169,000 children > > > will lose all insurance by 2005. > > > > > > "These were tough economic times that the legislature was > > > dealing with, and the governor believed in setting the tone > > > for the legislative session that the government must > > > operate the way Texas families do and Texas businesses do > > > and live within its means," said Kathy Walt, spokeswoman > > > for Gov. Rick Perry. > > > > > > She noted that the legislature raised spending on health > > > and human services by $1 billion this year, and that > > > lawmakers passed two bills intended to make it easier for > > > small businesses to provide health insurance for their > > > employees. > > > > > > Those measures, however, will not help Theresa Pardo or > > > other Texas residents like her who have to make tough > > > choices about medical care they need but cannot afford. > > > > > > Ms. Pardo, a 29-year-old from Houston, said that having no > > > insurance meant choosing between buying an inhaler for her > > > 9-year-old asthmatic daughter or buying her a birthday > > > present. The girl, Morgan, lost her state-subsidized > > > insurance last month, and now her mother must pay $80 > > > instead of $5 for the inhaler. > > > > > > Rent, car payments and insurance, day care and utilities > > > cost Ms. Pardo more than $1,200 a month, leaving less than > > > $200 for food, gas and other expenses. So even though her > > > employer, the Harris County government, provides her with > > > low-cost insurance, she cannot afford the $275 a month she > > > would have to pay to add her daughter to her plan. > > > > > > When Morgan's dentist recently wanted to pull a tooth, Ms. > > > Pardo hesitated. The tooth extraction proceeded, but: "I > > > had to ask him, if you pull this tooth, will it cause other > > > problems? Because if it does, I can't afford to deal with > > > them." > > > > > > Lorenda Stevenson said her choice was between buying > > > medicine to treat patches of peeling, flaking skin on her > > > hands, arms and face and making sure her son could continue > > > his after-school tennis program. "There's no way I will cut > > > that out unless we don't have money for food," she said. > > > > > > Mrs. Stevenson's husband, Bill, lost his management job at > > > WorldCom two years ago, when an accounting scandal forced > > > the company into bankruptcy. They managed to pay $900 a > > > month for Cobra, the government policy that allows workers > > > to continue their coverage after they lose their jobs, but > > > when the cost rose to $1,200, they could no longer afford > > > it. > > > > > > When their son, a ninth grader, needed a physical and shot > > > to take tennis, Mrs. Stevenson turned to the Rockwall Area > > > Health Clinic, a nonprofit clinic in Rockwall, a city of > > > 13,000 northeast of Dallas. The clinic charged her $20 > > > instead of the $400 she estimated she would have paid at > > > the doctor's office. > > > > > > "I sat filling out the paperwork and crying," she said, > > > tears streaming down her face. "I was so embarrassed to > > > bring him here." > > > > > > A salve to treat her skin condition costs $27, and she pays > > > roughly $50 a month for medications for high blood pressure > > > and hormones. She does without medication she needs for > > > acid reflux, treating the conditions sporadically with > > > samples from the clinic. > > > > > > Carol Johnston cannot afford even doctor visits. A single > > > mother in Houston, she lost her job in health care > > > administration in May and said she was still unemployed > > > despite filling out 500 to 600 applications and attending > > > countless job fairs. > > > > > > Cobra would have cost $214 a month, or more than one-fifth > > > of the $1,028 in unemployment she gets a month. As it is, > > > her monthly bills for rent, car, utilities and phone exceed > > > her income. > > > > > > She got a 12-month deferral on her student loans, and Ford > > > pushed her car payments back by two months. The Johnstons > > > rely on television for entertainment and almost never use > > > air-conditioning, despite Houston's muggy, hot climate. > > > > > > Now Ms. Johnston's 16-year-old son is losing the portion of > > > his insurance that covered treatment for his learning and > > > emotional disabilities because of state cutbacks. > > > > > > Ms. Johnston herself does not qualify for Medicaid, the > > > government insurance program for the indigent, because her > > > income is too high, the same reason she qualifies for only > > > $10 a month in food stamps. "I worry, I worry so much about > > > making sure my son is safe," she said. > > > > > > As for her own health, Ms. Johnston has two cysts in one > > > breast and three in another but has had only one aspirated > > > because she cannot afford to check on the others. "Do I > > > have to move to Iraq to get help?" she asked. "They have > > > $87 billion for folks over there," she said, referring to > > > money Congress allocated for military operations and > > > rebuilding. > > > > > > Experts warn that allowing health problems to fester is > > > only going to increase the costs of health care for the > > > uninsured. "As Americans, when are we going to realize it's > > > cheaper to save them on the front end than when they get > > > cancer and show up in the emergency room?" said Sandra B. > > > Thurman, executive director of PediPlace, a nonprofit > > > health clinic in Lewisville, Tex. > > > > > > Many hospitals and neighborhood clinics here say that the > > > well-heeled are now joining the poor in seeking their care. > > > Emergency rooms are particularly hard hit, since federal > > > law requires them to treat anyone who walks through their > > > doors for emergency treatment, regardless of whether they > > > can pay. > > > > > > Public hospital emergency rooms are even harder hit, since > > > private hospitals will move quickly to shift uninsured > > > patients to them. And clinics for the poor are also seeing > > > an increase in demand. > > > > > > A clinic run by Central Dallas Ministries charges patients > > > $5 for a doctor visit, $10 for medication and $15 if > > > laboratory work is needed, but often settles for no payment > > > from many of the 3,500 patients it treats each year. > > > > > > "I'm not real optimistic it will get a lot better," said > > > Larry Morris James, executive director of Central Dallas > > > Ministries. "Demographic and economic trends tell you that > > > it's probably going to get worse." > > > > > > For Irma Arellano, the problem has already hit home. Mrs. > > > Arellano is a secretary in the Royse school district > > > northeast of Dallas, which provides her health insurance > > > for $35 a month but offers no discounts for her three > > > children or husband. > > > > > > Two years ago, the Arellanos paid $269 a month to insure > > > the family. The price jumped last year to $339 and this > > > year to $780, more than their monthly mortgage payment. > > > > > > Her husband works for a small landscaping company that does > > > not offer insurance. So Mrs. Arellano is insured, but her > > > husband, Jose, and their three children - Jackie, 16; Joe, > > > 15; and Anthony, 13 - are going without insurance. > > > > > > The Arellanos' income, which ranges from $2,800 to $3,200 a > > > month, makes them ineligible for state-subsidized > > > insurance. Their basic expenses run $2,000 a month or more. > > > > > > > > > "I'm one of those people in the middle," Mrs. Arellano > > > said. "We don't make enough to pay for insurance ourselves, > > > but we make too much to qualify for CHIP," the > > > government-subsidized program for children. > > > > > > So her children were recently at the Rockwall clinic for > > > the physicals they need to participate in after-school > > > sports, paying $25 instead of the $100 or more Mrs. > > > Arellano would have paid at the doctor's office. > > > > > > The family has catastrophic insurance, but Mrs. Arellano is > > > uncertain how much longer she can afford it. Mr. Arellano's > > > income typically drops in the winter, and his wife is > > > hoping the children will then qualify for the state > > > insurance program. > > > > > > Even so, newly initiated regulations require families to > > > reapply for the insurance every six months, rather than > > > once a year, so they are not likely to qualify for long. > > > > > > "I'll take what I can get," Mrs. Arellano said. > > > > > > > > > http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/16/national/16INSU.html?ex=1070015 > > > 089&ei=1&en > > > =71a5f688d394a03d > > > > > > --- > > > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > > > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > > > Version: 6.0.548 / Virus Database: 341 - Release Date: 12/5/2003 > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Futurework mailing list > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Futurework mailing list > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- > > Keith Hudson, General Editor, Handlo Music, http://www.handlo.com > 6 Upper Camden Place, Bath BA1 5HX, England > Tel: +44 1225 311636; Fax: +44 1225 447727; mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > ________________________________________________________________________ > _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
