From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Wed Apr 10 2002 - 10:05:04 MDT
On Wednesday, April 10, 2002, at 12:32 pm, David Lubkin wrote:
> I'm a big believer in the power of feedback. My father argued in his
> book _Why Washington Is Always Wrong_ that if you look at something
> that's not working properly, it's usually because the feedback
> mechanism is screwed up. Either there's no feedback, or the feedback
> acts to amplify the problem, or the wrong signal is amplified or
> suppressed, or feedback is delayed.
I agree with this 100%. I also firmly believe that virtually all
problems can be traced back to this principle. Free market problems
only occur where a person is somehow shielded from the costs of their
decision. Environmental problems only occur where the costs of cleanup
are somehow borne by someone else. Bad products are produced only where
the reward is based on short-term achievements and ignores long-term
consequences. This is true in technical, social, and personal realms.
> A reasonable approach to reining in both government and press run amuck
> is to hold everyone to the same standard that we hold private
> citizens. Do not shield bureaucrats, politicians, or press from the
> consequences of their actions. If *my* interference delayed an
> accident victim from getting medical attention or compromised a rescue
> operation, I would be held criminally liable. Why should people with a
> badge, press pass, or title be granted ex officio immunity?
I know of no such immunity for press. If there is such an immunity, it
should be abolished. Another faulty feedback mechanism that I advocate
abolishing is the idea that evidence gathered illegally has to be thrown
out of court. I say, go ahead and use the evidence to prosecute the
criminal, and then also prosecute the person who illegally gathered the
evidence. One crime shouldn't absolve another crime.
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