From: Brian D Williams (talon57@well.com)
Date: Mon Jan 29 2001 - 13:24:02 MST
>Greg Burch wrote:
>"The basic concept held by some is that a very sophisticated
>nanotech-enabled economy would be so rich that "the basics" as you
>describe them could be provided to people at such low cost that
>they would be essentially free. As some have speculated, "free
>basics" might come with some strings attached, such as built-in
>advertising, or as a give-away in connection with some other
>goods or services. Beyond this, a sufficiently wealthy and
>technologically advanced civilization might be able to afford
>universal "free basics" as a matter of charity."
Well first of all TANSTAAFL, there ain't no such thing as a free
lunch.
Second, there is a very strange problem with "giving" people things
without any cost.
As Thomas Stanley documented in "The Millionare next door" and "The
Millionare Mind" this problem affects the affluent as easily as it
does the poor. Couples who received "economic outpatient care" from
their parents or grandparents earned less than their peers, and had
a much lower net worth.
Now undoubtably there are people who can avoid this, but something
very usefull could be learned from trying to figure this out.
The old "road to hell is paved with good intentions thing."
Brian
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