Libertarians Suffer a Risk Policy Inversion

[Jim Bowery]

"Phil G. Fraering" <p...@srl02.cacs.usl.edu> writes:
>Ken, I sorta halfway agree with you. I'm glad you seem to
>believe in the promise of privatization.

[References to the Libertariany party and its policies.]

>P.S.: Since the STS system is farther along in its flight test program
>and therefore closer to profitability, it has been deceided to proceed
>with the program to pressure Congress to privatize it first.
>
>Rockwell ought to do well with it, the government's already paid for
>development.

Phil,

Profit and risk go hand in hand. Profits belong in the private sector
and therefore so do the risks.

Here is a relevant letter that appeared in Space News:



Jim Bowery
PO Box 1981
La Jolla, CA 92038

Phone: 619/295-8868

Space News April 14, 1993
Springfield, VA 22159

To the editor:

Sooner or later, we must recognize that the government's best technology
investment is no investment at all -- it is the purchase of desired results.
Therefore, It would seem that proposals to lease space on privately developed
space facilities are the way to go.

However, Bruce Webbon's article "Make Station a Private Enterprise" feeds the
fallacy in our current technology paradigm when he says private enterprise,
rather than government, should build a space station because "the risk
inherent in offering the necessary facilities and services is minimal." Mr.
Webbon asks us to believe that the public sector is better equipped to take on
and manage technical risk than the private sector.

This begs the questions:

Is the government more intelligent about making technology investments? If
not, then do government dollars grow on trees? If so, then why is the
government demanding that I send it so much of my income?

In truth, the government functions best in proven areas with the least risk
such as roads, law enforcement and human capital. Government is the worst
where there are many politically acceptable excuses for failure, such as
technology development.

Since we, unlike our former communist enemies, have qualms about shooting or
imprisoning our public sector bureaucrats when they fail, we must leave the
risks of failure in those areas where accountability is inherent, such as in
the military and commerce.

When that happens, our long national malaise will be over.

Sincerely,


Jim Bowery

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Never attribute to ignorance that which can be attributed to self interest.
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