Re: [Phys-l] SOLAR , NUCLEAR ENERGY etc.

[John Mallinckrodt <ajm@csupomona.edu>]

Straw man alert:  Nobody here is suggesting anything that even  
vaguely resembles a "world where everyone gets an equal share of the  
pie--deserved or not" and I, for one, certainly do not need anybody  
to explain to me the motivational consequences of such a system.

John Mallinckrodt
Cal Poly Pomona

Rick Tarara wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marty Weiss" <martweiss@comcast.net>
>
> > No, my dear naive physics friends,  many of the wealthy in today's
> > society don't actually do anything to earn their wealth.
>
> More endearing words..from (presumably) an expert.
>
> Well being naive, I can imagine a brave new world where everyone  
> gets an
> equal share of the pie--deserved or not.  At first it seems great,  
> everyone
> has enough to live comfortably, if not extravagantly.  But slowly  
> but surely
> what (I think) would happen is without a market for many high-end  
> products,
> certain businesses and industries start to die.  Without anyone  
> with 'big
> bucks' to invest, little or no new development happens.  When there  
> is no
> incentive for excellence, what's the point?  Why spend the money for
> College--you actually don't need to work to get your share, and  
> working
> doesn't get you any more.  So the society starts to fall apart  
> (even more
> than now--look at the sub-cultures that fall into versions of the  
> above.)
> To insure needed goods and services, the government starts to  
> dictate that
> all will work--those with the abilities MUST fill certain jobs.   
> We'll need
> doctors (at $30-50,000) so those with the abilities will be  
> drafted.  To
> keep the masses entertained, we will need performers and athletes.   
> The
> talented will be assigned.   Sounds sort of like a recently failed
> society....;-)
>
> Happy Dingus Day!
>
> Rick