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From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (E. Michael Smith)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: DOD anti-capitalist?
Message-ID: <1164@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Feb-85 14:05:21 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.1164
Posted: Tue Feb 19 14:05:21 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Feb-85 03:42:20 EST
References: <496@mordor.UUCP>
Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA
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> From: Dale.Amon@CMU-RI-FAS
> 
> Thoughts on "Classification Dispute Stalls NOAA Program", Science 2/8/85,
> pg 612-613
> 
> However, the DOD in its infinite wisdom, wants to classify any mapping that
> NOAA does.  Since classification will effectively halt the major economic
> use of this zone, it makes one wonder of DOD has forgotten what economic
> system they are supposed to be defending.
>
They have never played Hamurabi or Empire and don't yet understand that
the way to win the game is to economically out produce your competition.

> DOD gave their half baked and rather lame excuse (Soviet submarines could
> figure out where to hide).  This strikes me as being nearly as ludicrous as
> the explanations given for the shuttle launch time security.  I suspect the
> real reason may be one of the following:
>
--- long list of far fetched rather lame reasons ommitted ---

It is unlikely that there is any good reason.  The dod has a long
history of 'when in doubt classify new knowledge'.  They  seem to be
as afraid of knowledge as the Russians.  They just haven't learned yet
that we will gain more advantage by the free exploitation of knowledge
to our economic advantage than we will loose by having it known to
the USSR.  Remember that 'crypt' is not distributed outside the USA
because of the bureacratic problem of licencing; not due to some
sinister dod plot.  Not to prevent anyone from having it.

> ...                         However I have a strong desire to make sure the
> military of our country is kept under control and gets slapped down every
> once in awhile with the reminder that this is a DEMOCRACY, with a
> CONSTITUTION, and it runs under a CAPITALIST economic system, and that the
> people who make up the nation are independent, undisciplined and (god
> forbid) UNMILITARY individualists.

We have a Representative Democracy, not a Direct Domocracy; the DOD is
doing what our representatives have told it to do...

The constitution has been interpreted till it doesn't mean much any more...

And our economy is not a true Capitalist system, but is rather what is
called a Mixed Economy; with features of both capitalism and Socialism
freely intermingled.

Most of the people in the US do not fit the catagory 'individualist'. I
wish that this were not so.  Yes, the DOD will classify and stiffle the
civilian space effort.  This will be largely the result of bureaucratic
bumbling and the tendency to try to hide *EVERYTHING* from the Russians.

I doubt if we can change that.  I hope there is enough leakage in the
system to get the job of commercialization of space done.


E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

Comedo ergo sum

The opinions expressed by me are not representative of those of any
other person - natural, unnatural, or fictional - and only marginally
reflect my opinions as strained by the language.