Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdcad!ames!xanth!nic.MR.NET!umn-cs!ns!logajan
From: logajan@ns.UUCP (John Logajan)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: Money for nothing
Message-ID: <1214@ns.UUCP>
Date: 17 Mar 89 20:17:16 GMT
Organization: Network Systems Corp. Mpls MN
Lines: 28


Thoughts on making money (that new age evil) on the net:

Do computer manufacturers make money selling the machines than compose the net?

Do modem manufacturers make money selling modems that connect the net?

Do phone companies make money selling services that interconnect the net?

Do software companies make money selling operating systems that run the net?

Money is a medium of exchange.  It is what we use to exchange one value for
another.  As long as the exchange is voluntary, that exchange should remain
unmolested by outside observers.  They are not party to the exchange and have
no rational justification for interfering in that exchange.

To rail against one form of voluntary exchange and ignore all the others is the
height of ignorance or hypocrisy.  The anti-money advocates are merely making
symbolic gestures -- gestures that cannot be logical because they are
ultimately inconsistent.  Consistency can only be obtained by insisting that
all hardware/software/services be donated (and financed out of the profits of
the company, rather than by "taxing" the customer an additional amount to cover
the donation.)  Since this will never happen, consistency will never be
possible for the anti-money advocates.  

-- 
- John M. Logajan @ Network Systems; 7600 Boone Ave; Brooklyn Park, MN 55428  -
- ...rutgers!umn-cs!ns!logajan / logajan@ns.network.com / john@logajan.mn.org -