Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!mit-eddi!zrm
From: zrm@mit-eddi.UUCP (Zigurd R. Mednieks)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: State run enterprises
Message-ID: <254@mit-eddi.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 17-Jun-83 20:28:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.254
Posted: Fri Jun 17 20:28:56 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Jun-83 02:13:38 EDT
References: tekmdp.2029
Lines: 37

Your defense of trains ignores a whole class of very complicated economic
interplay: Trains are more mechanically efficient, and hence eat less
fossil fuel. But trains are remarkably labor intensive. But with better
management that might not be a problem. But the cost of refurbishing all
that track might cost too much. But if we decontrolled the cost of jet fuel
trains might be able to compete. And so on, back and forth.

The point is that nobody can know how these interactions will balence out.
One can make educated guesses: Medium size cities will make it, big ones
won't, etc. But deregulation does cut both ways. For example, nuclear
power might well be uneconomical with the government support it gets.
How popular will that make me with "Big Energy"?

The problem with mucking around with intervention when the odds against
doing it right are so high is that it costs jobs, money, and the liberty
to pursue our own happiness. My proposal is nothing more radical than
to trim back the current level of intervention, not eliminate it. The local
beat cop can't bust a steel mill or a power plant for polluting, that's
the EPA's job. Nor can he bust some whoopty-do broker for trading on
inside information, that's for the SEC. On the other hand, forcing
people to build cars with un-aerodynamic headlights in no way protects
anyone's rights.

Deregulation, and non-intervention, will hit the huge, environmentally
damaging enterprises hardest. It won't be economical to grind up
mountain ranges for oily sludge, or cover scenic valleys with dammed up
water so people can park their Winnebagoes and go water skiing.

Specifically, your concerns about energy efficiency should be easy to allay:
Today, more than ever, the cost of energy determines the cost of a project.
If we let profitability govern our decisions, energy will be saved in ways
we never imagined.

Sort of like soft paths to hard cash. Gag me with a buzzword.

Cheers,
Zig