Quote from: Richy_T on October 31, 2012, 04:27:02 AM

Quote from: myrkul on October 31, 2012, 02:06:47 AM

Wires? We don't need no stinkin' wires!

+1. Where's my solar satellite beaming free power directly to my house?

Free? Are you a commie as well? Do you have any idea that those would cost to launch those to orbit compared with installing solar arrays on the ground? And if you want it to your house, you must say good bye to all other satellite communications, because the spectrum passing through to earth is very small, and multiple kW of power will mask all the low powered signals from communication and navigation satellites.

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(Oh, that's right, the government has been monopolizing space exploration for the past 2/3 century too). Where's my nuclear pile providing cheap, unmetered electricity?

What!? Are private companies forbidden access to space in your fscked up country? Your nuclear pile is straight below you. Drill far enough down, and the power is there. It doesn't provide electricity directly (nuclear piles don't), but heat you can use to generate electricity. It isn't regulated, just expensive. Probably much less expensive than a safe nuclear reactor for home use.

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Nah, let's just keep the monopolies in place and pump money into trying to fix the problems they cause. What could possibly

go wrong?

This is because your government doesn't do enough for fixing the monopolies. If e.g. the government provided free healthcare for all, you could do with half of your healthcare spendings. That's almost 9% of your GDP in savings. If you did it ten years ago, the USA wouldn't have any national debt now, and people and companies wouldn't have to pay insurance money for health either. If you do it right now, the number will start decreasing.