Regarding your programmed obsolescence, two examples against that come to mind. First is Japanese cars
You could not have chosen a worst example.
We have had electric cars that can run for hundreds of km in one charge
for years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solectria_Sunrisehttp://www.physorg.com/news194158832.htmlhttp://goo.gl/jcNXStill, no sign of those in the market, only inefficient crap of very expensive luxurious cars.
That's about the worst case you could take to "debunk" planned obsolescence. And even if you
could find one or two examples, the
underlying principle of all the economy is planned obsolescence.
Proof:
http://vimeo.com/17750184Finally, if what you propose is free, sustainable, can have people simply volunteering their time, and is a better alternative than what we have, then why doesn't it exist yet?
Cartels, monopolies, paralyzing political structure, coercion, mafia, scientific illiteracy of the general public.
What are the barriers to getting it done?
The ones I mentioned above, which could be summarised as distorted values and bad culture.