Posts Tagged ‘capitalism’

The Quintessential Virtue of Greed

Posted: December 2, 2017 in Social Commentary
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

By R.C. Seely

CRITICS OF CAPITALISM ARE eager to point out the hypocrisy of us capitalists statement of “Communism (or Socialism, or Progressivism, or any other isms) has killed X number of people.” They point out that many have died from capitalism. Since capitalism doesn’t make the promises of perfection that the other mentioned isms do, that’s a false comparison but it’s not the only problem. It also discounts the lives that have been improved or saved because of capitalism.

The instinct to assist perfect strangers in disasters in one such example. Charity is a free market concept, the isms are by force, hence not true charity.

Now take that and multiply it and you have the potential for good that a company is capable of. During the natural disasters–the hurricanes Harvey and Irma, for example–one of the first organizations to help out is also one of the largest, The Home Depot. Volunteerism is a large part of the core culture of the company and it’s not by government force but free market forces. At the end of the day, it’s charity and because of their name recognition that to they act. Two concepts of the free market.

It’s not only because of the need from natural disasters that innovations are born. One such innovation was mentioned in CanadianBusiness.com:

    “Canadians are pretty good at flying things into tough-to-reach places. We’ve produced iconic backcountry aircraft such as the Twin Otter, the Dash 8 and the Beaver, and if Jay Godsall’s plans play out, the Caracal, the Chui and the Nanuq will soon join that list. These three “buoyantly assisted aircraft” are designed to go where traditional transportation can’t (at least, not easily). And they do it using a small fraction of the fuel that a traditional jet would need.  

Developed by Godsall’s Toronto-based company, Solar Ship Inc., these aircraft gain lift from a wing that pairs buoyant helium gas with aerofoil geometry. Powered by fuel that can be offset with energy drawn from photovoltaic solar panels, the unique aircraft have been dubbed “hybrid hybrids.” They can take off and land in a few hundred metres and come packaged with all necessary storage, energy and communications infrastructure. “You could be dropped off with it anywhere, and you’d have everything you need to get out again,” Godsall explains. No airports, access roads or power lines needed.” 

    The ways that such an aircraft could save lives isn’t difficult to imagine.

    From Cambridge Massachusetts, a startup has developed a form of wearable technology with numerous health implications–the Biostamp. The practically invisible sticker stretches with the skin and is mostly used for monitoring body temperature and hydration of the wearer. But the future innovations planned are for digestible and surgically applied tech. One specific development is that of contact lenses for monitoring diabetics blood sugar levels.

    According to a Pew Research study the number of people lifted from poverty–living on $2.00 or less a day–between 2001-2011 was 700 million. Poverty is and has been a global killer. GMOs help since they can be grown anywhere but are there other options as well. Yes, there’s an app for that. SokoText, is tackling that problem.     

    The for-profit is handling the issues by buying below and selling low, buying at 30% below retail and selling at 20% below to vendors. “By aggregating individual purchasing orders, SokoTech can obtain produce on behalf of local fruit and vegetables vendors at wholesale prices,” reports Canadian Business.com. Just like so many other tech company this text-message-based firm generates it funding through mobile phone ads.

    These are all fairly recent companies, so the true scope of their impact is yet to be felt. But they are following in the footsteps of many others who have offered us more options, which make our lives better if not saving them entirely. From amber alerts that make children’s lives safer, to the innovation of lamp oil that cut back on whaling for whale oil. 

    Medical tech, communications, entertainment, food and everything else was brought to you by the “selfish” self-interest of its inventor. Whether for profit, notoriety, or charity the motive was some form of gain for the actor. That is the Quintessential Virtue of Greed.

R.C. Seely is the founder of americanuslibertae.com and ALTV. He has also written books on pop culture the most recent Victims of White Male: How Victim Culture Victimizes Society is available at Amazon.


Food Recycling

Posted: October 18, 2017 in Social Commentary
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

By R.C. Seely

FOR THE MOST PART, you won’t hear much raving about either recycling or Europe’s policies on food from this website.

Parts of Europe have bans on certain foods that make the most ambitious trans fat ban in this country seem tame. And as for recycling, unless you’re a large corporate reselling your cardboard, there’s not even enough of an incentive economically to justify the energy and time wasted.

But if you put the two together–food programs and recycling–you do get something that does make sense, Food Recycling. In parts of Europe this initiative has been tried and in my opinion, it’s a good program.

Basically, it works like other recycling programs for non-consumable products. The United States have adopted food recycling programs as well and has competing companies that it, the most well-known being Waste Management services.

Food Recycling has three different ratings that are used to figure the best way to utilize the recycled products; the highest is for human consumption (because the modern human has a more sensitive digestive system), then feed for livestock and lastly if deemed completely inedible and unsafe for consumption it is used as fertilizers. The first, is basically best left to company like Waste Management but if you have your own livestock, pet dog or cat, or for fertilizer you can take care of it yourself.

However, you look at it, this is one of the few recycling initiatives that can benefit everyone involved. Recycling in general doesn’t really offer much ecologically but it can economically, usually only if you have a large-scale operation, though. With Food Recycling, you can save money on both fertilizers or food staples for animals, if done through Waste Management and deemed safe for people it could be an alternative to federal food stamps programs. That would safe us all money.

In the state of Utah, these programs would make even more sense, since they have as part of their policy on alcoholic beverages that you have to order food with your drinks. How much food do you think is tossed out at restaurants because of this law? I’d guess quite a bit and if it can be better used, then might as well.

R.C. Seely is the founder of americanuslibertae.com and ALTV. He has also written books about pop culture the most recent Victims of White Male: How Victim Culture Victimizes Society is available at Amazon.

Time for Climate Capitalism

Posted: September 14, 2017 in Social Commentary
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

By R.C. Seely

CHINA HAS DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A new prohibition in its “efforts to combat climate change” to phase out gas and diesel engine automobiles. While still in the planning stages, the projected timeline to no longer manufacture the vehicles is 2040. India, the UK and France have also signed on to similar policy changes.

Then there was the Hand-in-Hand hurricane relief fund raiser. This is a good thing, using a free market approach to help others, but they had to ruin it with their environmentalist lectures. Stevie Wonder called climate change skeptics “blind” or “unintelligent.” Insult them and lecture them on how brilliant you are because you follow the crowd, and you’re surprised they don’t respond in a positive manner. Go figure.

This is why I can’t support the Green agenda, the activist policy-makers see a problem and come up with a solution that will only make it worse. Not only is the ban on gas vehicles not going to solve the problem but the increased manufacturing of electric cars will make it worse. The manufacturing of an electric car creates more emissions than the gas vehicle would in its lifetime. And while the fundraiser did get $44 million how much could it have raised if they had kept it about the hurricane survivors and not the Green agenda? A GoFundMe effort got $6 billion and many other charities also totaled in the millions, all without the lectures.

So, what is the proper course? Go to the free market; eliminate all energy subsidies and lift the restrictions on alternative fuels. Let the energy sector figure out the most efficient model of fuel production. Getting rid of gasoline cars is not the answer, a viable alternative fuel market is.

Lastly, stop with the attacks on those of us asking questions. With the money and power to be gained from supporting Climate Cronyism, it’s not irresponsible to doubt the “good intentions” of those asking us to sacrifice, especially when they appear to not be willing to do so. Pope Francis recently said that “man is stupid” in reference to those asking questions. Spoken like a true theocratic Authoritarian. Quit talking down to those you disagree with and try listening to them for once. Since a few of the policies of the green movement make sense from an economic standard, they might be surprised.

R.C. Seely is the founder of americanuslibertae.com and ALTV. He has also written books on pop culture the most recent Victims of White Male: How Victim Culture Victimizes Society is available at Amazon.