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Comment Re:lol, Rand sucking up to the dorks (Score 1) 206

The internet existed in 1983, and was spreading quickly in 1986.

Perhaps, but it wasn't available outside of a small number of specialists. I was a heavy computer user at that time I can guarantee you if it had been widely available I would have been all over that. Instead, for home users, the mid-1980s were mostly about BBS services, which while kind of similar, were by no means the huge interconnected thing that the internet has since become.

Comment Re:lol, Rand sucking up to the dorks (Score 1) 206

Minimizing future crime is certainly an important goal, but it's not the only one or even the most important one. The most important goal is that individuals should feel that they got enough justice that they're willing to abdicate their natural right to take matters into their own hands. A system which fails to meet that goal results in vigilantism and then eventually independent militias and civil war. This is one of the basics of being a civilized society ruled by laws rather than a group of barbarians.

Comment Re:the endgame is ironic here (Score 1) 289

if you had a great machine that automated all means of resource extraction, refining, assembly, and distribution, all powered by automated energy sources or just solar, then i'm sorry, the cost is negligible enough to be called zero

There would still be limitations on the quantity of raw materials, land, and the total energy production capacity. It would certainly be vastly different than things are now, but that doesn't mean everything would be free.

Comment Re:Great pic (Score 2) 143

Laser pumped solar sail is about the only thing we have right now that would be anywhere near fast enough. Mostly because the "fuel" is generated at the departure point instead of needing to be carried along. It would be a huge project and frankly I don't think we're up to it politically but the science is pretty solid and the engineering is mostly there already.

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