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Did the government sell these technologies? If not then how do the people make money from it? Sounds like the government gave it away for free: how can they now
by Vt71fcAqt7 4y ago
Did the government sell these technologies? If not then how do the people make money from it? Sounds like the government gave it away for free: how can they now charge for it? Especially since tbe government mainly researches ideas rather than products. Should we pay Gutenburg's estate every time we print something? Perhaps Feynman gets a cut from nuclear power plants? Last I checked patents expire after 20 years. If the government has patented any technologies that are active, sure, let them charge for it.
- civilized 4y agoI am talking about how an equality-promoting system can be justified because I see that as desirable. In doing so I am showing that Paul Graham's view is not the only valid view about what people "deserve". Anyone who sees it as desirable to give enormous amounts of money to Feynman or Gutenberg's descendants is free to advocate for that as being what they deserve.