| IRC log started Fri Jul 15 19:54:46 2005 |
| -:- Topic (#pashdown): changed by pashdown: Chat is on. Welcome. |
| pashdown | Hello everyone and welcome to the chat. |
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| pashdown | If anyone isn't lurking, feel free to set a topic or ask a question. |
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| -:- ns0 [~tlinton@antitrust.cs.utah.edu] has joined #pashdown |
| pashdown | Trevor? |
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| ns0 | hi pete. |
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| pashdown | Hello. |
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| ns0 | how are you doing? |
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| pashdown | I'm doing OK. It has been very busy yesterday and today. |
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| ns0 | heh, i can imagine. i did have a question i wanted to ask you if you have a minute |
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| pashdown | Go right ahead. Its pretty quiet in here now. |
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| ns0 | ok, when i see views from republicans and democrats i've found republicans seem to support less regulation in capitalism, without being overly cynical i think this is because of their support for economic evolution and trying to control a market seems to stagnate it. What are your view on economics and regulation. |
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| pashdown | I think the free market works as long as there is competition. If there is no competition, or the barriers to entry for competition are high, then I think the government needs to take an active role in regulation or incentives. |
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| ns0 | where do you think regulation is absolutely necessary? |
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| pashdown | Where the citizen is being taken advantage of because of lack of competition. |
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| pashdown | One example is electrical markets. |
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| pashdown | I don't think its a great idea for our electricity to be controlled by out-of-state entities who are motivated by share price over good service. |
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| ns0 | isn |
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| pashdown | If there were competing electrical providers, then this wouldn't be as much of an issue. |
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| ns0 | 't utah power owned by a scotish company? |
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| pashdown | Its owned by Warren Buffet's group now. |
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| -:- Web099 [www-data@pashdown.org] has joined #pashdown |
| pashdown | However, competing electrical providers would mean competing grids, which is something that isn't practical in the end. |
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| pashdown | My view on energy as a whole is that we need to find ways to drive oil or energy equivalents down below $10/barrel. |
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| ns0 | hm, so you're in support for markets that give companies flexability to compete and allow the market to evolve? |
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| pashdown | Yes, I am. As long as there is viable competition, then the free market works well. |
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| pashdown | It enables someone small like XMission to compete against someone large like AOL. |
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| -:- Web781 [www-data@pashdown.org] has joined #pashdown |
| ns0 | hm, orrin hatch authored S.J Res. 12 authorizing congress to pass a low protecting the american flag, what are your views on this, do you think its freedom of spreech violation or just protecting people against obscenity? |
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| ns0 | s/spreech/speech |
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| pashdown | I think Bennett's alternate bill is a better idea. It simply enacts extra penalties against someone damaging someone else's flag. If someone wants to burn their own flag, then that is something they should be allowed to do. I think freedom isn't tested by your own limits, its tested when someone else does something you hate. |
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| pashdown | I also think the constitution should only be amended in extreme circumstance. I don't believe the country hinges on the issue of flag burning. |
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| ns0 | nice, well thanks :] that's about all the questions i had. |
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| pashdown | Ok, there are two additional people who joined the chat since we started. Did you have any questions? |
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| Web099 | How do you propose reducing the price of oil / energy? |
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| pashdown | I think we need a concentrated effort on fuel sources here at home. I am a bit dismayed to see that France is building the ITER Fusion reactor and the USA is watching. I think cheap energy is in reach over a hump of development and research, in much the same way the moon was in reach in the 60's. |
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| pashdown | We need to expend the effort on national R&D or we'll simply be locked in the same holding patter. |
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| Web099 | Consider this: I pledge allegience to the constitution and to the republic based upon it's principles ____not mentioning the flag at all.? |
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| pashdown | "holding pattern" |
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| pashdown | Web099, are you asking if I think the pledge should be altered? |
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| -:- SignOff Web099: #pashdown (Remote host closed the connection) |
| pashdown | I'll presume that is what that meant. I don't think the pledge should be altered, I think the flag is an important symbol of our country, and the pledge equally so. |
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| -:- Web821 [www-data@pashdown.org] has joined #pashdown |
| pashdown | Yet protection of either shouldn't override individual rights. |
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| pashdown | Any other questions? |
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| Web821 | ? What do you think of the idea of changing the pledge of allegience: I pledge allegience to the constitution and to the republic based on it's principles- - - -. |
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| pashdown | I think you were disconnected when I answered that. |
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| pashdown | I'll presume that is what that meant. I don't think the pledge should be altered, I think the flag is an important symbol of our country, and the pledge equally so. |
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| pashdown | If altering the pledge gave everyone healthcare and solved energy problems, then I'd say we should do it, but otherwise I think its a diversion from real issues. |
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| Web821 | Agreed |
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| pashdown | Did you have any other questions? |
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| Web821 | ? Is there a better way to solve the health care problem than making the insurance companies wealthy as middle men? |
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| pashdown | One idea I'd like to explore is similar to the president's healthcare savings accounts, except for businesses. |
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| pashdown | I think it would be productive for businesses to be able to set aside funds for healthcare expenses in a protected tax-free account, that could then be merged or shared with other business accounts. |
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| pashdown | By "other business" I mean separate entities. |
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| pashdown | There are also efficiencies to be had in both insurance and healthcare through technology advances, like what Newt Gingrich and Hillary Clinton are advocating together. |
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| pashdown | I don't think there are any quick and easy approaches to the healthcare problem in the US. It won't happen overnight, but we need to take steps towards change in some way, because what we have is failing millions of people. |
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| pashdown | If there aren't any other questions, I'm going to close the chat for tonight. Thanks for attending and thanks for the thoughtful questions. |
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| -:- SignOff Web821: #pashdown (Remote host closed the connection) |
| IRC log ended Fri Jul 15 21:08:45 2005 |