Comments on: Open Spectrum as an alternative to a broadband universal service obligation http://thefourthplace.net/blog/2009/01/31/open-spectrum/ a space to think Thu, 09 Dec 2010 09:58:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: simon http://thefourthplace.net/blog/2009/01/31/open-spectrum/comment-page-1/#comment-584 simon Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:52:06 +0000 http://thefourthplace.net/blog/2009/01/31/bullying-versus-innovation-deregulation-over-tax/#comment-584 Your second point confuses me, in a free market surely all types of people are free to participate in any way they choose and to set whatever price they choose? They can be nice people, partaking charitably and setting prices at zero, or they can be greedy mega corps setting market prices but there cannot be mega corps charging high prices - at least not any that want to stay solvent. So there is no conflict in my eyes between a free market and socially beneficial activities. As for the bit about the ken of major parties, you may well be right :-( Your second point confuses me, in a free market surely all types of people are free to participate in any way they choose and to set whatever price they choose? They can be nice people, partaking charitably and setting prices at zero, or they can be greedy mega corps setting market prices but there cannot be mega corps charging high prices – at least not any that want to stay solvent. So there is no conflict in my eyes between a free market and socially beneficial activities.

As for the bit about the ken of major parties, you may well be right :-(

]]> By: Richard Rothwell http://thefourthplace.net/blog/2009/01/31/open-spectrum/comment-page-1/#comment-583 Richard Rothwell Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:40:30 +0000 http://thefourthplace.net/blog/2009/01/31/bullying-versus-innovation-deregulation-over-tax/#comment-583 Two problems, firstly this is a sensible suggestion. Secondly, the idea of people being allowed to act in a socially beneficial, rather than in a 'free market' fashion, is just outside the ken of the two major parties. Two problems, firstly this is a sensible suggestion.

Secondly, the idea of people being allowed to act in a socially beneficial, rather than in a ‘free market’ fashion, is just outside the ken of the two major parties.

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