Re: Y2K

["Marasigan . Vicente" <vic@pusit.admu.edu.ph>]

Glenn Bacon is quoted as saying:
----------
> 
> Your note on the evils of "gain maximization" was forwarded to me.  I am
> not interested in joining a large listserve, so I'll reply directly to
> you.
> 
> I have been in the computer industry since the 50s and managed major
> software development.  From my perspective your note seems to be an
> exercise of ideology over reality.
> 
--------

This suggests the need to fine-tune the term "gain-maximization" by
distinguishing 4 levels of "gain": A. personal gain;  B. corporate gain; 
C. social gain; and D. planetary gain.  What has fruitfully (95%?) 
promoted A and B must now be raised to C and D, in view of the risks that
Y2K is triggering on a planetary scale, at least psychologically for now
and probably physically a little later, maybe next year or next month. 

In my own one-track mind about economic Circulation Analysis (although I
am not an economist!), and partly on the basis of the time-frame proposed
in Gurnstein's post, my forecast is that the year 2030 may be a propitious
time for human survivors (no matter how few) to re-start the world economy
on better intellectual and moral foundations.

With his 5 decades of commendable expertise in software programming, Glenn
Bacon can, even now, design a networking and interactive software program
(see <http://www.lonergan.on.ca/economics/economics.htm> and contribute it
to survivors' efforts in 2030 to re-start the world economy.  How about
it, GB?  Even if survivors find themselves in a situation of the movie
"Planet of the Apes", their mindset can evolve to higher levels. 

I can say this confidently because even the Apocalypse (21:1) speaks of a
New Earth.  Personally, despite contrary interpretations, I like to think
that this New Earth will emerge with human collaboration.  As one not
expecting to be among the the survivors in 2030 (I am an octogenarian with
a mind getting more and more feeble every minute), I pray that the past
and future achievements of Glenn will be helpful. 

----------
> 
> Why don't you focus on the most destructive "gain maximizing" force -
> myopic politicians with a decision horizion of the next election.  At
> least in the US, they are doing the worst job of facing the Y2K problem.
> 
> Glenn Bacon
> 
----------

Amen to that, Glenn!  We Filipinos have myopic politicians too, myopic
because blind to everything except what transnational corporations choose
to reveal to their short-sighted visions.  Such politicians will be the
first to be dumped by corporate exclusivity.

Vicente Marasigan