Bootstrapping Hawaii

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Ryan Z wrote:
> I could not disagree more with this statement. There
> are countless examples of companies will to 10 years
> out for large profits. Look into mining operation,
> look into IBM research labs, look at the ole at&t labs
> before ma bell was broken up, look at the
> establishment of LEO constellations. The list goes on
> and on.
>
> China has a big capital problem. They realize this
> themselves. Just like the US, Russia, Japan and
> Europe, their civillian side of their space program is
> meant to further their need for national security.
> This is neither a criticism nor an appraisal, just a
> statement. To be a player in today's world, you need
> to have a space program to demonstrate to the world
> that you are a serious player militarily. the same
> goes with India and Brasil.

> Ryan Z

Ryan, we're starting to agree too much! ROTFLMAO!

I just want to add that it's unlikely, IMHO, that a major push to
industrial space will be financed by one monolithic organization. A
second point I want to add is how profit is accounted for. I've
gotten into a whole heap of hot water on another list with
statements like this, but profit doesn't mean that you've received
cash in hand and can disburse it to your shareholders. Profit can be
earned but unrealized. Oh, heck, one last point; it doesn't
necessarily follow that there will be a 10 to 20 year period of
losses. It could be structured so that the electric utilities are
taking losses to offset their profits, and the construction, mining,
and refining companies are making profit in orbit.

That's more than I wanted to say.

TangoMan