From: chuckc@fc.hp.com (Chuck Cairns)
Subject: Re: Why memory costs doubled
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 19:34:12 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Site
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Joe Trott (joet@dcatlas.dot.gov) wrote:
: phillip@kiwi.gen.nz (Phillip Hardy) writes:
: 
: >noel@reg.triumf.ca (NOEL) writes:
: >: 	I am still peaved that RAM prices have doubled overnight seamingly
: >: their cost from the distributers has gone up.  Something is very fishy.  
: > 
: >Ok the same thing has happened here in New Zealand...two weeks ago i could get 1meg simms for NZ$60 and this week they are $80....the reason i was given was 
: >something about the Korean ram haveing a higher import duty imposed on it in the States and that all the importers where now chasing the Japanese produced RAM 
: >So with everyone getting the Japanese RAM the prices have gone up..Supply and 
: >Demand I guess...
: 
: NO!  Not supply and demand; you are unfortunately paying for the result of
: the U.S. Government initiating the use of force to collect fees for which no
: service of value is provided, i.e. you are an indirect victim of extortion.
: In the U.S. now, rather than act to secure individual rights (the sole
: purpose for which it was chartered), the government "works" by granting
: benefits to one group at the forced expense of others, in this case
: certain business interests found it easier to complain than to compete.
: Granted, the Koreans were "dumping" at below cost, but people who are not
: so shortsighted would realize that "what goes around comes around".  The
: kneejerk reaction, unfortunately, was to initiate the use of force in order
: to placate a body of future votes for those in office.  This means that we
: all lose; once more the well-being of the producer being sacrificed at
: gunpoint (figuratively) for the well-being of the parasite.
: 
: -JTT

  You have it exactly backwards.  If dumping is allowed to go
  unchecked, then any country can carve out a monopoly position using
  government funds and/or funds from other divisions of huge
  conglomerates.  This allows them to destroy US industries with dumping
  and other unfair trade practices.  The artificial short-term gain in
  lower RAM prices is more than offset by the long-term damage to the
  world trading system and to US industry.

  I personally think that "the market" is taking advantage of the "perceived" 
  instability to artificially inflate prices. We saw a similar phenomenon 
  re gas when Kuwait was invaded. If I'm right, prices should drop to close 
  to what they were within a few  months.
  CC

PF: (Post Flame :-) )
> In the U.S. now, rather than act to secure individual rights (the sole
> purpose for which it was chartered), the government "works" by granting
What Absolute Poppycock!!!  SOLE reason ... !?

Preamble US Constitution: (note "promote the general Welfare")
We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common 
defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to 
ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for
the united States of America.

Section 8 US Constitution:   (note "Duties", and "regulate Commerce")
Congress shall have the power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties,
Imposts, and Excises ...
..
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations ...

Any comments/flames by email only please, so as to not bother other readers.
CC