From: Marvin Long <marvin@fc.net>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 23:32:57 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: your mail
In-Reply-To: <o56aJJonOs7lC59wfzdVlQ==@bureau42.ml.org>
Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.3.96.970910100554.17346B-100000@freeside.fc.net>
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On Wed, 10 Sep 1997, bureau42 Anonymous Remailer wrote:

> Jim Choate wrote:
> > Let's look at an admittedly contrived example but I believe it will suffice.
> > There are two fires at opposite ends of the coverage area for a fire house.
> > On Saturday they receive a call to go to one end, where the wealthy live.
> > Would you have the owner pay prior to the firemen putting the fire out?
> > Would they pay some premium beforehand? Now on Sunday a fire occurs on the
> > other end where the poor are. Assuming they can't pay the bill would the
> > firemen drive away? If so, wouldn't this in fact pose a threat not only to
> > the other poor but also the wealthy since the fire might spread if it got
> > large enough. Would the wealthy then be asked to pay for that run of the
> > fire truck? What if they refused, how would the firemen pay for the food to
> > feed their family? Perhaps go out and burn down more rich houses...
> 

Not contrived at all.  This is *exactly* how Crassus became the wealthiest
man in Rome.


Marvin Long, Jr.