The Zero Marginal Cost Society by Jeremy Rifkin

[Edward theurj Berge]

After reading the Intro and first chapter a few comments. On p. 6 he discusses how monopolies intentionally thwart competition and innovation so as to maintain their stranglehold. But he claims entrepreneurs find a way around it and end up forcing competition with their better tech and price reductions. Yet he discusses on pp. 7-9 Larry Summers 2001 paper, wherein Summers acknowledges the emerging information economy was indeed moving to near marginal cost. Summers though didn't propose something like Rifkin but instead recommended "short-term natural monopolies" (8).

Recall Summers was Obama's pick for Director of the National Economic Council. His policy suggestions were well in line with the earlier promotion of "natural monopolies," and his resume attests. And we're seeing exactly this economic philosophy at play with the FCC Chairman Wheeler's proposed pay-to-play rules, where the ISP monopolies will destroy internet neutrality. Recall that Wheeler was another Obama pick, and was a former, and will return to being, a cable and wireless lobbyist. While Obama claims to back income equality and net neutrality he appoints the likes of Summers and Wheeler who make no bones about their support of monopolies. And without net neutrality good bye to Rifkin's entire plan, which requires it to succeed.

If you haven't yet, please take action to preserve it. Here's one place and you can find several others if you but look.

[Edward theurj Berge]

3D printers make blood vessels.

[DavidM58]

As I said in 2014, they've been promising a battery storage revolution being just around the corner for many years, and I'll believe it when I see it.  We're still not there yet. 

Tesla Discontinues 10 Kilowat Hour Powerwall Battery

[Edward theurj Berge]

You're right, not yet. But Tesla was working on a lithium-ion battery. Rifkin suggested hydrogen storage. Not sure about the tech on that.

"Large scale hydrogen storage in salt cavern is standard technology. To date there are two full size hydrogen caverns in operation in Texas, USA, a third one is under construction, three older caverns are operating at Teesside, UK."

[Edward theurj Berge]

Here's another article on it.

[Ambo Suno]

T & DM - here is a page that lists various technologies and discoveries - science daily seems to be fairly cutting edge for pop science.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/search/?keyword=#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=s...

DavidM58 said:

As I said in 2014, they've been promising a battery storage revolution being just around the corner for many years, and I'll believe it when I see it.  We're still not there yet. 

Tesla Discontinues 10 Kilowat Hour Powerwall Battery

[Edward theurj Berge]

And here's a Dept. of Energy page on it.

[Edward theurj Berge]

An article on a Tesla gigafactory.

[Edward theurj Berge]

"I was wrong about the limits of solar; PV is becoming dirt cheap."

"The price of solar power is falling faster than many thought was possible. Harvard’s David Keith comes honest with us about solar power: 'Facts have changed. I was wrong. [...] The unsubsidized electricity cost from industrial-scale solar PV in the most favorable locations is now well below $40 per megawatt-hour and could very easily be below $20 per megawatt-hour by 2020. Compared to other new sources of supply, this would be the cheapest electricity on the planet.'"

[Edward theurj Berge]

This is a major net neutrality victory. I post it here because net neutrality is central to the internet of things being a vehicle for developing the collaborative commons, the emerging and better socio-economic system. Btw, this victory was achieved by we the people responding in the millions to the FCC and our representatives, a huge accomplishment considering the money and power of the corporate ISPs.

[Ambo Suno]

Cool, Edwyrd - I hear you on all the work involved to bring this decision into being.

Edwyrd theurj Burj said:

This is a major net neutrality victory. I post it here because net neutrality is central to the internet of things being a vehicle for developing the collaborative commons, the emerging and better socio-economic system. Btw, this victory was achieved by we the people responding in the millions to the FCC and our representatives, a huge accomplishment considering the money and power of the corporate ISPs.

[Edward theurj Berge]

California is going nuclear free. See this story from Friends of the Earth. CA has always been the US leader on progressive change for the better. A brief excerpt follows. See the article for details.

"An historic agreement has been reached between Pacific Gas and Electric, Friends of the Earth, and other environmental and labor organizations to replace the Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors with greenhouse-gas-free renewable energy, efficiency and energy storage resources. Friends of the Earth says the agreement provides a clear blueprint for fighting climate change by replacing nuclear and fossil fuel energy with safe, clean, cost-competitive renewable energy. "

[Edward theurj Berge]

In this video Rifkin talks about the reorganization of unions and co-ops. Unions in particular have to update their organizational structures from top-down leaders to a member democracy. As it is we've seen leadership of unions continue to support the capitalist economy and its adherents like the Clintons instead of embracing the collaborative commons economy through membership democracy. Co-ops have the economic democracy but need to engage the dominant economic structure via political engagement. They all must also make choices not to support those capitalistic appropriators of the new tech who feed their own monopolies, like Uber.