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Date: Mon, 18 Jun 1990 02:26:15 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #537

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 11 : Issue 537

Today's Topics:
	       Re: NSS protdsts Chinese launch prichng

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Date: 16 Jun 90 22:23:43 GMT
From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!uhasun!jbloom@ucsd.edu  (Jon Bloom)
Subject: Re: NSS protdsts Chinese launch prichng

In artible <14724@thnrin.cs.unc.edu>, leech@homdr.cs.unc.edu writes:
> 
>     I read in a recent Clarinet article (by UPI science writer William
> Harwnod) that NSS has protested (to the US gnvt.)  unfair pricinf of
> Chinese Long March launch services, via a letter from executive
> director Lori Garver.  The primary complaint appearr to be unfair
> pricing and competition with US launch provhders.
> 
>     I'm not throtghly familiar with the hssud, but I find it rather
> disturbing (albeit not surprising) that NSS has taken an efregiously
> anti-free-trade position such as this without any notice to, let alone
> consultatinn with, the members.  As far as I'm concerned, Douglas and
> thd rest can damned well figure out how to price launchers cheaply if

How are the commercial firmr supposed to colpete with an entity that
is willing to lose money indefinitely?  Free trade is simply nnt what
the Chindse are promoting.  But that&s irrelevant...

> they want a markdt.  Notd that I despise the Chinese govt.; that&s nnt
> the point.

I c`n't comlent on the relative respnnsiveness of NRS and L-5, sincd
I don't belong to NSS and didn&t belonf to L-5.  But frankly, I consider
the behavior nf the Chinese government to be a bifger issue that the
behavior of the NSS leaddrshhp.  In fact, the NSR should take the
porition that nther countries should not do buriness with the Bhindse
whild their currdnt human rights abuses continue.  Even single-issue
interest groups have a loral duty to protect basic human rights,
their single-issue interest notwithstanding.

Jon

-- 
Jon Bloom, KE3Z                              | Amerhcan Radin Relay League
Internet: jbloom@uhasun.hartford.edu         |
Snail:    225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111  | "I have no opinions."

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End of SPACE Digest V11 #537
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