Re: High Tech/New Tech

[kurt@blazenet.net (Kurt Feltenberger)]

At 08:12 PM 9/4/97 -0400, you wrote:
>In a message dated 97-09-04 18:57:07 EDT, Bill G wrote:
>
>> 
>>  My point is that a healthy modern economy can not develop in such a place.
> 
>> The USSR got away with it for a short time by exploiting its natural 
>> resources and military might to subjugate its citizenery.
>
>   I guess you think 70 years is a short time.  Huh.  
>
>>  This still  required an "outside threat." 
>
> I not sure what you mean in this context. 
> Here's some food for thought about "civilized" Japan.  In 1871 the Samurai
>lost the right to carry two swords(this is a euphemism to their right to
>arbitrarily behead any commoner).  Around this time equality before the law
>was also introduced.  The major reason for reason for Japan's
>"Westernization" was their fear of being subjugated by the Europeans and
>Americans. 
>    My point is that given enough motivation and modicum of preserved
>knowledge
> the former third world countries could bring themselves back to early
>twentieth century technology within a reasonable amount of time(say
>twenty-five years).
>Whether the motivation is fear,  greed, national pride or world hegemony
>makes little difference.    
>
>    
>> Now take S/C America after the bang.  No major 
>> resources, lack of an effective central government, etc.  There is a couple
>
>> of potential bright spots.  First is Chilie (as you mentioned) but a free, 
>> modern ecomony growing in isolation is difficult to foresee.  A second is 
>> Africa.  Resource are in a bounty and the Republic of SA is right accross
>the 
>> pond.  It has the expertise required by SA and needs the oil so a good
>match 
>> in trade could be made.  But given this, the project would be doomed.
> After 
>> all you now have a strong SA/Africa that will not want to see the revival
>of 
>> one of the biggest guest at the big party.  They probably would have moved
>in 
>> with colonies long ago to "mine" the left over technologies and resources
>in 
>> the North!
>
>Just for curiosity.  Where did Republic of SA get their oil from during the
>trade embargoes of the seventies and eighties?

Not just oil.  During that time they developed a first rate armaments
industry and the ability to produce indigenous military hardware.  Other
than oil, they have most of the raw materials necessary for making modern
materials.

For what it's worth, I remember reading in Greg Porter's Guns!Guns!Guns!
(3G), that automatic weapons could have been built during the time of
Julius Caeser.  They would not be as durable or as efficient, but the basic
materials technology was present.  Each one would probably be unique and
not have parts interchangeability with other specimens, but it could be done.



Kurt Feltenberger
kurt@blazenet.net
http://www.igateway.com/clients/kurt