Re: [fh ot] Re: [GZG][FH] Planet types (was Re: Locations of Stars)

On Wed, 2 Dec 1998, John D. Atkinson wrote:
> Thomas Anderson wrote:
> > >  And remember, the NRE has resources of several planets to
> > > play with.
> > but exactly who do you intend to sell them to? good, healthy,
> > wealth-creating capitalism depends on external trade.

> Really. . . who did those Terrans sell to during the pre-spaceflight
> era?	I thought they mostly bought and sold among themselves.

oh, the NRE could trade internally, just as the USA or EU could trade
internally, but the volume and profitability is far less than is
available
from galactic / global trading respectively. the USA and EU are not even
good examples, as they are the two largest trading blocs on earth by a
long way. an analogy for the NRE would be, say, Italy trading
internally.
yes, you can do it, but if everyone else is trading intergalactically,
you
are going to be poor by comparison.

it does seem that the NRE is trying to be totally economically and
industrially autonomous, and to be able to deal with all external
problems
by force rather than diplomacy. i suppose this is a valid style choice,
but it strikes me as a little unlikely. countries like that tend to
start
world wars and get stamped on. still, perfect background for a wargame
(just you wait until GZG Diplomacy comes out ...).

Tom