[LINK] Battery back-up mandatory for NBN?

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

On 5/11/2010 10:26 AM, Roger Clarke wrote:
>
> Seriously:
> (1)  I support public health and safety measures that can be shown by
>        systemic logic and empirical study to be effective and cost-effective
Can I suggest another "can be shown ...to be"?

Can be shown to be more effective and a better utilisation of public 
funds than other options.

This requires knowledge of other issues and priority setting. At the 
moment our politicians are driven by headline issues and simplistic 
solutions.

A current and relevant issue - the NBN. If we had $43b to spend only 
once, is spending it on the NBN the optimum use of public resources? How 
about $20b on a less impressive NBN and $23b on something else - better 
railways, better education, more efficient and effective government 
service delivery?

Another one. Who or what are the biggest users of electricity in 
Australia? A ten percent increase in efficiency (or even, elimination) 
of these users will have much bigger returns than a (say) fifty percent 
reduction in electricity use by ICT equipment. (I'm making up the 
numbers, but the principle is the same)

> (2)  I despise the State paternalism and cry-baby dependency
>       that we're all expected to put up with

Me too.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
email:	 brd at iimetro.com.au
website: www.drbrd.com