Re: RIAA, MPAA, DMCA, CBDTPA, etc.

[Vic]

Not a problem, with a quick Google search I found a website that has a database on quotes from famous persons, including Heinlein.
Link

Here's a few nice ones:
"Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded- here and there, now and then- are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as 'bad luck.'"

"In a society in which it is a moral offense to be different from your neighbor your only escape is never to let them find out."

"Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things." (classic Heinlein there)

These are actual quotes, not from his characters.

A brief but rather thorough Heinlein biography: Link

 

[tcsenter]

<< Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded - here and there, now and then - are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty. This is known as 'bad luck.'" >>

Thank you for those, all nice and well, classic Heinlein and stuff.

None of which serve as an adequate response to the standing challenge:

"Then you should have no trouble whatsoever quoting...where Heinlein himself expresses his own personal opinions and sentiments, which would lend support to the contention that 'Heinlein really believed" or supported the position espoused in the following quote from one of Heinlein's fictional characters:

"There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute or common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back."

On edit: "Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded - here and there, now and then - are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty. This is known as 'bad luck.'"

To whom do you believe Heinlein is referring as an "extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people."??

He's talking about RICH PEOPLE! "Classic Heinlein" defending those 'evil' rich folks, Bill Gates type folks.

 

[Vic]

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." (not a Heinlein quote)

 

[brxndxn]

I've said this before and I'll say it again and again...


We as a people have a duty to phase out the RIAA and any other organizations that clearly do not offer a product that is what we desire or how we desire it and instead resort to litigation to get their money.

The RIAA, as far as I'm concerned, has been given tons of my money - and they have gotten too greedy. They've turned me into an above average (about 30 albums purchased a year) to a non-customer. Do I still listen to music? Yes. Do I have to listen how they want me to? NO. Sorry - but if you're a big fat corporate group, make your customers happy. In the case of the RIAA, all its customers are enemies.

 

[tcsenter]

<< "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." (not a Heinlein quote) >>

You can't polish a turd. (also not a Heinlein quote)

Still waiting for that Heinlein quote which substantially resembles the following statement or position:

<< There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute or common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back." >>

 

[tcsenter]

<< Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded - here and there, now and then - are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty >>

This passage could be read to mean that Heinlein was defending artists as underpinnings of economic progress, artists being one unpopular and often despised 'tiny minority', but of course that reading makes no sense: artists could not remotely be considered an underpinning of our economy.

Heinlein is undeniably referring to rich folks: industrialists, business men, bankers, tycoons, investors, and inventors. THESE are the innovators of our economy, people such as Bill Gates, not some fruity artists. And here is Heinlein defending their value to society, essentially stating that without them, we'd all be living in dung huts and picking lice out of our hair.

What other hated, condemned, and largely unpopular "tiny majority" could Heinlein possibly be referring to except big business types? And how could this statement be read to support a position that is decidedly ANTI corporate/profit/big business??

Inquiring minds want to know....