I like this! Lets approach them in order.
Q1: Can a model be built for the music industry? As any other business
sector, it can fall prey to modelers. The difficulty lies in determining
the impacts outside of the immediate industry, which is where SD methods
come to play. Of course this is the core of the problem. But the modeling
process will aid the definition of what is being assumed. Sure, there is
money lost from the music industry. But the current solution impacts a lot
more than the current profits of the music industry for their limited scope
of their own business model. So we have at least two problems: The music
industry only takes a limited view of their business opportunities and
welfare of the people in general is impacted. An example of the negative
impact is the loss of intellectual freedom, we can no longer copy
information to study. So we allow the dumbing of America in favor of short
term profits.
Q2: Model secrecy: There are two issues here, private business and
government. Private business can keep secret almost anything they choose.
Governments should hold nothing secret. My first idea is that models should
be held in secret were such provides a monetary advantage. But in this case
(music industry), the public good is being addressed and decision have
been and will be made which impact the legal system and everyone subject to
it. (I put this caveat in because big business seems immune to the legal
system). As such, we must all participate in the modeling process to assure
that our rights and actions are covered. The music industry has lobbied the
government to alter the laws of the nation in their favor. Is this good for
everyone? They used a model. The model may have been mostly mental, but
there was sufficient information on a spreadsheet to suggest that there was
money left of the table - the music industry made a coupe. A forum for
model review would help expose all the issues and make sure that the basis
of any choice is fully exposed.
My second idea (editorial) is that no information should be held secret. If
there is an advantage to a piece of information, then the swift can obtain
short term profits and still allow all to gain. This extends to all
government and military knowledge and actions. It the idea is good enough,
tell everyone and act swiftly. Who was it that stood at home plate and
pointed over the stadium wall?
Q3: Should any decision process which effect others be made public? Every
decision effects others. We may ask to what degree does a decision effect
others. This is such a general concept, it can only be dealt with
philosophically. The best choice is to move to Q1.
Ray
From: "Ray on EV1" <
rtjoseph@ev1.net>