it often had a net benefit to the indentured party.
Yeah, it sounds like it was an awesome time:
In theory, the person is only selling his or her labor. In practice, however, indentured servants were basically slaves and the courts enforced the laws that made it so. The treatment of the servant was harsh and often brutal. In fact, the Virginia Colony prescribed "bodily punishment for not heeding the commands of the master."
See, the problem with it "often" having a net benefit to the indentured party is that it can cause really bad "net losses." I'm sure that people who eat expired meat "often" have a net benefit, but that once-in-a-while will sure mess you up.
As a society, I don't think that there can be a reasonable argument for a "net benefit" given by indentured servitued once you reach a certain population/growth rate.
I would imagine that Bray is correct as well... I'm sure the vast majority of people have played copied games using their mod chips.
That being said, the legitimate uses of a modded XBox, for example, far outweigh the piracy issue as far as I'm concerned. Linux, legal emulators (ExultX, for example, lets one play Ultima VII on an XBox, a great game that has long since outlived its compatibility with modern computer systems!), legal backups, media players (XBox Media Centre, DVD-X), and even homebrew games (Beats of Rage, and QuakeX, to name a few) are plentiful on the XBox. With a simple mod chip, you can turn a $199 (CDN, though I hear it's cheaper now) console into a multi-function entertainment unit... how's that for marketing speech?
I realize that the lag between an increase in population and an increase in the country's population exists (i.e. until the new population become functioning citizens), but even then... the effects of the staggering birth rates in China during the 60's will last for many decades. India's current and continuing population growth will likely continue propel its economy (and, therefore, world clout) in the future, I don't think China's lacking in that respect either.
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See, the problem with it "often" having a net benefit to the indentured party is that it can cause really bad "net losses." I'm sure that people who eat expired meat "often" have a net benefit, but that once-in-a-while will sure mess you up.
As a society, I don't think that there can be a reasonable argument for a "net benefit" given by indentured servitued once you reach a certain population/growth rate.
Totally wasn't trolling you. I make that mistake all the time, and I get called on it all the time. Cheers!
I would imagine that Bray is correct as well... I'm sure the vast majority of people have played copied games using their mod chips.
That being said, the legitimate uses of a modded XBox, for example, far outweigh the piracy issue as far as I'm concerned. Linux, legal emulators (ExultX, for example, lets one play Ultima VII on an XBox, a great game that has long since outlived its compatibility with modern computer systems!), legal backups, media players (XBox Media Centre, DVD-X), and even homebrew games (Beats of Rage, and QuakeX, to name a few) are plentiful on the XBox. With a simple mod chip, you can turn a $199 (CDN, though I hear it's cheaper now) console into a multi-function entertainment unit... how's that for marketing speech?
I'm going to assume that the "country's growth" you refer to is its economy (which, ultimately, defines who is a superpower and who is not).
China's population rate is still growing (0.6% in 2003 and 0.9% in 2000, compared to the United States' 0.95% in 2003)
Your example, India, grows at 1.47%.
I realize that the lag between an increase in population and an increase in the country's population exists (i.e. until the new population become functioning citizens), but even then... the effects of the staggering birth rates in China during the 60's will last for many decades. India's current and continuing population growth will likely continue propel its economy (and, therefore, world clout) in the future, I don't think China's lacking in that respect either.
While a country's growth rate may influence its GDP growth, their link really isn't strong enough to say that on that factor alone, a country will or will not be an economic superpower - letting alone the fact that China has yet to have a negative population rate in recent years. That may change, though.