[TheForge] Copper-Yak

[don schad]

On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 9:44 AM, Andrew Vida <osan at netlabs.net> wrote:

>        To make this even remotely relevant to blacksmithing, consider the
> environmentalist agenda, which is to create the illusion of a "clean" global
> environment by eliminating as much industry from the USA (and perhaps Europe
> as well) as possible.  I call it an "illusion" because they still drive
> their autos and wear their Nike shoes, etc., all of which have to be made
> *somewhere* (like China).
...
>        This gives the coal- and chemical-using blacksmith something to think
> about.  We have sailed under the radar so far and perhaps will for a time to
> come, mainly because we are so few in number or are otherwise not looked
> upon as a significant factor... yet.  I can envision a time in the not too
> distant future when what we do will be called into question and demands will
> be made for small-scale smithing to be stopped.

Or simply regulated into submission  - who wants to buy carbon credits
for that forge?  By the time it gets to the forge you will have
already purchased quite a few as the steel/coal/propane moves down the
food chain, so what's a few more?   But don't worry, your money will
be redistributed "fairly".   No matter that it doesn't even begin to
address the problem for which it was sold as.

Fact is, as blacksmiths we already pay a high price for the over
regulation of industries and the environent by the government.
Industries don't absorb the costs of regulation/taxation, they pass
them on to you, the consumer (either directly (price) or indirectly
(401k)).    While BSing might always be suficently small not to
attract the direct attention of busy-bodies, the raw materials which
we need very likely will, and the end result will be the same - all
but a few can practice the craft because the overhead is too high.

Slag moves down forge, right?

But don't worry, we will find something for you to do in the New World Order!