Monday, October 20, 1986

In defense of Star Wars technology.

Three generations ago my grandparents fought the political economic battles for the shielded metal-arc and the mobile boom crane, today the standards of industry. They were denied insurance and called revolutionaries, but rigorous scientific reason always eventually prevails over the irrational. Following in their footsteps, in 1984, I began my quest to introduce the laser and the hydrogen plasma-arc to Alaska’s people.

These Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) related technologies are the most powerful primary capital goods processes that exist on the face of the earth. Their applications include welding, cutting, heat treating, mining, steel production, concrete production, ceramics production, electrical production, traffic light control, waste disposal, agriculture and health care.

SDI technologies are also the only means by which Alaska will become the No. I exporter of strategic materials to the western alliance of nation states. Unfortunately, campaign materials from candidates Steve Cowper and Glenn Olds say we do not need to have these universal tools for industrial and national security development.

Irrational, zero technological growth always leads to poverty and military defeat.

In the memory of my grand- parents and for the children of the future I pray to God each day that Steve Cowper and Glenn Olds will not be given the power to deny the citizens in Alaska the technologies we require for our survival and human advancement.

Real national security rests on economic growth, technological development and human advancement which simultaneously provides a strong military and makes war unlikely.

Charles E. Duncan