Modern Economics & Create/Snatcher

[patchwork]

What level of detail/precision can he do with complex organics? As mentioned, if there's only two adults who can do this and they're both Canadian, but their abilities are publicly known, they're about to receive the sort of attention from the U.S. Military-industrial complex which will make them need other powered types as bodyguards. Particularly since, Canadian or no, he's presently in Texas, isn't he?

But anyway, if he can create drugs by the ton and has an export license, he can become rich while doing good even by sticking to such dull (but well-established) stuff as insulin. Hell, if he'd like to supply drugs in bulk to Cuba, he may be able to get elected ruler of the place when Fidel kicks off next week. Can he create a ton of viable whole blood, type O+? (Carrie, eat your heart out...). If he starts with recently developed stuff, (AZT and antiretroviral coctails?) he'll be receiving unwelcome attention from pharmaceutical companies (those who survive the collapse of their market capitalization), but it could be interesting.

Making simple drugs (insulin, whole blood) makes you a lifesaver and public do-gooder without stepping on any toes that matter. That public profile could be vital, get a lot of people interested in your continued well-being and freedom. Given the other uses your power can be put to, you're going to want an enormous fanclub as fast as you can get it if this is all known to the public.

[Sunrunners_Fire]

Originally Posted by patchwork

What level of detail/precision can he do with complex organics?

Limited, by my intent, though I'm not sure precisely where I want to place the limits.

Theoretically, he (destructively) copies molecules and molecular structures from his sample and reproduces them. Conceptually, he is intended to be a maker of stuff, not a maker of things and not a maker of life. I'm just not sure where I want to draw the line between "thing" and "stuff" other than that "stuff" is used to make "things".

Originally Posted by patchwork

As mentioned, if there's only two adults who can do this and they're both Canadian, but their abilities are publicly known, they're about to receive the sort of attention from the U.S. Military-industrial complex which will make them need other powered types as bodyguards.

State-sanctioned kidnapping of a (treasured|valued) foreign national within one of foreign nation's provincial capitals isn't likely to go over well; to put it mildly.

Then they get the joy of trying to control someone who can disintegrate matter about as fast as he can create it ... who isn't happy with them in the slightest. He'll try to avoid killing anyone. Emphasis on try as his powers can self-activate in an uncontrolled fashion when he is placed under stress. (... which is how he discovered them. Being trampled in a riot is rather stressful!)

And then there is his sister. Heh.

In practice, so far, most places are having issues dealing with their own populations of supers still and so haven't thought of reaching out to take on even more problems. The USA's (2016) presidential election race is being dictated by the various party's stance on supers. Potentially going to war with Canada over a single individual -- no matter how valuable that individual may be! -- is going to have to wait for the domestic situation to settle a bit. It be easier to just kill him. Probably.

With a (presently in the real-world) population of 2.6~ million people, Toronto has 26~ supers. About 13 of them are little kids, about 9 of them are teens and 4 of them are adults.

With a (presently in the real-world) population of 313.9~ million people, the USA has 3,139~ supers to deal with. About 1,560 of them are little kids, about 1,047 of them are teens and about 532 of them are adults.

Originally Posted by patchwork

Particularly since, Canadian or no, he's presently in Texas, isn't he?

The University of Toronto is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Originally Posted by patchwork

Making simple drugs (insulin, whole blood) makes you a lifesaver and public do-gooder without stepping on any toes that matter. That public profile could be vital, get a lot of people interested in your continued well-being and freedom. Given the other uses your power can be put to, you're going to want an enormous fanclub as fast as you can get it if this is all known to the public.

Blood and insulin would be the domains of his sister as those are "life". She is less concerned about holding on to a normal (as possible) life than he is and will take your idea under consideration. Heh.

[Sunrunners_Fire]

Originally Posted by Brett

If there were a war on and touch-sensitive displays were strategically significant, yes. I haven't heard about the Chinese assassinating people in foreign countries to make a bit of money for state enterprises.

True enough. The private interests may, though. But it'll happen after the game starts if it happens at all.

[dcarson]

He might be able to make money from not making stuff. Without revealing his new level of ability I bet Debeers would pay a yearly consulting fee in the seven figures to not make diamonds.

Making a single 50 pound gem that a jeweler can make into a solid jewel crown or some such for a sheik or wealthy billionaire would be worth a lot also. Do that once and then ask Debeers for a consulting job?

If it is known that he can create stuff any wealth from anything related to commodities will be assumed to prove he has more ability then he has shown. Better to publicly make the money from things he has admitted he can do.

[Sunrunners_Fire]

Originally Posted by dcarson

He might be able to make money from not making stuff. Without revealing his new level of ability I bet Debeers would pay a yearly consulting fee in the seven figures to not make diamonds.

Making a single 50 pound gem that a jeweler can make into a solid jewel crown or some such for a sheik or wealthy billionaire would be worth a lot also. Do that once and then ask Debeers for a consulting job?

If it is known that he can create stuff any wealth from anything related to commodities will be assumed to prove he has more ability then he has shown. Better to publicly make the money from things he has admitted he can do.

Now thats' an idea. Its' essentially blackmail ...; still something to consider.

Hmm.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Brett

... It simplifies things considerably not to have to keep creation a secret.

Almost rendering it moot, I think.

If he doesn't need secrecy and he isn't producing anything illegal, then he's just another producer*, albeit one with the most efficient process.

I don't see why he'd need to care whether he hurts existing producers.



{*Edit: Correction -- lacking distribution and marketing structures he's not really a producer in the way most industries are structured, he's a production resource. He'd probably wind up selling his stuff to existing market participants.