If someone doesn’t manage or govern it with economic incentives, no one does (see: most of the “public good” rainforest slashed and burned in South America and Asia that we desperately needed managed better, through private ownership and conservation management, to avert climate change).
You’re shocked at my statement, as if StarLink is entitled. Consider the alternative argument: why should astronomy slow global comms progress? If astronomy is more valuable than the ~$30 billion/year global comms market, shouldn’t someone bear that cost?
Because ultimately, arguments relying solely on economics are moot.
Technically, a human life has an economic value. And yes such value is used every day to decide health policies and insurance coverage. Would this mean that SpaceX killing N humans (where N=30B*number of years of operation planned for starlink/value of a human live) is ok? Absolutely not.
No it doesn't. If you know something will kill people, economic arguments are not considered sufficient. This was famously decided when it was revealed Ford elected not to recall the Pinto on the basis of paying compensation was cheaper then the fleet maintenance they had to do.
Not considered sufficient to avoid penalties in a court of law. But even that example can be reframed as a failure to calculate total risk in the cost / benefit analysis (i.e. they should have factored in the risk of a lawsuit and federal fine).
Wow.