Kindle, Ethics, and Dying Bookstores

Damn, my kindle is fly! Chris got it for me for Christmas. Guess what i did today? I was reading this article on rookie and the author mentioned a book that i NEEDED to read. So i typed it in an internet search, found a copy that someone had scanned and then I emailed it to my kindle. Now i have the book. WHA?

I don't know if this is wrong. I work at a bookstore, the last time the new bookstore sold it was on 3/6/2009. They obviously have not stocked another one. We have never had a used copy. So i could order it on ingram for me, which would cost me 9.80 with my 30% off discount. My bookstore would only make 1.40 off of me. Or i could buy it on Amazon for 7.55 plus shipping (which would probably be around 2-4) making it smarter to buy it from my bookstore if i didn't care about time. I could probably have it in 2 days from amazon and if i ordered it today with the bookstore, i would have it next wednsday. Do you see why bookstores are failing?

I could also go and get it at the Main library, they have two in stock, but the library closes an hour before i get out of here. its carnival and the superbowl and i dont want to go downtown. So i could have them send it to my branch in the bywater. It would take about 3 days. Then i could have it for two weeks. Will i read it in that amount of time? Im not sure. I'd like to, but i read several books at once so i take a long time.

here are my rationalizations:
1. Roland Barthe is deceased. He won't get a penny for his thoughts.
2. Trees. I like them. I like the idea of an electronic thing that doesn't kill trees.
3. Hopeful Ethics. I believe that all knowledge should be free. I know capitalism doesn't work like this. I believe that anyone hoping to really do something for education and thought and knowledge should be taken care of anyway. (food should be free. housing should be free.) I know that these hopeful ideas do not rationalize stealing.
4. What am i stealing? am i stealing?
5. I have it now. NOW. and i can read it as long as i like.

My favorite thing about the kindle is the idea of copyright.
If an author died before 1943, his writings belong in the public domain. Meaning that whatever i write, right now and try to sell only belongs to mine for a certain period of time. And long after my death, that writing belongs to you. Belongs to education and the general idea of knowledge.

Granted Ronald Barthe died in 1980. His writing is not in the public domain. Does his family get the money? Did he have a family? The publisher? I hardly think he is making anyone millions. Would they have gotten a penny from me anyway? No, I would have gotten it from the library. And if it was one of my favorites, only then would i buy it. To keep. To have as A Book Good Enough To Keep.