Anyone who cares to do the research will discover that the Pilgrims, after establishing homes in the New World, did a well documented experiment with socialism. They recognized that some among them were better farmers than others: harder workers, smarter planners, better producers, etc.
The experiment was quickly abandoned.
The Puritans discovered early on that the new system (progressive socialism) actually had the reverse effect from the one intended. The goal was that everyone share the wealth of the entire community, an attractive notion that all should share in the abundance of the opportunity freedom now afforded.
Unfortunately, they quickly discovered that the new system actually encouraged the slackers and the under-producers to become even more so, supported by the pledge that any shortages resulting in their lackluster performance would be supplemented by those who produced more than they did. Conversely, the new system also resulted in a loss of initiative amongst those who had previously been the most productive. It seemed that knowing their extra labors would not result in a better life-style than their lazy neighbors quickly eroded their initiative and their previous commitment to, shall we say, “over-performing”.
Unfortunately, the slackers and the under-performers are still among us, perhaps even in the majority these days. What could be clearer? The current headlong rush toward progressive socialism in America will eventually result in either a return by our leaders to the insights gained by the pilgrims, or a cataclysmic division between the classes, i.e., the producers and the non-producers.
What do you think?
Principle Based Evaluation: The driving power of a free market is human choice. The moment you remove personal consequences of choice you destroy the stabilization and productivity of a free market.
Steve Russell
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Looks Good on Paper That's the tough part in't it? In an honor/shame culture the tendency to be lazy would be dishonotable to say the least. In a society without honor or hope, there is no motivation. I have to have hope in a good creator God that will put this world to rights. Sometimes faith is a battle, and I must believe that simply doing the right thing is its own reward. |
Jaelle Hamann
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Moving Mountains "Whether we want to admit it or not...the America of 2009 is moving toward a modern European state." - This quote was in an article in Newsweek from early february this year. 9http://www.newsweek.com/id/183663) What the two men in this article are trying to relay is that America is already moving towards Socialism due to the Bush Administration nationalizing banks and increasing the amount of people on welfare, so why stop now? The article argues that socialism is inevitable but does it have to be? oingress woman Muchele Bachman in an interview mentions her frugal past when her and her mother were living off of only 5,000 a year."My mother is a wonderful woman," she said in a House floor speech on fiscal responsibility last spring, as she slammed the administration for its stimulus plan. "And she looks at what she has worked so hard to save for her whole life. She never had a high-paying job, but my mother was extremely frugal and extremely prudent, and taught me to be the same way." (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITI...index.html) She like so many other worked endlessly to be where she is at. If Michele and her mother knew that working hard would gain them no advantage would they have ever done it? I don't think so. Socialism is not inevitable, yes it is heading our way, yes Obama is paving the way for socialist reform but there is a hope and it is people! Those of us who believe in the free market and earning wealth by the sweat of our backs, we can take a stand. Those of us who know that the things we earn are more precious than things simply given to us, we can be a force for change. Our participation in the political process is the key. Not only motivating ourselves but the undecided people. Motivating an apathetic generation by being examples of the benefit and blessing of pure hard work. That kind of faith will move mountains. |
Ramah Walker
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Back to the Future We can see more and more these days our march towards socialism. This is especially made possible by our very own President Obama. New bills and plans being tossed around in congress seem to point this way. This isn’t seen just in government, but in the hearts of the people. In an interview with Glenn Beck Yaron Brook explains this further. He says that people’s intentions aren’t necessarily towards socialism, but it can be taken the wrong way. Most people have a heart for the poor and give to them. They want to help out failing companies. Failure is the standard and the socialists see this and walk with it. They say let’s penalize the successful companies and give to those that are failing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related). I think the heart of the pilgrims was not towards socialism, but the hearts of our leaders today are towards socialism. Their heart was to help out those who were less fortunate. But then those that received help took advantage of that and misused the help they received. What do the socialists think about those that are not motivated to work because of the help that they receive? The Democratic Socialists of America have answered this question in their Q and A form they released. (http://www.dsausa.org/pdf/widemsoc.pdf). They believe that this won’t be the heart of people if they get help. They believe that man will have a heart to work. The only thing is that they forget the sin nature that man has. I think that the revelation that the pilgrims had about man’s true nature is what needs to happen in America. Something needs to be turned around in America’s pull towards socialism. For more on the DSA: http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html |
