Posted on 02/22/2024 11:51:09 AM PST by Starman417
I’ve always been a fan of the prosperity created by Western civilization in general and the United States in particular. Indeed, I even created a website called Gratitude for America, where I write about American entrepreneurs who invented things like barbed wire and standardized shipping containers. But maybe there’s a downside to this prosperity because we’ve created a class of people (especially in government) completely disconnected from how the world actually works.
Cyrus McCormick, who invented the mechanical reaper, is the most important entrepreneur in human history. He basically untethered mankind from farming, one of the most dangerous occupations on earth. In 1831, when he invented the mechanical reaper, approximately 80% of the American population was involved in agriculture, and, in most places in the world, it was higher—in some cases, 95%.
Back then, farming’s efficiency hadn’t changed much since the time of the pyramids. A man, using a scythe, could harvest approximately one acre of grain a day. Fifty years later, McCormick guaranteed that, by using his machine, a farmer could harvest 15 acres a day. With today’s machines, a farmer can harvest up to 100 acres in a day. Small wonder that only 3% of the US population today farms.
The reason McCormick is so important is not because of farming, per se, but because he freed up most of the population to go out and do other, less dangerous things. With that shift, work-life expectancies began to skyrocket in the latter half of the 19th century. In 1800, the average life expectancy was approximately 30 years, with Europe averaging 33 and the US close behind. By 1900, the world average had increased to 32, but in Europe it had jumped to 43 and in the US to 47.
Since they didn’t have to be on farms, people became inventors, entrepreneurs, and innovators. During the late 19th century, countless inventions (e.g., usable electricity, automobiles, and the telegraph) and innovations (e.g., drilling for oil, railroad expansion, and the widespread adoption of the assembly line) changed the Western world. Food became more abundant, transportation became easier and safer, housing became cheaper, and medicine began to improve.
In the 20th century, things really took off. Today, a quarter of the way through the 21st century, world life expectancy is 72 years, while in the US, it’s 78, and in Western Europe, it’s above 80.
Not only are we living longer, but we’re also prosperous beyond anything in human history. Our food is more varied, dependable, and plentiful than ever. We have transportation, hospitalization, housing, employment, clothing, education, sanitation, entertainment, and leisure opportunities exponentially beyond anything in all of human history.
Contrast all of that with what humanity endured through most of our history. Poverty and scarcity were the norm. Food availability was always an issue. War was almost constant. Work was dangerous. Slavery was everywhere. Many worked seven days a week, changing clothes was rare if at all, people rarely bathed, virtually everyone was illiterate, plumbing didn’t exist, disease was rampant, shelter was overcrowded, heating in the winter was from burning wood or dung if either could be found, infant mortality was stratospheric, and leisure was a luxury only the elites could afford.
The average Westerner’s life is far superior to any experienced by 99.999% of the people who ever lived, but, somehow, everyone today is a victim—and we know that everyone is a victim because the elites tell us so. Through schools, media, and government, we’re told that Western culture is racist, sexist, fascist, or somehow otherwise oppressive. Basically, the better things get, the worse they get.
America today reminds me of a Jetsons episode I saw as a child. George Jetson, the father of the “Space-aged family,” came home one day exhausted from working at Spacely Sprockets and said, “Jane, these one-hour-a-week workweeks are brutal.” No doubt we’d be told he’s still a victim.
The reason those elites, the ones who seek to manipulate the public, get away with it is because a significant portion of the population believes them. And they believe them because of the division of labor-driven prosperity that McCormick unleashed.
Virtually the entire left in this country has zero connection with anything having to do with creating anything, growing anything, building anything, or risking anything. They spend their days pushing paper in offices or selling cappuccinos, if they work at all. Not only are few of them farmers, but few are truckers, lumberjacks, steel workers, plumbers, electricians, or entrepreneurs. Few have ever had to balance paying a credit card bill versus making payroll. Few ever risked their money and invested sweat equity to start a business.
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...
“The labor of the industrious” concept also includes the concept of massive, bloated debt - which we as a nation also use to also take from the industrious of other nations as well, via trade-deficits, current account deficits, and off-shoring of USA’s manufacturing.
When that bill comes due (and Russia, China and BRICS are trying to make it so) there will be hell to pay.
There is a valid point to that.
In the days when people had to work to support themselves, if they didn’t, they starved. It was a self-correcting problem.
It’s not over. AI and automation will continue to replace human labor, and even human thinking. Research, Medicine, Law, Bureaucracy, Service, Driving, Labor, Military, IT, Education. A majority of the human jobs remaining can and probably will be replaced by AI and automation. What will humans do? Will “Universal Basic Income” become the standard rather than an experiment?
It could be utopia, but I think we all know it won’t be. In fact, I’ve seen this movie, and I don’t like how it ends.
Don’t forget the invention of the seed drill, and other innovations, by Jethro Tull.
Too many idle rich.
Good article. Who is John Galt?
Like all those free living euro trash moocher weenies that pick our pockets for their own defense
A population living on whatever government provided income and benefits the government decides they need/deserve. Complete dependency = Complete obedience.
Parasites, on the other hand, shun responsibility and seek to gain at the expense of others. They rely on coercion, deception, and exploitation to survive and thrive. Parasites hinder progress and create a parasitic relationship that drains resources and stifles individual growth and achievement.
marx and engles wrote in the communist manifesto “from each according to his ability to each according to his needs”. the Americanized version is “from those who can and do to those who could but won’t. why Should they when they can employ the police power of government to TAKE it from those who can and do and GIVE it to those who could...but won’t” L.Star
I abide by the Scriptural viewpoint......
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
Note: WILL not, not *can not*.
Good story about Cyrus McCormick, a key contributor to the human race I had never heard of.
But the story ended with an opinion that is hyperbole: “Virtually the entire left in this country has zero connection with anything having to do with creating anything, growing anything, building anything, or risking anything.”
There are two types of people, makers and takers. When the takers outnumber (and can outvote) the makers, society is doomed.
“The Downside of Prosperity - Too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious”
The Downside of Prosperity - Too many Democrats living on the labor of the industrious
There,fixed it
Hard Times Make Good Men
Good Men Make Good Times
Good Times Make Weak Men
Weak Men Make Hard Times
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