December 27, 2007

All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse.
Benjamin Franklin, 1706 – 1790,
one of the most important and influential founders of the United States, a leading author, political theorist, politician, printer, scientist, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat.  

[A variation on “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?  Or “Let sleeping dogs lie”? Or “Leave well enough alone”?  If we acknowledge that perfection cannot be had in our human existence, then we must be careful about advocating change, as there might well be unintended consequences.]

1.     Have We Looked in the Mirror Lately?

2.     A Not-So-Divine Comedy, Part 1

3.     Announcements

4.     Fun Facts about Iowa

5.     The Flashback Quarterback:  a Dog Bites and a War Starts

6.     Beware and Share:  Finally, an Answer

7.     About Montebello E-News and “My Montebello”

 Have We Looked in the Mirror Lately?  

Deutsche Welle is a German news service which delivers information online in different languages.  That half of German respondents to a survey found the United States more dangerous to world stability than Iran was interesting:  

Aunque la división trasatlántica provocada por la guerra de Irak ha sido superada, sobre todo desde la llegada de la canciller Merkel, el recelo en la población prevalece.  Una encuesta realizada hace unos meses preguntó a los alemanes sobre las amenazas a la paz mundial.  Un 50% de los encuestados dijo que Estados Unidos es más peligroso para la estabilidad en el mundo que Irán.  

http://www.dw-world.de/select_html/0,,,00.html, November 19, 2007.  

We certainly do not have to agree with what the Germans think, but, if we want their cooperation, we certainly do have to take into consideration what they and others think whenever we decide to affect the affairs of foreign states.  

If you answer the multiple-choice questions below and e-mail to lessonanswers@mymontebello.com with “Lesson answers” in the subject field, you will be credited toward a “certificate of recognition in community affairs” to be awarded in 2007 by a local nonprofit organization.  

1. What did half of Germans say in a survey?

(a) Traditional German food is superior to McDonald’s fare.

(b) The United States is more dangerous to world stability than is Iran.  

2. What lesson should we learn from the survey result?

(a) There is none to be learned.

(b) That others do not always see us as we see ourselves.

(c) It is not enough to watch or read American news.  

 No one can earn a million dollars honestly.
William Jennings Bryan, 1860 – 1925,
an American lawyer, statesman, and politician, three times the Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States.

The decadent international but individualistic capitalism in the hands of which we found ourselves after the war is not a success. It is not intelligent. It is not beautiful. It is not just. It is not virtuous. And it doesn't deliver the goods.
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Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest [sic] of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.
John Maynard Keynes, 1883 – 1946,
a British economist whose ideas, called Keynesian economics, had a major impact on modern economic and political theory, as well as on many governments’ fiscal policies.  

H ave we read or heard the following statement by Winston Churchill, the statesman who led Great Britain through World War 2?

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.  

Are we aware of the following variation, from a Web site?  

It has been said that capitalism is the worst form of economic organization except all those others which have been tried from time to time.  

Does that mean that we should be content with what we have?  

First, we note that there is more than one form of capitalism, each defined by the role of the state and the role of individuals.  This essay deals with American capitalism, which is the most powerful on the planet.  

Second, we note that American capitalism has gone through different definitions, as the role of the state has expanded and contracted, as the role of individuals has expanded and contracted.  We are going to explore American capitalism in the present day.  

How might we define present-day American capitalism?   

·        The profit motive, with some restrictions, is the basis for our prosperity.

·        On the other hand, the profit motive is the basis for our predicament:  health-care deficiencies, dependence on fossil fuels, insufficient safeguards against unhealthful foods and products, subordination of flora and fauna until they become endangered, even extinct.

·        There is a tension between government and private enterprise, with the relative strengths changing, but with private enterprise the stronger, at least since the Presidency of Ronald Reagan.

·        There is a tension between small enterprises and large enterprises, whether these be the family farm versus large agribusiness or small urban business versus large corporations.

·        Planned obsolescence becomes ever more important, expressed through short use life or disposability of products, because people must be kept employed.

·        To sustain our economy, we must create more wealth;  to create more wealth, we must open markets;  globalization opens markets.  Sustaining our economy through increased wealth creation is necessary because of population increase and the aging of the population, meaning that more people are becoming less productive.  

It is with this layman’s definition that we will be looking at American capitalism, a not-so-divine comedy.  

FOR YOUTH, THEIR TEACHERS, AND PARENTS.  Essay contest with cash prizes.  Deadline:  February 1, 2008.  The United States Institute of Peace established the National Peace Essay Contest to expand educational opportunities for America's youth.  The topic for the 2007-08 competition is "Natural Resources and Conflict." … Entries from home-schooled students, also, are accepted.  First-place state-level winners are awarded $1,000 each and compete for national awards. National awards include one first-place award of $10,000, one second-place award of $5,000, and one third-place award of $2,500.  Also, first-place state winners are invited to Washington, D.C., for the awards program.  The institute pays for expenses related to the program, including travel, lodging, meals, and entertainment.  Visit the USIP Web site for complete program information and entry procedures.  RFP Link: http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10010112/usip  

FOR EVERYONE.  Montebello memories.  At the “My Montebello” Web site, there is now a page for Montebello memories from our younger years, as well as for history before we were born.  Imagine, for example, going duck hunting where the CVS pharmacy now stands!  To read about memories or history, or to make a submission, http://www.mymontebello.com/memories.