Capitalism has lifted billions of people out of poverty. If it weren't for capitalism, the original colony at Plymouth would have perished. The first governor of Plymouth colony, William Bradford, found this out first hand. At first, the colony was organized along the lines of a commune, and the colony starved.
It was thought that that "the taking away of propertie, and bringing in communitie into a comone wealth, would make them happy and florishing; as if they were wiser then God."
"For this comunitie (so farr as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much imployment that would have been to their benefite and comforte. For the yong-men that were most able and fitte for labour and servise did repine that they should spend their time and streingth to worke for other mens wives and children, with out any recompence. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in devission of victails and cloaths, then he that was weake and not able to doe a quarter the other could; this was thought injuestice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalised in labours, and victails, cloaths, etc., with the meaner and yonger sorte, thought it some indignite and disrespect unto them. And for mens wives to be commanded to doe servise for other men, as dresing their meate, washing their cloaths, etc., they deemd it a kind of slaverie, neither could many husbands well brooke it."
In other words, people strongly resented laboring for people who didn't pull their weight. The true incentive to work is that which rewards a man or woman for their efforts, and allows them to keep their surplus.
McIntosh would probably fall back to the standard defense of communism, which is "we have never had the right people in charge."
People like him, in other words.
No comments:
Post a Comment