>Ed Weick wrote:
>
>I would suggest you take it easy on economists and the rest of us. We are
>neither meat nor computers, though we are a little of both in addition to
>many other things. And most of us are trying to muddle through without too
>much lying, cheating, exploitation and self-deception.
And Thomas Lunde responded:
>Well Ed, I appreciate your disclaimer and I can understand that at the
>human level most of you are nice guys, well educated, good manners, decent
>grooming, love your wife and children, probably some of you even do
>volunteer work, pay your bills on time, belong to a church, don't fall
>victim to road rage, have extended medical coverage for your loved ones,
>work diligently to take advantage of all your tax deductions and maximize
>your investment opportunities. In fact, I believe you are living the life
>many of us poorer folks would like to live so in fact your are providing a
>role model for the great unwashed to aspire too.
>
>I also believe that when many of you go to work, whether in education or
>government or in private industry and just as assiduously produce studies
>and papers, give advice, make rules and regulations that protect you and
>yours at the expense of me and mine. Now this may not be a fair assessment
>and of course we poor must be fair or we are considered unseemly and
>demanding.
Me (shaking my head in bewilderment at how someone who has never met me
could understand me so well): "Yea Gods! I've just realized that if I did
not exist I would have to be invented!"
>I believe that you advise governments and business on ways to
>enrich the rich and deprive the poor. That most of you hate unions and
>love the "free market".
I did not especially enjoy being a member of the International Woodworkers
of America, one of several unions I've belonged to. I found it a bit
hypocritical to hear guys who hated each other's guts call each other
"brothers" at meetings.
>And I can appreciate the dilemma which includes
>your disclaimer that most you are just trying to muddle through etc. And I
>know the penalties of telling the truth, being honest, refusing to allow
>exploitation and the satisfaction of a little self deception.
Me: Yes, yes - you have me here! There is nothing I love more than a little
exploitation! However, even when I exploit, I muddle. So I'm not really
very good at it.
>Now, obviously I am an idealist. And let's face it, from the bottom of the
>heap, it's easy to attack you guys in the middle and on the top. One thing
>I sincerely appreciate is that some of you do belong to open lists such as
>this one and you do expose yourself to the rantings and reason of people of
>different viewpoints. We don't hold any high ground on "rightness" but
>then we don't have any power to try it our way either. So, in the best
>interests of dialog, let us keep talking and writing and perhaps those who
>read both our viewpoints may find a middle ground between the dysfunctional
>status quo and the idealistic hopes of the others.
Well, I'm glad I have some purpose on this list. Perhaps in the course of
time I may even be able to dull some of your idealism.
Disrespectfully,
Ed Weick
