[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> With apologies to all who think we are veering radically off
> topic....perhaps we are. I can't help sending along a little story I wrote
> back in 1974 on some aspects of the way we manage and measure our economy.
>
[snip]
>
> Arthur J. Cordell
>
> ROBINSON CRUSOE ECONOMICS
This seems to me to be a fine parable.
What do I think are a couple of the things we might learn from it?
(1) Keep the population small, for then "externalized costs"
have a better chance of (I can't resist this one:) *BEING TAKEN
PERSONALLY*! (Of course there are many other advantages to
small population, like that not so many levels of social
hierarchy can be sustained....) But we all know Garrett Hardin's
_The Tragedy of the Commons_.
[snip]
> Restrictions on consumption equal savings, and savings are used for
> investment. So it is with Mr. Crusoe, and so it is in our larger society as
> well.
>
> Now, how to decide whether it is worthwhile building the net? In
> our society businesses try to relate what they get to what they give up.
> What they give up is an alternative use of their savings, and what they get
> is a return on their investment.
[snip]
(2) The purpose of foregoing a small pleasure today is to have
a bigger pleasure tomorrow. Now that sounds pretty "basic", doesn't
it? And yet I propose that when hypocritical prudes in positions
of power to deprive other persons of pleasure (teachers, parents, clergy,
etc.) advocate "delaying gratification", what they really mean is
that they want to have the pleasure of seeing the persons
over whom they have power NEVER HAVE ANY PLEASURE.
Them's my thoughts on this Father's Day Eve morning, the day
before "Dads" get to find out how much of their hard-earned
money their wife and kids have spent on kitsch to show how
much they love him.
(Since I am particularly interested in
horology, I am thinking of all the bad watches that will be
sold, or at least "moved", for "Father's Day". May every Dad
whose wife and kids do not know and value true quality
in all aspects of life be
blessed to receive only another tie for Father's Day, thus
limiting the damage.)
"Yours in discourse...."
+\brad mccormick
--
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
<![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua NY 10514-3403 USA
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