[Vision2020] Upton Sinclair's Novel "There Will Be Blood" Also A Film
Ted Moffett
starbliss at gmail.com
Thu Jul 31 14:36:38 PDT 2008
Wealth and power is sometimes, and will continue to be, attained via
unethical behavior. Sometimes those who follow high ethical standards
will be pushed aside in the hard competitive world of capitalism.
Did slavery and displacement (rather, genocide) of Native Americans play a
role in the rise of the US as a world economic power? Did the robber barons
of US industry gain their wealth by fair conduct, only hard work and
innovation? Was Las Vegas built by choir boys? Is it ethical for
contemporary US multinationals to exploit cheap, uneducated nearly captive
foreign labor, and dodge costly US environmental law, polluting foreign
nations, to make billions in profits for an elite economic class, while good
paying US jobs with benefits disappear via outsourcing (maquiladoras)? The
realities of the global marketplace, correct? Businesses either adapt, or
go under.
Is it because of a lack of drive or a character flaw that
hardworking Americans who have lost these jobs are in economic difficulty?
If only they innovated and worked hard enough, they could overcome the loss
of the US manufacturing base? This is not so easy...
There is one very important variable influencing "success," that influences
moral character, that no one chooses for themselves:
Genetics.
This variable in part explains why some born into difficult circumstances or
poverty lift themselves, while some born into privilege sink. Why so often
these cases of success from poverty or failure from wealth are ascribed to
"choice" is an expression of the comfortable illusion that we are mostly
in control of the critical variables in our lives, a very common faith for
those who believe in the mythology of an individualistic free will
controlled economic system. If you "succeed," you made the right choices,
based on good character, also of your choice; if you fail, you made wrong
choices, based on a flawed character, which you also chose.
Those born into poverty who succeed very likely were the beneficiaries of
genetics that endowed them with a strong focused will, a creative mind,
higher intelligence, etc. This was not their choice. Just as someone born
into wealth might receive a bad roll of the genetic dice, a listless
personality, and little creativity.
The statistics on economic mobility are clear that being born into wealth is
a reliable predictor of continuing wealth, and being born into poverty is a
reliable predictor of limited wealth, for many reasons, more favorable early
childhood experiences very critical, even putting aside the glaring
advantages of inherited wealth and the social class and business connections
associated. Assuming the genetic lottery is distributed about the same
between economic classes (which may not be the case, though who wants to
open that can of worms!), success or failure is due to environmental
advantages or inherited wealth, or willingness or not to follow ethical
standards, as I mentioned, such as a US business person who maintains his US
employees good paying jobs, while getting killed by cheap foreign labor.
To conduct an experiment in equal wealth distribution to discover who would
rise and fall in the end in their adulthood based only on their economic
birth status, would demand everyone be given the same in womb and childhood
environment... Impossible. And the results of this impossible experiment,
to conduct a thought experiment, would reveal genetics as a primary
predictor of success.
Should those born with a bad role of the dice in genetic endowment be given
an advantage to level the playing field? And I don't mean what we consider
"handicapped." Someone is born with an IQ of 110, not considered
handicapped, while their neighbor born into the same economic class and
family structure has an IQ of 150 (I don't mean to discount that environment
can influence IQ, but it is largely genetically determined)... No choice
involved. The person with the IQ of 150 is not more likely to succeed, all
else being equal?
This kind of intervention to level the economic playing field is probably
unthinkable... On average with a "fair" competitive economic system, very
smart people who are innovative and creative and strong willed, will become
wealthier than strong willed and innovative and creative people of average
intelligence... bad luck for those who are less endowed. Welcome to the
real world...
"I drink your milkskake!" A notable quote from the film "There Will Be
Blood" about the early days of the oil industry in California, based on
Upton Sinclair's novel of the same title... What a heartwarming depiction of
ethical capitalism (written with great sarcasm...) Again, is California's
rise to economic power a result of mostly ethical conduct in competitive
capitalism? NOT!
Ted Moffett
On 7/30/08, keely emerinemix <kjajmix1 at msn.com> wrote:
>
> And how many make the choice to abuse drugs or alcohol when presented with
> a host of other opportunities? Do people -- generally speaking -- choose to
> degrade themselves and harm their bodies when they have abundant love, warm
> affection, genuine acceptance, undying support from friends and family, a
> wide door thrown open to them leading to education, self-improvement,
> meaningful, sustaining work, and a palette on which beauty can easily be
> painted?
>
> To go on . . . do the sex workers Sunil might have to defend come from
> environments that nurtured them, supported them, taught them that their
> sexuality was a precious gift, and demonstrated sacrificial love at most
> every turn? Are they hopscotching over exciting career opportunities, good
> health, warm and mutually-giving relationships, horizon-expanding educations
> and hope for their futures, just so they can pilot themselves into
> situations that dehumanize them, put them at risk of their lives every day,
> and earn them the scorn and condemnation from those who would never, EVER,
> make that choice themselves ?
>
> Did my dear friend T.J., back in the late 70s and early 80s, decide that
> her life was going so well, her heart so full of love and security, hope and
> promise, that it'd be fun to play prostitute, mainline heroin, and spend
> much of her life in prisons both in and out of the State system?
>
> With all due respect, Kai, I think it's easy for those of us who do see
> open doors to good things ahead of us reduce to mere "choice" the abuse
> people heap upon themselves. And for those of us who had it pretty good and
> screwed up a lot anyway -- back all those years ago -- is it possible that
> "there but for the grace of God go I" might apply?
>
> Keely
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> From: editor at lataheagle.com
> To: sunilramalingam at hotmail.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
> Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:19:57 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] FW: The Nation, 6/30/08
>
> How many of your appointed clients made the choice to abuse drugs or
> alcohol?
>
>
> *From:* Sunil Ramalingam <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:12 PM
> *To:* vision2020 at moscow.com
> *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] FW: The Nation, 6/30/08
>
>
> I don't want to take anything away from Dave Thomas or Jack Simplot in
> terms of their ability to thrive in our economy, particularly if they didn't
> grow up with any of the advantages of coming from a wealthy family. But if
> I recall correctly, Bill Gates is the son of a corporate lawyer. Obviously
> he's also smart and very driven, but I think it's fair to say that growing
> up upper-middle class or upper class gives a person tools and advantages in
> our society.
>
> Both my parents have post-baccalaureate degrees, and I think all of my
> grandparents did too, and some of their parents as well. Even though I
> spent most of my youth whizzing away - or trying to - the headstart that
> gave me in life, I was still able to recover from my own stupidity. I'm
> far from rich, but I'm also far from where my appointed clients are.
>
> Sunil
>
> > Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:54:19 -0700
> > From: lfalen at turbonet.com
> > To: editor at lataheagle.com; lcavener at vandals.uidaho.edu;
> vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] FW: The Nation, 6/30/08
> >
> > You are absolutely right. JacK Simplot is another good example. He had a
> third grade education and started with nothing. Through his ingenuity and
> hard word he became one of the richest men in Idaho.
> > Roger
> > -----Original message-----
> > From: "Kai Eiselein, Editor" editor at lataheagle.com
> > Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:51:25 -0700
> > To: "Levi Cavener" lcavener at vandals.uidaho.edu, vision2020 at moscow.com
> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] FW: The Nation, 6/30/08
> >
> > > Education, in itself, is not an indicator of future wealth.
> > > I believe "drive" is a far better predictor. Dave Thomas, founder of
> Wendy's, was a high school drop out, Bill Gates is a college drop out. The
> list can go on and on.
> > > Most "new" millionaires aren't in suit and tie professions, they are in
> the service trades; plumbers, electricians, contractors, that sort of thing.
> > > Using your statement of "better" schools, I shouldn't be able to read
> or write very well. I should be working a menial job somewhere, solely
> because I went to school in one of the poorest school districts in Arizona
> and I didn't finish college. Santa Cruz County is the smallest, and, at that
> time anyway, the poorest county in the state. The city of Nogales
> consistently has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Drug
> and alcohol use in school was rampant (I had teachers who came to class
> stoned), crime was high, gangs were around, although not as prevalent as
> they are now. (I'm sure Keely could add comments on the view people/students
> in Tucson took on Nogales.)
> > > I'm not rich by any means, but I'm not dirt poor either.
> > > People who have made their own wealth have one thing in common, the
> willingness to put in very long hours, to take risks, to think outside of
> the norm and to doggedness to overcome obstacles.
> > > You rarely ever see them say "Poor me", even when they fail.
> > >
> > >
> > > From: Levi Cavener
> > > Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 9:10 AM
> > > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > Subject: [Vision2020] FW: The Nation, 6/30/08
> > >
> > >
> > > "My premise is that most of those who were "haves" before the
> distribution
> > > > would manage to accumulate wealth, becoming "haves" again.
> > > > Of those who were "have nots" before the distribution, most would
> become
> > > > "have nots" again."
> > >
> > > But think about the reason why the previously wealthy would once again
> become wealthy. Before the redistribution the wealthy could afford whatever
> tools they needed (including tools for their children) such as access to
> better schools (I'm not dismissing the public school system, just saying
> that an elite private school is likely to produce a better education than
> the public system could), access to higher and continuing education for both
> themselves and their children, as well as previous on the job experience and
> knowledge for jobs that pay more such as experience in being a CEO of a
> company. Compare this in contrast to the previous "have-nots" who
> hypothetically just had wealth redistributed. Upon the redistribution they
> have no tools or background experience to advance from aside from working a
> low level job in the service industry. Even if they were to pursue the tools
> they need to get a job that pays more than the job they previous had by such
> means as getting an
> > education or internships they already start at a disadvantage because the
> previously wealthy already possess all these tools. As a result the previous
> "have-nots" have to play catchup with the previously wealthy - they are the
> tortoise in the race of wealth and can only win if the wealthy (hares) make
> a mistake that allows them to catch up or pass them. Assuming this
> hypothetical wealth redistribution did occur, who would you expect to become
> wealthy again? A CEO of a fortune 500 company or a person who has been
> flipping burgers? Just a thought.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ~Esto Perpetua
> > >
> > > Levi Cavener
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > From: editor at lataheagle.com
> > > > To: sslund_2007 at verizon.net; lfalen at turbonet.com; kjajmix1 at msn.com;
> vision2020 at moscow.com; thansen at moscow.com
> > > > Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:07:37 -0700
> > > > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The Nation, 6/30/08
> > > >
> > > > As usual, Tom, fails to grasp the conversation and tries comparing
> apples to
> > > > oranges.
> > > > I will simplify it for him.
> > > > Tom, a complete wealth distribution would begin with everyone on
> equal
> > > > financial footing. Over time, the finances of some would improve
> while for
> > > > others it would decline.
> > > > My premise is that most of those who were "haves" before the
> distribution
> > > > would manage to accumulate wealth, becoming "haves" again.
> > > > Of those who were "have nots" before the distribution, most would
> become
> > > > "have nots" again.
> > > > It is a completely different scenario than your "stimulus check"
> example, in
> > > > which there is no "equal footing" financially.
> > > >
> > > > Got it?
> > > >
> > > > --------------------------------------------------
> > > > From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:36 PM
> > > > To: <editor at lataheagle.com>; <sslund_2007 at verizon.net>;
> > > > <lfalen at turbonet.com>; <kjajmix1 at msn.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The Nation, 6/30/08
> > > >
> > > > > By Kai's commentary, the stimulus checks distributed these past few
> months
> > > > > must have created one MAJOR spark in the economy.
> > > > >
> > > > > Surprise, Kai. It has been shown by surveys and a multitude of
> analyses
> > > > > that the "have nots" have used their stimulus checks on such
> frivolous
> > > > > items as food, rent, and bills, while the "haves" . . . well . . .
> you
> > > > > know.
> > > > >
> > > > > Your thoughts?
> > > > >
> > > > > Tom Hansen
> > > > > Moscow, Idaho
> > > > >
> > > > >> Human nature is human nature.
> > > > >> Chances are, most of the "have nots" would blow their windfall
> > > > > purchasing
> > > > >> things they could have never afforded before.
> > > > >> Without thinking of the future, many people would blow right
> through it.
> > > > >> Once gone, they would wind up selling many of the things they
> purchased
> > > > >> because they didn't save any of it for neccesities.
> > > > >> Many of the "haves" would see opportunities and try to make the
> most of
> > > > >> their windfall, gaining wealth.
> > > > >> It has nothing to do with the "worst" or "best" in humans. It's
> just the
> > > > > way
> > > > >> it is.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> --------------------------------------------------
> > > > >> From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund_2007 at verizon.net>
> > > > >> Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:51 AM
> > > > >> To: "'Kai Eiselein, Editor'" <editor at lataheagle.com>; "'lfalen'"
> > > > >> <lfalen at turbonet.com>; "'keely emerinemix'" <kjajmix1 at msn.com>;
> > > > >> <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > > > >> Subject: RE: [Vision2020] The Nation, 6/30/08
> > > > >>
> > > > >> > Yes, of course I read it -- did you read the 6/30 The Nation
> issue
> > > > > Keely
> > > > >> > mentioned in starting this topic?
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > I disagree with the hypothetical conclusion in your hypothetical
> > > > > scenario.
> > > > >> > I also don't agree with the inherent assumption of the worst of
> > > > > humans --
> > > > >> > you sound almost Hobbesian. Sorry for not making that clear. To
> > > > > expand .
> > > > >> > .
> > > > >> > .
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > I think the odds are good that in a wealth redistribution that
> some of
> > > > > the
> > > > >> > "have nots" would cherish the change, manage the money well, and
> truly
> > > > >> > remember from whence they came. In a wealth redistribution, I
> think
> > > > > the
> > > > >> > odds are good some of the previous "haves" would have no eye to
> the
> > > > > future
> > > > >> > and would soon be penniless . . . and need assistance.
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > The difference in my hypothetical scenario & yours is that there
> are
> > > > > so
> > > > >> > many
> > > > >> > more "have nots" than "haves" that the eventual distribution of
> the
> > > > >> > redistribution would be better for the greater good and a net
> gain in
> > > > >> > quality of life for more. I'm not willing to assume the worst in
> a
> > > > >> > hypothetical based on the self-serving historical behavior of
> some of
> > > > > the
> > > > >> > "haves" and their failure to consider a common good and their
> fellow
> > > > >> > countrymen.
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > I like to think we'd have no need to redistribute wealth if we
> each
> > > > > helped
> > > > >> > our sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, daughters and
> sons to
> > > > >> > improve
> > > > >> > their lots in life to the best of our abilities rather than just
> what
> > > > > we
> > > > >> > think they deserve. Nor would we likely need government safety
> nets
> > > > > for
> > > > >> > so
> > > > >> > many of our unfortunate were it not for the greed of the
> "haves."
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > Altruistic Pollyanna is a name I'm far more comfortable wearing
> than
> > > > > Cynic
> > > > >> > Assuming Greed Trumps Good.
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > -----Original Message-----
> > > > >> > From: Kai Eiselein, Editor [mailto:editor at lataheagle.com]
> > > > >> > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:01 AM
> > > > >> > To: Saundra Lund; 'lfalen'; 'keely emerinemix';
> vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > > >> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The Nation, 6/30/08
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > Did you or did you not read my hypothetical scenario?
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> > --------------------------------------------------
> > > > >> > From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund_2007 at verizon.net>
> > > > >> > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10:56 AM
> > > > >> > To: "'Kai Eiselein, Editor'" <editor at lataheagle.com>;
> "'lfalen'"
> > > > >> > <lfalen at turbonet.com>; "'keely emerinemix'" <kjajmix1 at msn.com>;
> > > > >> > <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > > > >> > Subject: RE: [Vision2020] The Nation, 6/30/08
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> >> Kai wrote:
> > > > >> >> "I would venture to hypothesize this: If wealth were
> distributed
> > > > > equally
> > > > >> >> to
> > > > >> >> every person, it would only be a matter of time before there
> would be
> > > > > the
> > > > >> >> "haves" and "have nots" once again."
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> >> Good grief -- what do you mean "once again"?!?! That's how
> things
> > > > > are
> > > > >> >> now
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> >> .
> > > > >> >> . . hello!
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> >> Saundra Lund
> > > > >> >> Moscow, ID
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> >> The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good
> people
> > > > > to do
> > > > >> >> nothing.
> > > > >> >> ~ Edmund Burke
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> >> ***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2008
> through
> > > > > life
> > > > >> >> plus
> > > > >> >> 70 years, Saundra Lund. Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or
> reproduce
> > > > >> >> outside
> > > > >> >> the Vision 2020 forum without the express written permission of
> the
> > > > >> >> author.*****
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> >>
> > > > >> > Kai Eiselein
> > > > >> > Editor, Latah Eagle
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> >
> > > > >> Kai Eiselein
> > > > >> Editor, Latah Eagle
> > > > >>
> > > > >> =======================================================
> > > > >> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > > > >> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > > >> http://www.fsr.net
> > > > >> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > > >> =======================================================
> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The
> college
> > > > > students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."
> > > > >
> > > > > - Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ---------------------------------------------
> > > > > This message was sent by First Step Internet.
> > > > > http://www.fsr.com/
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > Kai Eiselein
> > > > Editor, Latah Eagle
> > > >
> > > > =======================================================
> > > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > > =======================================================
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >
> > > =======================================================
> > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > =======================================================
> > > Kai Eiselein
> > > Editor, Latah Eagle
> > >
> >
> > =======================================================
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > =======================================================
>
> ------------------------------
>
> =======================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> ======================================================= Kai Eiselein
> Editor, Latah Eagle
>
> ------------------------------
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