It must have been a great idea. Just look at how many followed. We figured we had so much room and resources it would support everyone. All it took was the will to work. Isn't that the original thought ? There was land just for the taking, plenty of wild game to eat and good soil. What more could people need ? And so they came, those first settlers. What was the motivation ? We are told it was religious freedom that they sought. I think that is probably more of a romantic notion than fact. The promise was land, freedom from government intervention, and the promise of a new and better life. Basically the same reason we leave home when we grow up. It is that freedom we seek. But now I wonder if too many have followed. Do we still have room for more ? They are still coming that much is certain. Who are they ? The simple answer is, people seeking freedom from whatever situation they find themselves presently in. That's always the reason isn't it ? The question is do we have enough work for all these people ? Without work what are they to do ? The issue really is, for whom are these people going to work ? The original plan was to work for yourself ! It was that " independence " and " self sufficiency " that was the draw a couple hundred years ago. What draws the crowd today ? What is the motivation ?
Oh, I know the narrative all too well. We Americans have been bragging about it for a couple centuries now. The land of milk and honey. Human rights, liberty, freedom, all those things readily available to all. All you have to do is work hard and success can be yours. It was when we started to get our labor from other sources that things started to go wrong. At first we had indentured servants. True they were paid and only bound for a set amount of time but they were cheap labor. My third great grandfather was an indentured servant, I have a portion of that contract preserved. He was indentured to a cobbler, for seven years. He was paid twenty five dollars a year, room and board. He couldn't just walk away from that he was bound by a legal document enforceable in a court of law. Then we started in with the slaves. We just bought them outright ! Following the abolishment of that institution we began taking advantage of immigrants. That is still pretty much continuing to this day.
Do you see how we strayed from the original plan ? We, meaning ourselves, were the one that was ere supposed to do the work ! If we could afford to have others doing the work for us, we wouldn't have left in the first place. We came to America to enrich ourselves. Yes, it was the wealthy that financed that dream. They were basically hiring you to do the work for them. They didn't live in a cabin in the wilderness facing danger every day. No, they paid you to do that, all the while convincing you how great a deal you got. It worked for a while, until those of us here gained enough wealth and power to oppose our " masters. " Then we staged a revolution. No more paying taxes or answering to those folks. Now we pay taxes and answer to the government once again. We are being told, we are the government. And just who are we working for ? The government. That's a startling revelation isn't it.
Is it even possible to work for yourself anymore ? Only as far as the gaining of money goes. Yes we can earn money. Can we live independent of that commodity ? The answer is certainly a resounding no. There are just too many goods and services that we require. Is that where the wheels fall off ? It looks that way to me. Even if I chose to live " off the grid " as they say these days I cannot live completely free. I have to pay some fees or taxes. I can't just take my ax and my ambition and head into the wilderness. I'm going to need some cash. The problem today is we have a far larger workforce than jobs. The attraction to America has become what ? Is it finding work or is it finding assistance ? I mean isn't it well known that even if you can't find work in America you will receive basic assistance ?
Now I'm not saying all immigrants are coming here for a free ride. I am saying that may be acting as a safety net however. If I know in advance that I won't be left to starve I will venture into the wilderness more readily. I'm thinking it is like those " survival " shows on television. Will they really allow you to die ? No, so I'll give it a shot. If I come to America will I be allowed to starve ? Will I be refused assistance ? It doesn't even matter if I am here illegally, I will be taken care of. I'm not saying they are unwilling to work just that safety net exists. Is there enough work ? No, I'm thinking there isn't enough work for us all.
In the beginning there was room and work enough for everyone. Everyone had to work to survive. Yes there were those that had more than others, that is always going to be the case. Even if we use the model of " socialism " there are those with more than others. Even the hippie communes of the sixties had leaders, and those leaders enjoyed benefits not offered to others. So what to do ? Wish I had an answer to all of that. I do think we need more people relying upon themselves than relying upon the government ! How can that be accomplished ? I really don't know. Maybe it's impossible. I'm thinking we have brought in so much cheap labor that we sacrificed the dream. If you want to chase a dream that is something you have to do yourself ! You can't hire someone to do the work for you. You can't buy the dream with other peoples money. Or is it that the American dream has changed in a fundamental way. Is the dream to have money ?
Oh, I know the narrative all too well. We Americans have been bragging about it for a couple centuries now. The land of milk and honey. Human rights, liberty, freedom, all those things readily available to all. All you have to do is work hard and success can be yours. It was when we started to get our labor from other sources that things started to go wrong. At first we had indentured servants. True they were paid and only bound for a set amount of time but they were cheap labor. My third great grandfather was an indentured servant, I have a portion of that contract preserved. He was indentured to a cobbler, for seven years. He was paid twenty five dollars a year, room and board. He couldn't just walk away from that he was bound by a legal document enforceable in a court of law. Then we started in with the slaves. We just bought them outright ! Following the abolishment of that institution we began taking advantage of immigrants. That is still pretty much continuing to this day.
Do you see how we strayed from the original plan ? We, meaning ourselves, were the one that was ere supposed to do the work ! If we could afford to have others doing the work for us, we wouldn't have left in the first place. We came to America to enrich ourselves. Yes, it was the wealthy that financed that dream. They were basically hiring you to do the work for them. They didn't live in a cabin in the wilderness facing danger every day. No, they paid you to do that, all the while convincing you how great a deal you got. It worked for a while, until those of us here gained enough wealth and power to oppose our " masters. " Then we staged a revolution. No more paying taxes or answering to those folks. Now we pay taxes and answer to the government once again. We are being told, we are the government. And just who are we working for ? The government. That's a startling revelation isn't it.
Is it even possible to work for yourself anymore ? Only as far as the gaining of money goes. Yes we can earn money. Can we live independent of that commodity ? The answer is certainly a resounding no. There are just too many goods and services that we require. Is that where the wheels fall off ? It looks that way to me. Even if I chose to live " off the grid " as they say these days I cannot live completely free. I have to pay some fees or taxes. I can't just take my ax and my ambition and head into the wilderness. I'm going to need some cash. The problem today is we have a far larger workforce than jobs. The attraction to America has become what ? Is it finding work or is it finding assistance ? I mean isn't it well known that even if you can't find work in America you will receive basic assistance ?
Now I'm not saying all immigrants are coming here for a free ride. I am saying that may be acting as a safety net however. If I know in advance that I won't be left to starve I will venture into the wilderness more readily. I'm thinking it is like those " survival " shows on television. Will they really allow you to die ? No, so I'll give it a shot. If I come to America will I be allowed to starve ? Will I be refused assistance ? It doesn't even matter if I am here illegally, I will be taken care of. I'm not saying they are unwilling to work just that safety net exists. Is there enough work ? No, I'm thinking there isn't enough work for us all.
In the beginning there was room and work enough for everyone. Everyone had to work to survive. Yes there were those that had more than others, that is always going to be the case. Even if we use the model of " socialism " there are those with more than others. Even the hippie communes of the sixties had leaders, and those leaders enjoyed benefits not offered to others. So what to do ? Wish I had an answer to all of that. I do think we need more people relying upon themselves than relying upon the government ! How can that be accomplished ? I really don't know. Maybe it's impossible. I'm thinking we have brought in so much cheap labor that we sacrificed the dream. If you want to chase a dream that is something you have to do yourself ! You can't hire someone to do the work for you. You can't buy the dream with other peoples money. Or is it that the American dream has changed in a fundamental way. Is the dream to have money ?
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