Today’s Best of 2009 Blog Challenge is to discuss the best article of 2009.
The articles I tend to love are those with political tones or those that are technical in nature. Many of the articles I find are not from mainstream media, but from think tanks and less biased sources than NBC or Fox (although, certainly, there is always a bias in news stories).
This article, A Turkey of an Economic System by Don Boudreaux, is a recent article, but it points to a story I love to share with others (particularly my left-leaning cohorts). From the article:
In 1620 Plymouth Plantation was founded with a system of communal property rights. Food and supplies were held in common and then distributed based on equality and need as determined by Plantation officials. People received the same rations whether or not they contributed to producing the food, and residents were forbidden from producing their own food. Governor William Bradford, in his 1647 history, Of Plymouth Plantation, wrote that this system was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. The problem was that young men, that were most able and fit for labour, did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense. Because of the poor incentives, little food was produced.
Faced with potential starvation in the spring of 1623, the colony decided to implement a new economic system. Every family was assigned a private parcel of land. They could then keep all they grew for themselves, but now they alone were responsible for feeding themselves. While not a complete private property system, the move away from communal ownership had dramatic results.
I know. You were hoping for Michael Jackson or something about the Iphone 3GS. Sorry, just a little story about welfare and communism.
The DL on the challenge: “Share your best moments of 2009 over the course of December. Don’t get hung up on details or length – if there’s an aspect of the question that doesn’t resonate, change it to meet your needs.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Haha! Great article, but I love the little disclaimer at the end!
I am so glad someone else is writing about this! I remember learning that the pilgrims had tried communism and it failed back in 6th grade. Since then I have often felt like I was the only one who knew about this.