robber barons
Posted by admin on January 4th, 2010
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The entrepreneurs studied in many “robber baron” books are Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, James J. Hill, Andrew Mellon, Charles Schwab, and the Scranton family. Most historians argue that these men, and others like them, were Robber Barons. The story, however, is more complicated. Burton Folsom, in his book, divides the entrepreneurs into two groups market entrepreneurs and political entrepreneurs. Market entrepreneurs, such as Hill, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller, succeeded by producing a quality product at a competitive price. Political entrepreneurs such as Edward Collins in steamships and in railroads the leaders of the Union Pacific Railroad were men who used government to succeed. They tried to gain subsidies, or in some way use government to stop competitors. The market entrepreneurs helped lead to the rise of the U. S. as a major economic power. By 1910, the U. S. dominated the world in oil, steel, and railroads led by Rockefeller, Schwab (and Carnegie), and Hill. |
Reading today’s news brings home the fact that few of us know much about the history of the world. Many of us are rightfully upset, but Robber Barons ARE the people who develop all countries while amassing fortunes at the expense of others under the guise of conquest, development, “you need this or that.” Think about all that you have in your home that you absolutely do NOT need at all for any reason. If you never saw this or that widget, it would not matter.
Think about all the foodstuffs that we consume that are actually harmful; food and drug industries are rife with Robber Barons . . . and with the help of government. Think about cigarettes; beyond a shadow of a doubt, they main and kill. Executives and shareholders of Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, etc., ARE robber barons. They are making fortunes while individuals die (or, perhaps worse, live and drain taxdollars to help them stay alive — while continuing to smoke).
Our friends, The Robber Barons (aka Super Thieves) have been with us since the dawn of time. As soon as someone decides they want something you have, and the second the desire outstrips their ethics, the game starts. During extensive historical research for a maritime site, I’ve repeatedly been appalled at the machinations of man as I read about who took over what nation and under what circumstances.
Don’t you find it appalling that the British, French, Spanish, Dutch, et. al. sat around divving up countries willy nilly in order to secure spices for England or gold for Queen Isabella of Spain or diamonds for Holland? These countries were already inhabited and some quite developed when Europeans arrived, claimed to have “discovered the land,” and proceeded to invade, rape, pillage, rob, burn . . . They want what they want and they take it.
It seems the only reason so many more of us are aware of international wheeling and dealing is because of the Internet and cellphones; the people have a voice like never before. Little can be hidden.
While government representatives, for example, insist there is no strife in their country, a student or tourist with a cellphone snaps that telling shot . . . the one that shows a different story; one that shows the truth to the world. (Left is a robbery of a jewelry store captured on someone’s cell phone — this was found on the internet!)
This, while I agree, I find this article from the Sovereign Society newsletter quite narrow in scope:
Lies and irresponsibility have become the hallmark of both Wall Street and now Washington are threatening the life savings of individuals.
Noted author and economic analyst John Pugsley was quoted as saying, “Hard working Americans, trying to do everything right, are now at the mercy of the fallout from these lies. And there are three in particular that pose devastating threats. But investors today can protect themselves if they quickly take the appropriate steps…”
For all of us to decide, perhaps, is how much is enough? How much is too much? Do we need all of these developments at the cost of everything else on earth?
In the event you have note wrestled with that one (or have without a satisfactory answer), you might want to see the movie “Avatar,” which addresses some of these issues.
