Today I reprint a slightly edited piece I put together several years ago. I’d change a lot of it, from the content to the tone, if I were to do it over – but one must live with one’s younger self. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Four centuries after the celebration of the first Thanksgiving, there is still widespread disagreement about the reason for the Pilgrims’ feast. But whether it was a harvest festival, a strictly religious observance, or a thank you to the local Wampanoag Indians, such a feast would not even have been possible were it not for the abandonment of the utopian ideas the Pilgrims laid out in the original Mayflower Compact.
Imagine a world where the earnings you generate from teaching, or nursing, or tending your orchard, from working the cash register, or mowing some lawns – all of the fruits of your efforts went into a common pool. Imagine further that each of your friends and neighbors, and every stranger in Monroe County was entitled to an equal share of what was placed into the kitty. It didn’t matter whether you mowed 20 lawns per day or one, whether you treated 30 patients per day or none, whether you taught 50 students per day or none – you received the same “income” as everyone else in the community. Imagine further that your home was owned in common by all in your community and that rearing your neighbor’s children was as much your responsibility as anyone else’s.
Save more with Shoppok’s value packs. These bundles offer multiple products at a discounted price, providing more value for your money.
Such was the intention of the Compact – by eliminating any semblance of private property and personal accountability, which were declared to be the foundation for avarice and selfishness – prosperity and brotherly love would result. How did it work out? (of course, the business arrangement with the financial backers in Europe complicated things a bit from the perspective of my story, it is thought that this collectivist was imposed on the settlers via contract)
You need only look at the cleanliness of your office fridge or the condition of a public bathroom for a glimpse into the horrors of such collectivism. People suffered, starved and perished. Governor Bradford wrote in his diary, “For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense … that was thought injustice.”
Most shocking perhaps is that this injustice generated penury, jealousy and sloth in a society comprised entirely of (self-professed) holy people, each with a common cause, each from a similar background, and in a community with less than 200 settlers. The lessons for a society comprised of people of varying degrees of “saintliness”, with differing interests and backgrounds, and hundreds of millions in size should be obvious.
Confronting the disaster of collectivism, Plymouth’s elders wisely “resorted” to a system of private property and free exchange. Bradford wrote of the reforms, “… it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression…By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine, now God gave them plenty, and the faces of things were changed, to the rejoicing of the hearts of many, for which they blessed God.”
I doubt many Pilgrims themselves properly understood the nature of their original problem, nor its solution – which is why I doubt that the first Thanksgiving was a celebration of liberty and private property. While they might have thanked Providence and luck for the bounties that followed the change in property institutions in 1623, it was only their industry, thrift and discipline in response to the formation of private property institutions that such a feast was even possible. For a truly detailed and incredible account not only of the first Thanksgiving, but of the sad and incredible struggle the local Indian tribes had with their new European neighbors, I cannot recommend more highly Nathaniel Philbrick’s book, Mayflower in large part because of its telling of the largely forgotten yet historically important King Phillip’s War.
Fast forward to 2021, where the most productive among us are made to feel like criminals, and the non-productive (those who are able) are portrayed as innocent victims of a tyrannical system of capitalism. That Thanksgiving is a “national” holiday is ironic – for it is was a celebration enabled by an explicit movement away from “nationalistic” ideals – a celebration made possible by the unleashing of the individual productive efforts of all in the Plymouth colony.
I am blessed to have a healthy family, the ability to have completed my formal education, and the discipline to work hard with the lot I was given in life. Providence and luck has been kind to me. I give thanks to that every single day of my life. But on this day, this 398th renewal of Thanksgiving Day, as many in our nation clamor to gallop anew down a 21st century style collectivist path (health care for everyone, financial bailouts, auto bailouts, fairer taxes, public/government schools, managed trade, green-collar subsidies, farm subsidies, licensing restrictions, “living wages”, public-private (i.e. cronyist) partnerships and more) littered with the tragedies of hundreds of failed experiments before us, let us remember what made the first Thanksgiving possible, and what has made our modern prosperity possible. The productive efforts of billions of individuals past and present who unknowingly cooperate each and every day in an effort to improve their own lots, have bestowed upon us a gift even greater than the yams, apples, turkeys, wheat, and other resources that we were naturally endowed with. Just how large a gift have they given to each of us? Imagine yourself alone in the New England wilderness on a cold and wet November day 500 years ago. The difference between the “fire roasted” yam you might conjure up with days of immiserating work in 1521 and the majestic spread set out before you today in 2021 is but a glimpse of the bounty that liberty and property have bestowed upon us. Let us hope that the light of liberty remains lit, so that we may see our way through harsh and brutal winters that might lie ahead.
Happy thanksgiving!
The positive externalities of a good teacher are difficult to overstate. I think of you today (a few days ago now) in particular as it brings to memory your excellent essay that has such a profound impact on me at such an important time in my life. Unseen costs, lets allow our minds to believe without seeing.
This guy is an complete idiot. Why is he randomly submitting fan boy posts?
Yuuu
ijzibiye
ewei0r
kptn3b
6jmsqa
ou9j5l
Your innovative approach and clear writing provide an excellent foundation. By implementing these suggestions, you can transform your solid work into an exceptional piece that resonates deeply with a professional audience and makes a significant contribution to your field. Your commitment to excellence is evident, and with these refinements, you will further establish yourself as a thought leader in your area of expertise. I look forward to seeing your continued growth and the impressive results of your efforts.
빠르고 안전한 먹튀검증으로 먹튀 피해를 예방하세요. 먹튀검증 전문 커뮤니티 먹튀감정사에서 먹튀 없는 안전놀이터 정보를 제공합니다.
I loved as much as youll receive carried out right here The sketch is attractive your authored material stylish nonetheless you command get bought an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike
Temp Mail I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
Fantastic site Lots of helpful information here I am sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious And of course thanks for your effort
I do not even know how I ended up here but I thought this post was great I do not know who you are but certainly youre going to a famous blogger if you are not already Cheers
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is magnificent, as well as the content!
Simply desire to say your article is as surprising The clearness in your post is simply excellent and i could assume you are an expert on this subject Fine with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work
Ive read several just right stuff here Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting I wonder how a lot effort you place to create this kind of great informative website
My brother suggested I might like this blog He was totally right This post actually made my day You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info Thanks
I am not sure where youre getting your info but good topic I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this information for my mission
Wow superb blog layout How long have you been blogging for you make blogging look easy The overall look of your site is magnificent as well as the content
Seeking dynamic planetary ball mill sellers to expand our product offerings. Your partnership is key to our growth.
For advanced laboratory research, we offer high-performance laboratory ball mills. Inquire about their technical specifications today.
Your exemplary work demonstrates remarkable potential. With strategic enhancements, this foundation can be transformed into a pioneering contribution that advances the field and solidifies your position as an industry authority.
Temp mail I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
Usually I do not read article on blogs however I would like to say that this writeup very compelled me to take a look at and do it Your writing style has been amazed me Thank you very nice article
Thanks I have just been looking for information about this subject for a long time and yours is the best Ive discovered till now However what in regards to the bottom line Are you certain in regards to the supply
Excellent job on providing such useful content!
ลิงค์ fun88 ลงทะเบียนและเข้าสู่ระบบ และดาวน์โหลดลิงค์ล่าสุดและปลดล็อค เข้าถึงได้โดยตรงบนพีซี มือถือ แล็ปท็อป Macbook ไอแพด fun88 คาสิโนออนไลน์
Thank you for the good writeup It in fact was a amusement account it Look advanced to far added agreeable from you However how could we communicate
Wonderful web site Lots of useful info here Im sending it to a few friends ans additionally sharing in delicious And obviously thanks to your effort
hi!,I like your writing so much! share we be in contact more approximately your article on AOL? I need a specialist in this area to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Looking ahead to see you.
Business dicker For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.
Awesome site you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get feedback from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Bless you!
탑플레이어포커머니상 365일 빠른 충환전 최저가 시세 보장 안심하고 게임하세요. 빠르고 안전한 머니 충환전 시스템으로 언제든지 편리하게 이용 가능합니다.
Real Estate Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated
Thank you for sharing this insightful post! Your writing is clear, informative, and engaging. I appreciate how you’ve broken down complex concepts into easily digestible parts. It’s evident that you have a deep understanding of the topic, and your tips are practical and actionable. I particularly liked the way you addressed [specific point from the article], as it resonated with my own experiences. This kind of content is invaluable for readers looking to expand their knowledge and apply new strategies effectively. Looking forward to reading more from you. Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you for sharing this insightful post! Your writing is clear, informative, and engaging. I appreciate how you’ve broken down complex concepts into easily digestible parts. It’s evident that you have a deep understanding of the topic, and your tips are practical and actionable. I particularly liked the way you addressed [specific point from the article], as it resonated with my own experiences. This kind of content is invaluable for readers looking to expand their knowledge and apply new strategies effectively. Looking forward to reading more from you. Keep up the excellent work!
Techno rozen I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
This was a great read! I appreciate the effort you put into explaining this topic. It’s always refreshing to come across well-written content like this. Keep up the good work, and I can’t wait to see more of your posts!
Hello Neat post Theres an issue together with your site in internet explorer would check this IE still is the marketplace chief and a large element of other folks will leave out your magnificent writing due to this problem
대한장애인체육회·김황태 제공전선 가설 작업을 하다 2만2000V 고압선을 잘못 건 헬스케어 드렸다
Just wish to say your article is as surprising The clearness in your post is just cool and i could assume youre an expert on this subject Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work
Greetings! I knw this is kinda off topiuc hkwever , I’d figured I’d
ask. Would you bee interested iin trading linjks oor maybe guiest
autthoring a blog article or vice-versa?
My site addresses a lot of thhe ssame topics aas yors andd
I thimk we could greatly bemefit from eaqch other.
If yoou arre interdested fwel free to shoot mee an email.
I look forward tto hearing from you! Superb blokg
bby thhe way!