Pilgrims
WALL STREET JOURNAL
The account below explains how socialism/Marxism, which forces outcomes and discourages incentives, so that slackers get an equal share for less work or no work, fails 100% of the time. This is what Barack Obama and Democrats are trying to force on America today in every way but especially with Health Care.
First harvest (1621) They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl there was a great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides they had about a peck a meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to the proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports. Private and communal farming (1623) All this while no supply was heard of, neither knew they when they might expect any. So they began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length, after much debate of things, the Governor (with the advice of the chiefest amongst them) gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves; in all other thing to go on in the general way as before. And so assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number, for that end, only for present use (but made no division for inheritance) and ranged all boys and youth under some family. This had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. 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. The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato's and other ancients applauded by some of later times; and that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. 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 the 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. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in division of victuals and clothes than he that was weak and not able to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalized in labors and victuals, clothes etc., with the meaner and younger sort, thought it some indignity and disrespect unto them. And for men's wives to be commanded to do service for other men, as dressing their meat, washing their clothes, etc., they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could many husbands well brook it. Upon the point all being to have alike, and all to do alike, they thought themselves in the like condition, and one as good as another; and so, if it did not cut off those relations that God hath set amongst men, yet it did at least much diminish and take off the mutual respects that should be preserved amongst them. And would have been worse if they had been men of another condition. Let none object this is men's corruption, and nothing to the course itself. I answer, seeing all men have this corruption in them, God in His wisdom saw another course fitter for them.
Don't Pull Back 'Progressive' policies would cause economic regression. By PETE DU PONT December 17, 2008 Full article Pete Du Pont Wall Street Journal Excerpts:
Economist David M. Smick's recent book, "The World Is Curved," shows that during the past quarter-century we have had a global "golden age of wealth creation and poverty reduction never before seen in the history of mankind." The global free market "experienced an unprecedented doubling of its labor force from 2.7 billion to 6 billion"; the U.S. had 40 million new jobs created; "the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed from 800 to over 12,000" (it is back under 9000 now); and, according to the Federal Reserve, U.S. households saw their net worth increase from $11 trillion in 1982 to more than $56 trillion today. And due to the expanded financial globalization, America has been in recession only 5% of the time for the past 25 years, compared with 22% in the previous 25 years, when there were no global markets. We have recently done well on other counts as well. There has been no terrorist attack on America since 9/11, and the surge has worked well enough in Iraq that the country is significantly improving. Here at home we had one of the best-executed presidential campaigns in several decades, and President-elect Obama's initial cabinet nominees have been experienced individuals. ###
Concerned with losing their cultural identity, the group, later to become known as the Pilgrims, made arrangements with investors to establish a new colony in North America. There were many challenges to be overcome by these new colonists. There was bureaucracy, impatient investors conflicts from within, even sabotage. Mayflower Compact
With the charter for the Plymouth Council for New England incomplete by the time the colonists departed England (it would be granted while they were in transit, on November 3/November 13,[26]) they arrived without a patent; the older Wincob patent was from their abandoned dealings with the London Company. Some of the passengers, aware of the situation, suggested that without a patent in place, they were free to do as they chose upon landing and ignore the contract with the investors.[35][36] To address this issue, a brief contract, later to be known as the Mayflower Compact, was drafted promising cooperation among the settlers "for the general good of the Colony unto which we promise all due submission and obedience." It was ratified by majority rule, with 41 adult male passengers signing.[37] At this time, John Carver was chosen as the colony's first governor. First landings Pilgrims Thorough exploration of the area was delayed for over two weeks because the shallop or pinnace (a smaller sailing vessel) they brought had been partially dismantled to fit aboard the Mayflower and was further damaged in transit. Small parties, however, waded to the beach to fetch firewood and attend to long-deferred personal hygiene. While awaiting the shallop, exploratory parties led by Myles Standish—a Manx soldier the colonists had met while in Leiden—and one Christopher Jones were undertaken. They encountered several old buildings, both European-built and Native-built, and a few recently cultivated fields. An artificial mound was found near the dunes, which they partially uncovered and found to be a Native grave. Further along, a similar mound, more recently made, was found, and as the colonists feared they might otherwise starve, they ventured to remove some of the provisions which had been placed in the grave. Baskets of maize were found inside, some of which the colonists took and placed into an iron kettle they also found nearby, while they reburied the rest, intending to use the borrowed corn as seed for planting.
With the charter for the Plymouth Council for New England incomplete by the time the colonists departed England (it would be granted while they were in transit, on November 3/November 13,[26]) they arrived without a patent; the older Wincob patent was from their abandoned dealings with the London Company. Some of the passengers, aware of the situation, suggested that without a patent in place, they were free to do as they chose upon landing and ignore the contract with the investors.[35][36] To address this issue, a brief contract, later to be known as the Mayflower Compact, was drafted promising cooperation among the settlers "for the general good of the Colony unto which we promise all due submission and obedience." It was ratified by majority rule, with 41 adult male passengers signing.[37] At this time, John Carver was chosen as the colony's first governor.
First landings Pilgrims Exploration of the entire area was delayed for more than two weeks because the smaller sailing vessels they brought were no longer functional. So,small parties, went ashore fetched firewood and paid much attention to personal hygiene, an area badly in need of such attention. MILES STANDISH Still waiting for the arrival of a shallop, exploratory parties led by Myles Standish—a Manx soldier exploratory efforts were undertaken. Standish and one Christopher Jones discovered several old buildings, both European-built and Native-built, and a few recently cultivated fields. Further along, an artificial mound was found. This turned out to be a Native grave. Further along, a similar mound, more recently made, was found, and as the colonists feared they might otherwise starve, the provisions which had been placed in the grave, proved too much to pass up, when fear remained as to having enough to eat. Maize was found. The colonists took it and placed into an iron kettle they also found nearby. Pilgrims
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