“Culture trumps economics”

7 Replies to ““Culture trumps economics””

1. Not true! Sweden’s economy went critical in 1990 and they’ve never been the socialist same since. Taxes and the size of government have been relentlessly declining since then, regardless of government.
   Economics = reality. Reality subsumes all, even culture.

2. “Culture trumps economics” may be a bit of a hamfisted way of stating the case. But culture certainly has a huge impact on economic development. When was the last time you got pan-handled by an asian?

3. Very relevant: “Wealth And Poverty Of Nations”:
   http://www.amazon.ca/books/dp/0393318885
   Mark
   Ottawa

4. A terrific response to yet another more-equality-through-more-government inevitable snoozefest of an opinion piece.
   The only way to improve the response would have been a smattering of Tocqueville:
   “Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations…In democratic countries, knowledge of how to combine is the mother of all other forms of knowledge; on its progress depends that of all the others.”
   “In towns, it is impossible to prevent men from assembling, getting excited together and forming sudden passionate resolves. Towns are like great meeting houses with all the inhabitants as members. In them the people wield immense influence over their magistrates and often carry their desires into execution without intermediaries.”
   “Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”
   etc.

5. There has been a pronounced and ever-increasing attitudinal shift in our private sector within the last 20 – 30 years. The rationalization goes something like this: “We work, we pay taxes, and they just piss it away. So if they’re corrupt and dishonest, why should we continue to support them?”
   Note the us and them. There is no sense that the people are the government and the government is the people. Not only are they separate entities, they’re antagonists.

6. Bingo, both Jamie’s comment and the original article.
   The first thing to die once govt takes over, is compassion, the next is initiative.
   Since local charities have become fully funded by govt, I give nothing.
   It is us and them, they are the Kleptocracy and proud of it. Systematically robbing and handicapping the producers, while insisting how much their “help”is essential.
   The current shortage of skilled workers is part and parcel of this bureaucratic help.
   What a journeyman used to do in 5 minutes, now requires 2 hours of safety paperwork and empty talk, before starting.So much wasted time and idiocy that creative people with a work ethic become invisible, unavailable to work in these over regulated sites.
   Many tradesmen are now balking and refusing to work for idiots.
   My current line is,” yes I can fix most anything mechanical or electrical. But I can not fix stupid.”

7. Articles like that one in the Star are mostly designed to scare up more “work” for the elitist class that runs government programs.