For those who have not yet seen it, there is an
interesting article (front page) in the Sunday 7 Nov 99
New York Times about a brother and sister who
were born in East Germany, but the sister came to America and
the brother remained in Germany. The article compares
their attitudes and lives, in America vs Germany,
and the old East Germany vs the new united Germany.
One quote all the free marketeers will like. The sister
describes "communism's effect on motivation:
nobody wants to herd the state's sheep
".
Now this brings to my mind several thoughts: (1) Garrett Hardin's
classic article which we have talked about here, "The
Tragedy of the Commons".
(2) The hypothesis that herding sheep may be an
intrinsically unappealing human activity (???), and
(3) I bet you could get graduate students in
animal science / veterinary school / etc. to herd
those sheep [or at least their State University
department's sheep...] as part of the "dues" they pay
to get their union cards (errh --> PhDs).
(4) If we conceptualize herding sheep as "the moral equivalent of war",
then we can get them herded by applying the very
American method of conscription ("Selective Service"...)....
\brad mccormick
--
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua NY 10514-3403 USA
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