[Vision2020] I thought you might be interested in this article

[Jeff Harkins]

James,

Thanks for the response.

Yes, the challenges are significant - but the opportunity 
remains.  It must also be remembered that our knowledge stock is much 
greater and folks have better knowledge systems to work with.

I usually try to avoid sports metaphors, but since Joe brought 
political parties into the discussion, I will allow myself a breach 
into that arena.  The recent success (dominance) of Tiger Woods in 
golf is a testament to the power of the individual.  The dominance of 
Michael Jordan in basketball, Lance Armstrong in cycling, Mia Hamm in 
women's soccer are all testaments to the achievements of the 
individual spirit.  And yet, as I look at the young athletes of 
today, I realize that the next Tiger Woods is out there - and he will emerge.

Despite all its faults, the American free enterprise system remains 
the envy and hope of the rest of the world.   We can agree to 
disagree on the chances for the American dream.  I agree with you 
that we face significant economic and political challenges.  But I am 
persuaded to the view that challenges create opportunities.  I remain 
optimistic in my views - there have never been more opportunities for 
young entreprenuers than at present.

At 07:18 AM 8/29/2006, you wrote:
>Dr. Harkins,
>
>I think this line of reasoning would have more true thirty years ago 
>than it is in today's economic/political environment. The tax 
>breaks, reduction of anti-trust laws and outright giveaways 
>corporate America receives confers to them a clear monopoly. I don't 
>seriously believe that Bill London, I, nor even you, could break 
>through the protective barrier of collusion that the government and 
>big business have designed to keep us common folk in their proper 
>position. Perhaps if you married or were born into it, but not 
>otherwise, is there the chance for the American dream as there was 
>30 years ago.
>
>James
>
>
>
>
>
>
>----------
>
> > Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 22:19:37 -0700
> > To: london at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
> > From: jeffh at moscow.com
> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] I thought you might be interested in this article
> >
> > Bill,
> >
> > Here is a simple thought for you to ponder ...
> >
> > The ultimate force that assures that competitive behavior and free
> > choice will provide a check on greed is that there is nothing that
> > can prevent you from becoming the next CEO earning $200 million - you
> > simply have to be willing to commit to that agenda and be willing to
> > make the sacrifices necessary to achieve your goal.
> >
> > Yes indeed - you could be the CEO of WalMart and you could then
> > restructure that company or any other multinational firm as you see
> > fit - as long as you satisfy the return on capital demands of the
> > shareholders and the expectations of the capital markets.
> >
> > It really is that simple.
> >
> > You might consider reading the biographies of Dupont, Firestone,
> > Ford, Hughes, Vanderbilt, Osborne - even Gates (to name a few) to
> > gain a sense of how this is possible.
> >
> > At 11:03 AM 8/28/2006, you wrote:
> > >P-
> > >I read it and have a question or two...
> > >In response to his sentence ---"I wish you could see that competitive
> > >behavior and free choice are forces that operate in the market as a check
> > >against greed." ---can you explain the existence of $200 million annual
> > >compensation packages for major corporate CEO's?
> > >what are the countering forces to the power of the multinational
> > >corporations?
> > >BL
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Pat Kraut" <pkraut at moscow.com>
> > >To: "vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > >Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 10:14 PM
> > >Subject: [Vision2020] I thought you might be interested in this article
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > I thought you might be interested in this article:
> > > >
> > > > Liberals Should Know Better
> > > > By Arnold Kling on 17 Jan 2006
> > > > You can view it at http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=011606A
> > > >
> > > >
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> > >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
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> >
> >
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> >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> >                http://www.fsr.net
> >           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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>
>
>
>----------
>Express yourself with gadgets on Windows Live Spaces 
><http://discoverspaces.live.com?source=hmtag1&loc=us>Try it!
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