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James, <br><br>
Thanks for the response.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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. <br><br>
At 07:18 AM 8/29/2006, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Dr. Harkins,<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
James <br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<hr>
<br>
> Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 22:19:37 -0700<br>
> To: london@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com<br>
> From: jeffh@moscow.com<br>
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] I thought you might be interested in this
article<br>
> <br>
> Bill,<br>
> <br>
> Here is a simple thought for you to ponder ...<br>
> <br>
> The ultimate force that assures that competitive behavior and free
<br>
> choice will provide a check on greed is that there is nothing that
<br>
> can prevent you from becoming the next CEO earning $200 million -
you <br>
> simply have to be willing to commit to that agenda and be willing to
<br>
> make the sacrifices necessary to achieve your goal.<br>
> <br>
> Yes indeed - you could be the CEO of WalMart and you could then
<br>
> restructure that company or any other multinational firm as you see
<br>
> fit - as long as you satisfy the return on capital demands of the
<br>
> shareholders and the expectations of the capital markets.<br>
> <br>
> It really is that simple.<br>
> <br>
> You might consider reading the biographies of Dupont, Firestone,
<br>
> Ford, Hughes, Vanderbilt, Osborne - even Gates (to name a few) to
<br>
> gain a sense of how this is possible.<br>
> <br>
> At 11:03 AM 8/28/2006, you wrote:<br>
> >P-<br>
> >I read it and have a question or two...<br>
> >In response to his sentence ---"I wish you could see that
competitive<br>
> >behavior and free choice are forces that operate in the market
as a check<br>
> >against greed." ---can you explain the existence of $200
million annual<br>
> >compensation packages for major corporate CEO's?<br>
> >what are the countering forces to the power of the
multinational<br>
> >corporations?<br>
> >BL<br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> >----- Original Message -----<br>
> >From: "Pat Kraut" <pkraut@moscow.com><br>
> >To: "vision2020" <vision2020@moscow.com><br>
> >Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 10:14 PM<br>
> >Subject: [Vision2020] I thought you might be interested in this
article<br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> > ><br>
> > > I thought you might be interested in this article:<br>
> > ><br>
> > > Liberals Should Know Better<br>
> > > By Arnold Kling on 17 Jan 2006<br>
> > > You can view it at
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=011606A<br>
> > ><br>
> > ><br>
> > >
=======================================================<br>
> > > List services made available by First Step
Internet,<br>
> > > serving the communities of the Palouse since
1994.<br>
> >
>
<a href="http://www.fsr.net/" eudora="autourl">http://www.fsr.net</a><br>
> >
>
<a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" eudora="autourl">
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
> > >
=======================================================<br>
> > ><br>
> ><br>
> >=======================================================<br>
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,<br>
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<br>
>
>
<a href="http://www.fsr.net/" eudora="autourl">http://www.fsr.net</a><br>
> >
<a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" eudora="autourl">
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
> >=======================================================<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> =======================================================<br>
> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
<br>
>
<a href="http://www.fsr.net /" eudora="autourl">
http://www.fsr.net
</a><br>
>
<a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com" eudora="autourl">
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
> =======================================================<br><br>
<br>
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