Tragedy of the Commons
As far back as I can remember my goal when it came to my job was to over achieve first and ask for a raise second. I never thought that I should be compensated first and then because I am so grateful> overachieve as a reward to the boss that was smart enough to recognize my skills in advance.
With $15.00 hour minimum wage demands and everything is free, free, free. What happened? Greece should have been the warning and example of what not to do as a Country and what happens when government keeps pitching benefits and cool sounding ideas to their electorate irregardless of the societal impacts and the "unintended consequences"that may occur as a result.
The human condition is real, not imagined. To get an idea of how sloppy humans can be all you need to do is read about "The Tragedy of the Commons". As an example, the first settlement in North America was known as Jamestown and as a result of total cooperation and equal treatment vs. individual responsibily and incentive it fared miserably and many died of starvation. Historians suggest that the collective land-holding arrangements of the colony stifled individual initiative and discouraged the sort of hard work the colony needed. Why should a man knock himself out in the fields when he received no more food or compensation than the slacker barely working next to him?
People who are given a free ride grow dependent not independent and that is dangerous. Personal responsibility always leaves the building when entitlement moves in. When incentive is removed by wealth redistribution as an example, the over achievers will inevitably STOP over achieving. Why do we need to learn the same societal lessons over and over?
Where are we going with all this? Does everyone really get a trophy? Moreover, does everyone really deserve one? Perhaps the real answer is that I am a dinosaur afterall.
end rant>
J. Solloway
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