By Warner Todd Huston ——Bio and Archives--November 24, 2011
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…found to breed much confusion and discontente, and # much imployment that would have been to their benefite and comforte. For the yong-men that were most able and fitte for labour and service did repine that they should spend their time and streingth to worke for other mens wives and children, with out any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in divission of victails and cloaths, than he that was weake and not able to doe a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalised in labours, and victuals, cloaths, etc., with the meaner and younger sorte, thought it some indignite and disrespect unto them. And for men’s wives to be commanded to doe service for other men, as dresing their meate, washing their cloaths, etc., they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could many husbands well brooke it.Imagine that, eh? The strong and industrious realized that their hard work brought them nothing more than those that did no work at all. Why work at all if just lounging about brought the same comfort and sustenance as hard work did? What’s the point of knocking oneself out with hard work? Finally, Bradford and the other leaders realized that what we would call a capitalist approach to their society was necessary. So, they changed their rules and allowed that those that worked hard would benefit first and foremost from their own labor. Once the pilgrims made this change to their society, they began to thrive. Bradford later reported on their success…
By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine, now God gave them plentie, and the face of things was changed, to the rejoysing of the harts of many, for which they blessed God. And in the effect of their perticular planting was well seene, for all had, one way and other, pretty well to bring the year aboute, and some of the abler sorte and more industrious had to spare, and sell to others, 50 as any generall wante of famine hath not been amongest them since to this day.So there you have it. Communism was tried and found wanting several hundreds years ago and over two hundred years before Marx imagined in his arrogance that he had imagined the perfect system. Happy Thanksgiving everyone, a truly American celebration in every way. *William Bradford, History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647
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Warner Todd Huston’s thoughtful commentary, sometimes irreverent often historically based, is featured on many websites such as Breitbart.com, among many, many others. He has also written for several history magazines, has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows.
He is also the owner and operator of Publius’ Forum.