3 economic doomsaying experts

[parsley]

There are many cultures thatnon their own way,
are successful according to their own
benchmarks. Castro would argue that EVERY
citizen receive their equal annual allotment of
beans. Russians enjoy their daily allotment of
vodka.The Saudis live by their Sharia law...
Nothing else is as important as it is.

But nor are they MY culture. They are foreign to
me

Compared to the rest of the world, cott, you are
plain rich. And yes, there is an economic tide
coming in, but you have land , which always
retains it's value. As long as you head into high
tide without unreasonable debt, bad credit , and
high expectations, you will swim.

There is not one farmer or person in ag reading
this post, who does not know how to cut back,
make do, work hard and hang tough.

That's quite the gang, folks. Quite the gang of
know-how's. . Pars
Ah

[farmaholic]

Parsley: If one lived north of a certain latitude, were lazy or had little work ethic, one never survived. Or worse yet, socialism took care of those.

[parsley]

farmaholic,
You,ve noticed, 'work or freeze' can stem from a
cold clime! You've probably been out there
slugging once to often in forty below; perhaps
that's how a solid work culture is formed.

We spent almost a month in NYC and they bustle;
a phenomena to behold; like an anthill, as if one
automatically triggers the other to hustle; a work
and excellence contagion that sweeps through the
city.

Your children watch you during harvest, or calving
season, or seeding time; and absorb your sense
of urgency to get the job finished, to be
productive, that will stay with them always.
Agriculture does it well. Pars

[parsley]

On the other hand, farmaholic, look at the
Angliosphere software 2009 chart. The countries
arent climate identical. What makes a specific
group of countries computer oriented? Chance?

What makes a group of countries production
oriented? Look at the top company charts.

What makes a group of countries invent and
enjoy air conditioned tractors?(You'd expect the
Sudan to invent air conditioning!)

Climate is merely one factor that builds a
successful culture. Pars

[FarmRanger]

Why has the west been as economically
successful as it has? The Christian foundation of
our society. Borrowing against another's future
earnings is a relatively recent phenomenon, which
violates the Christian work ethic. Our culture's
straying from our roots is becoming our biggest
problem.
Don't want to be preachy, but our ancestors work
ethic is pretty clearly explained in 2 Thessalonians
3:6-13 (NIV)

"[6] In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we
command you, brothers, to keep away from every
brother who is idle and does not live according to
the teaching you received from us. [7] For you
yourselves know how you ought to follow our
example. We were not idle when we were with
you, [8] nor did we eat anyone’s food without
paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night
and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not
be a burden to any of you. [9] We did this, not
because we do not have the right to such help,
but in order to make ourselves a model for you to
follow. [10] For even when we were with you, we
gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall
not eat.” [11] We hear that some among you are
idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. [12]
Such people we command and urge in the Lord
Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread
they eat. [13] And as for you, brothers, never tire
of doing what is right."

[pgluca]

Parsley, I see a lot of back slapping going on but, I don't for one minute believe that the Oriental culture doesn't have a very strong work ethic. Go to some western Canadian Universities and check out who is at the top of the class. Go to Vancouver look around. My much earlier post wasn't saying that we would speak Mandarin, but that they would have a definite influence on our culture. On another point I would say that work ethic in the west is being eroded by a sense of entitlement. Hopefully we are in the middle of a reality check right now.

[parsley]

pgluca, I agree that the far eastern work ethic is
admirable. Vietnam and Singapore and Hong
Kong and Japan and china are truly Clydesdales
pulling their work loads.

But in my HO, hard work is not the only
determinant that brings a high standard of living.
Political systems make a difference. Customs
make a difference. Intelligence makes a
difference. Many factors! Religion can make a
difference, Farm Ranger contends. Rather timely
comment for me , because I am reading a 1950
published book named Totem Poles written by
Marius Barbeau. It describes and depicts all the
totem poles, house posts and frontals and the
grave pillars of BC and Alaska and the folk tales
and mythology that the Haida artists based their
work on. The Immaculate and Conception
themes, as are also the themes of Bear Mother,
the Dragon, Orpheus, Raven and so on.

Spirituality can do many things...define, enhance,
guide, limit, enslave, and so on. It isn't the only
factor in development though, is it ? Pars.

I sure opened up a big can of soup didn't I? LOL.
I should know better, pgluca, LOL.

[parsley]

pgluca, I wonder if we don't need to backslap
every once in awhile and appreciate what we
have and who we are.

Would you trade places with any other culture in
the world? Whom? Hah! Spring fever tag. You're
it. Pars

[farmaholic]

Oddly it is the immigrant worker who is satisfied working anywhere. It is our own spoiled brats who would rather sit in their parents basement playing online video games all night making them too tired to get up the next morning to go to the same job the immigrant is taking.

Every parent wants it better for their children than what they had. How much higher can the bar be raised? Has anyone been to kids birthday parties these days? Vehicles bought for them as soon as they have a license to drive. One maybe two hot holidays a year and school doesn't seem to get in the way of that either. Run from one activity to the next or quitting half way through because they don't want to do it anymore.

Parsley: I agree farm kids at one time probably had a better work ethic but I don't know if I can say the same for the current batch. Lifestyle between urban and rural isn't that dramatically different anymore. If the kid isn't made to do anything they(few) won't look for anything either. I can only hope that maybe, just maybe, my example will have an influence, ultimately it is up to them.

Boy talk about off topic, Sorry.

[parsley]

farmaholic, I agree all parents want their children
to be 'better off' than their parents. Washing
machines come to mind. Ipads. I know many
people who are rich but not spoiled.

But teaching children to earn their toys , as
opposed to simply buying the kids the toys...ah!
there's the catch.................

Doesn't the true meaning of both earning and
non-entitlement stem from the word, "No"? As
you well what know parenting demands, you
probably say it often. Pars