The intent of this blog is to promote human equality, human progress, human peace and justice, and optimism. To accomplish this, to encourage the discussion of ideas after identifying and discovering problems, and then creating positive solutions for "we the people," in order to provide for the "general welfare" and "domestic tranquility" of America now and its "posterity" into the future. To encourage an emphasis on separation of religion and state for all, no matter if this is for those "of faith" in a Maker / Creator (Deists, God-loving people, Christians, various people of spirituality) and atheists or agnostics.

Posts tagged ‘andrew carnegie’

Hypothesis for “Where Have All the Leaders Gone?”

Mr. Iacocca, perhaps I am not wealthy enough to be allowed to make conclusions.  Perhaps I have not made it to the top of the heap, as others have done, so I am simply a stupid intellectual to be ignored.

Nevertheless, my recent reading of essays about the wealthiest persons in the world, Andrew Carnegie, I may have stumbled across the answer to the question you posed in your 2007 book, Where Have all the Leaders Gone?

Andrew Carnegie believed CEOs of corporations had to learn what work ethic is and that those who inherited wealth don’t know what true work ethic is.  Therefore, these people should not lead.  They become false models for those who work for them.   The problem of work ethics lies not in the workers, but in the leaders.

In order to fix this idea of “work ethic,” the late Kenneth Lay and other living  stupid leaders force the Ayn Rand “ethics” or “virtues” of selfishness and greed – espoused by Greenspan and Paul Ryan – upon employees like a communist leader or the pope, elders of Mormonism, and the late Jerry Falwell of the Southern Baptists (and other leaders)  claim there is “utopia” if people only follow one way of thinking.

There is no objection to the role greed and selfishness played in the rise of the poor son of Scottish Presbyterian immigrants, wealthy tycoon, Andrew Carnegie, to the accumulation of massive amounts of wealth (when considered for the days he lived).  There is no denying statements by 18th-century economist, Adam Smith, in the claim capitalism should be free of interference.  But to embrace ONLY these statements to validate Ayn Rand’s irrational thoughts about “virtues” or Barry Goldwater’s irrational statements about greed –  there is a virtue in NOT “compromise” – is absurd.

Mitt Romney admires Goldwater’s nonsense “virtues” and Paul Ryan admires Rand’s nonsense “virtues.”  Both fly in the face of one of the wealthiest men in the world.  Andrew Carnegie also believed the wealthy have a duty to society.

Mr. Carnegie lived at a time when unions had not been established, so he agreed with the others in his management cronies.  They were all against unions.  But his reasoning was based on the fact that HE insisted he never had any assistance (or so he claimed – and he is wrong) to earn his wealth.   A teacher had assistance from my mother, became wealthy and departed from the teaching profession, and then spurned my mother.  How many wealthy ones like him disavow the assistance they received from peons along the way?  Thus, it is right for unions to provide assistance to those who don’t have it.  The problem, as you point out in your book, Mr. Iacocca, is when unions become as unreasonable as the wealthy CEOs have also become.

Romney received help from Daddy.  Paul Ryan had an attorney as a father who likely made more money than teachers.  George W. Bush had assistance from his daddy and made a LOUSY leader (as pointed out in your book, Mr. Iacocca).  These are all lousy leaders who have inherited wealth.

Barack Obama worked his way up.  Joe Biden worked low-paying blue collar jobs as he worked his way to the top.  By Andrew Carnegie’s standards, the choice is clear.  Obama and Biden.

Perhaps there are some detected levels of imperfections in these two guys.  Perhaps the same can be said about Andrew Carnegie, too.  When these two guys “step on toes” of others – as Romney / Ryan do all the time – the roar of Fox Noise is deafening.  My bet is that Andrew Carnegie never had that kind of sabotage, but even if he did, his extreme wealth could shut it down immediately.

The problem lies in racism, too.  After all, who are the guys who have likely inherited the wealth today?  Stupid white men who carry a hidden objection to African Americans or Hispanics working their way to the top.  Deceptive men (and women?) who live in denial of their hidden racist attitudes.  And yes, there might be disappointed good white Anglos who are passed over, due to affirmative action.  But why do these idiots continue to vote for stupid white men like Bush, Romney, and Ryan, rather than work together with those who recognize the value of diversity?  Actually, I have heard African Americans, perhaps familiar with Andrew Carnegie’s success, who have spoken out against affirmative action, too.

Where have all the leaders gone, Mr. Iacocca?  Perhaps this blog provides some answers.  But who the hell am I?  Nothing but horse shit, don’t you know?

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Humble Pie or Truth be Hiding – by Deceptive People?

Humility is tough when eating crow.  But do I eat crow and acknowledge a mistake?  Or is there another answer?

Andrew Carnegie.  In my brief look at Andrew Carnegie’s life, I am impressed.  His Scottish-Presbyterian background places him in a better position than the Koch brothers or other super-wealthy today because, at the very least, he believed in Christian principles.  Yes, he was against unions during the time of the robber barons and formation of trade unions in the USA.  But did he actually state his opposition to unions or go along with “management ID” and “management groupthink” of his day?  Unions were perhaps untested in his day, so did this influence Carnegie’s thinking.

The problem with the web today – and I am just as guilty – is the Vannevar Bush syndrome of “hypertext.”  When I read something on the web, I place it in my brain and often forget to document it.  This is a problem for which perhaps causes me to eat humble pie.  Or does it?

I recall reading a quote attributed to Andrew Carnegie.  It went in one of two ways:  “Wealth is created by society, not individuals.”  The other way:  “Wealth is not created by individuals, but by society.”  This quote was either in an op-ed in a newspaper like The Palm Beach Post or it was on the Internet.  It was most likely in the newspaper.  Nevertheless, the Internet has become so pervasive that one can typically find the quote again later.

What has happened is this.  I have quoted this from the piece of paper where I wrote the UNDOCUMENTED quote down.  In other words, I wrote the quote attributed to Andrew Carnegie, but not the source of the quote.  I have quoted this piece of information several times on my blog.  Now I attempt to locate this quote as associated with Andrew Carnegie and the only place this is to be found on Google is the three times I have included it in my blog.

What gives here?

In doing research of this question, I have reviewed numerous writings by Andrew Carnegie himself (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/rbannis1/AIH19th/Carnegie.html, June 1889) and others:  (1) well-referenced article by Nicole Notario (http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper80.html) for a graduate research paper; (2) a Fordham U. essay (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1889carnegie.asp); and various others.  One might conclude from this material (and others) that Carnegie might have made such a statement.  But an actual attribution would take further research.

I am puzzled who wrote this quote and claimed attribution to Andrew Carnegie.  I did not dream this up on my own.  I did not just write this down out of thin air because, at the time, I barely knew diddley squat about this man, except to recall a library at my alma mater, Syracuse University, named after Carnegie and an entire university in Pittsburgh bearing his name.  QUite frankly, having a library named after this man placed him in high regard.  So when I read a supposed quote attributed to him, I took it very seriously.

I am not an idealogue, so I would have had no presumptions or biases.  I found it fascinating that a wealthy tycoon of the late 1800s would make such a statement.

I have also read (and again, perhaps I need to document this) that Carnegie sold his steel companies to a ruthless man named J.P. Morgan in order to devote his time to philanthropic measures.  It was J.P. Morgan (now part of the name of one of the largest banks – one which has screwed consumers with regard to mortgage loans) who gave Franklin D. Roosevelt a hard time, as the Koch Brothers do today to Barack Obama.  It was J.P. Morgan who purportedly (unproven, just word of mouth to me) had his servants cut out pictures and stories of FDR from the morning newspaper each day – before Morgan sat down to read it.  Sounds like the fans of Fox Noise – “don’t tell me anything else but what Fox Noise says.”

Nevertheless, perhaps it was Morgan who was more anti-union than Carnegie?   A hypothetical question.

Ayn Rand has ruined this nation by creating a strong groupthink of selfishness and greed via a fantasy tale.  The visual Media, in particular, has grabbed this extreme fascination with greed and selfishness which causes materialism among the people.  Madison Avenue is a shameful group of hyenas who lack any human qualities whatsoever, as they endorse the principles of greed and selfishness, clouding the picture of what true capitalism, as defined by men like Adam Smith, Andrew Carnegie, Teddy Roosevelt, and others had to say about it.  Jeff Jacoby’s op-ed this past May in the Boston Globe is a tribute to the stupidity of people who view the world only in black and white.  These people say, “either President Obama is a socialist or capitalist, but never can anyone be in the gray areas between and call themselves problem-solvers.”  Like narrow-focused religions – Roman Catholic and Mormons, for instance, there can be no consideration of “gray” areas.

Nevertheless, if I am wrong in attributing this quote about individuals, society, and wealth, then I stand corrected.  However, my admission that I am wrong is more than what egomaniacs in the wealthy class would be willing to do as they hide their money overseas and refuse to divulge their tax information.

BTW.  My scathing remarks about specific religious denominations should not be taken personally, except perhaps those who are hypocrites within those churches.  Perhaps they feel guilty, so therefore take it personally.  But then, imagine the berating my own denomination took in 2008, at the brief glimpse of statements made by ONE of the myriad pastors and clerics within my church.  Double standards in America which remove my liberty and freedom – and the separation of church and state.  Are we afraid to speak about the Christian beliefs of Adam Smith and Andrew Carnegie because such Presbyterian beliefs go against the grain of the dogma and doctrines of huge hierarchically-based churches with strong dictatorial leadership?

Is it humble pie for me or the truth being hidden – by deceptive people … no… deceptive egomaniacs – who seek power and control first,  before reasoning and rationality?  I would like to know.

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Self-righteous Right Wing Fascists in America Today

From the Guideposts daily thoughts:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14”

Learning takes place when people are humble.  Self-righteous people who believe there is only one way to solve a problem are not humble.  This passage does not advocate legislating morality, yet that is what fascist right wing people advocate, proclaiming somehow their “rights” are being trampled should they not be allowed to tell everyone how to live their lives.

Ayn Rand was a wicked person.  She advocates for individual greed and selfishness.  A person cannot be humble when they are greedy and selfish, seeking only what is best for his / her self.  Such people lacking humility remain stubbornly ignorant, never listening to the other side and making an attempt to learn something different from the “traditionalist” stuff which often has been proven NOT to work.  Diana Butler Bass said, “seek traditions, not traditionalism.”

Yet, Libertarians and a man named Paul Ryan worship Ayn Rand and nixes ideas about seeking solutions which would be good for society.  Allen West, lacking humility and remaining stubbornly ignorant, attacks those who don’t agree with him as being “communists.”  Yet Ryan and West attempt to call themselves “Christians” and attract a whole bunch of people who wish to legislate morality – in supposed “Christian” churches.  Dale Carnegie:

“Carnegie held that societal progress relied on individuals meeting their moral obligations to themselves and to society.[63] Thus, he believed real charity supplied the means for those who wish to help themselves, achieve their goals.[64] Moreover, Carnegie urged other wealthy people to contributed to society in the form of parks, works of art, libraries and other endeavors that improved the community, and contributed to the “lasting good”[65] Carnegie also held a strong opinion against inherited wealth. Carnegie believed that the sons of prosperous businesspersons were rarely as talented as their fathers.[66] By leaving large sums of money to their children, wealthy business leaders were wasting resources that could be used to benefit society. Most notably, Carnegie believed that the future leaders of society would rise from the ranks the poor.[67] Carnegie strongly believed in this because he had risen from the bottom. He believed the poor possessed an advantage over the wealthy due to their receiving more attention from their parents, and were taught better work ethics.”[68]

This is quoted from Wikipedia and links to the particular references are included.  Did Romney and Ryan come up from the bottom?  Neither one of them knew what it was like to be blue collar and actually labor for a living.  They have no idea.  They are both elitist snots.  Barack Obama and Joe Biden did work their way up from the bottom.

I recall Anne Richards’s speech at the 1992 Democratic Party convention which nominated Bill Clinton for president.  The words ring true with one of the most wealthy this nation has ever seen:  “Poor George, born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”  Shrub, with the silver spoon and fake way, did not know how to lead.

Taxing the wealthiest portion of America when that part of America refuses to invest in its own nation and puts money and jobs overseas is NOT a wrong thing to do, according to Carnegie’s standards.

When there is something these elitist right wing fascists don’t like, they take the minor parts of such ideas and blow these parts up out of proportion to what is good about such issues.  Take ObamaCare.  I have seen reports which equally discuss the good, bad, and ugly with regard to the plan.  But to listen to the mainstream Media, particularly Fox, all discussions focus on the parts which some people might find offensive, but do not truly have the knowledge (and thus the wisdom) to really understand.  Crony capitalism makes judgments based solely on their wealth, not on the good of society.  Diana Butler Bass:  “Seek wisdom, not certainty.”

Right wing fascists expect perfection, especially from those who don’t agree with them.  Yet, they are not humble enough to realize that the hand with the finger they point in judgment at another person also has three pointing back at themselves and the thumb is thumbing God.  “Judge not lest you be judged.”  Diana Butler Bass:  “Seek to practice, not purity.”

References

Andrew Carnegie (2012).  Wikipedia.  Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Carnegie [63], [64], [65], [66], [67], [68].

Bass, Diana Butler.  (2006).  Christianity for the rest of us : how the neighborhood church is revitalizing the faith.  San Francisco:  Harper.

Daily scripture & reflection newsletter.   (2012, Oct. 27).   OurPrayer daily newsletter (Guideposts) [Email distribution].  ourprayer@email.ourprayer.org

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Republicans Have Occupied the White House More Years than Democrats

If there truly is the problems the Republicans say exist, then those problems are NOT due to Democrats, but to Republicans.  Republicans have occupied the White House more years since the 1950s than the Democrats have occupied it.  It was Bill Clinton, a Democrat, who balanced the Federal budget after inheriting a deficit from a Republican president.  Bill Clinton wisely recognized the approach suggested by super-wealthy (for his day) tycoon, Andrew Carnegie:  “Wealth is not created by individuals, but by society.”

Why do I say this?  Because Bill Clinton recognized that the Middle Class invested in the economy and a strong economy could boost revenue for the Federal government.  The wealthy do not invest in the American economy.  Despite the efforts of the wealthy oligarchy to sabotage what President Obama has proposed, the economy STILL shows signs of recovery.  Think how much better it would be had voters not been suckered by the propaganda money (aka, BOUGHT OUT) of the Republicans in 2010.

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Republicans do not Represent Success, but Represent Swindlers

The advertisement last night (10.23.12) on CNN really bothers me.  Some guy claims Republicans represent “success.”  The implication is that Democrats represent “failure?”  May this guy go to hell in his negativity.

Once there were advertisements from an investment firm which spoke about investing the old-fashioned way:  “we earn it.”

Republicans do not know how to earn money.  They might be present, but I have yet to meet a Boomer Democrat who has refused to pay back his/her student loan.  They have all been Republicans.  That is called swindling the people who have given the money.

There are claims the Republican who thinks he is the legitimate governor of Florida swindled Medicare.  He pleaded the fifth so we will never know the truth, will we?

It is Republicans who encourage people to do something wrong, as long as you get away with it.  Never heard a Democrat encouraging people to take such actions.

It is Republicans who bite the hand that feeds them.  They gain money from government grants, become successful, then turn around and deny the same to others.

Republicans do not EARN their money, they take it from others.  CEOs, primarily Republican, are lazy.  They make so much money by taking from others.  The CEO / lowest worker salary gap is about 70 times what it was in the 1970s when “we the people” were a happier bunch in this nation.  CEOs take money from those who make their corporations hum along.  They STEAL the money.  They are swindlers.

Men and women work hard to raise families, working from paycheck to paycheck.  When such people finally get to the point of finding more discretionary income on hand (it’s called profits and it’s a good thing), why the lazy CEOs wish to take that away from them – and pocket the money in the pockets of lazy executives.  Their corporate entities make excessive profits while denying the people who TRULY fuel the economy the right to make a profit – these lazy people deny “we the people” to attain more of the piece of the American pie.  The money from excessive corporate profits is funneled into lazy men and women’s pockets – at the top of the corporation, as it does to the top of some churches, too.

This is called crony capitalism and monopolistic capitalism, not free market capitalism.  Crony capitalism is designed to destroy competition rather than compete on a level playing field. And one of the competitors these lazy CEOs wish to destroy are the very workers who SHOULD NOT be their competitors, but all should be working together as a team – and rewarded together as a TEAM.  I am talking about the CEO attitude today that workers are nothing but slaves to do their bidding, rather than continue the great American way of negotiating equally on a level playing field.

This stuff of CEOs today is a negative approach to life.  “We the people…” want a positive approach to life which recognizes what a very wealthy man once said:  “Wealth is not created by individuals, but by society.”  (Andrew Carnegie).

So, CNN, don’t put that advertisement about some guy find only Republicans as representative of success.  Oh, but now I am being negative and calling for censorship.  But is that not what the Nazi fascist Republicans wish to do?  Silly me for being so confrontational to such negativity.  I am SOOOOOO negative, don’t you know?  What was the words used by Lee Iacocca to describe some of the crap from greedy Boomers who don’t lead very well in this nation today?  Dare I say it?

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Redemption

Regarding President Obama and comments I made last year about him “lacking balls,” I need to redeem myself.  Let it be known that I fully support Barack Obama and the Democrats, even when there are some issues.  Those issues are not as strong as my desire to see Obama and the Democrats sweep the government.

As a former Republican, I am ashamed of the worship of Grover Norquist – by Republicans.  Their oath should be to their country and the U.S. Constitution, not to a man and his austerity ideology.  Norquist is a traitor.  The tea party consists of traitors, too.  Andrew Carnegie said something like, “wealth is not created by individuals, but by society.”  The Republican approach is wrong.

Furthermore, austerity budgets have always imploded an economy.  Had it not been for Barack Obama and his opposition to complete austerity, there would be no progress with unemployment and the economy at all.

Republicans and their supporters are mean-spirited, non-compassionate liars who promote a centralized economy with few differences from the centralized oligarchy and monopolistic practices of the former Soviet Union.  Early Christians formed communes, but they were nothing like a strong centralized economic oligarchy similar to the Roman Empire which was also responsible for the death of their leader.  When will people begin to put things in the proper perspective?

President Barack Obama is the only man for the White House.

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