Come and see the wonderful future of anarcholiberalism

[Respenus]

http://www.nrc.nl/international/Feat...of_Dutch_youth

I believe enough words have already been said on this forum about the topic, yet I still found it an interesting article to tie it with what has been going on with western society at the moment. I have expressed my concern of a quick return of autocratic elites and the deconstruction of man's liberties that our forefathers shed their blood to make possible. On the other hand, it is a fertile ground for populism and extremism, so danger lurks for our society(ies) in the near and far future.

[SteamWake]

Well if nothing else I learned a new word

[AVGWarhawk]

This has been going on for decades. Nothing new from where I'm standing. Meh, blame the parents who can blame the teachers who can blame the Gore-isms who can blame the global warming who can blame..... that is all this world has come to....

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Well if nothing else I learned a new word

I can't even boast that

[August]

This thread reminds me of something Chinese friend of mine once told me about he called a 5 generation Coolie rule.

It's been a long time since I heard the story but as I remember it went something like this:

The first generation Coolie, motivated to get out of the crushing poverty he was born into, carefully builds up his business. Eventually with enough hard work and luck he is able to turn it over to his eldest son (2nd generation).

This son, who also spends at least a good portion of his childhood in poverty as his father built up the family business knows the value of what has been passed on to him and he spends his life striving to grow and care for it so as to eventually pass it on in good shape to his son (3rd generation).

This 3rd generation Coolie however has been born into this wealth. As a result he never really learns to appreciate it like his father and grandfather did. Under his leadership the business stops growing and stagnates. He's more interested in pleasurable pursuits, content to leave the day to day running of the business to employees.

When his son (4th generation) eventually takes over the business the poverty and hard times experienced by the 1st and second generation are nothing but boring stories told by old men. Under his control the business crumbles through neglect. A mere shell that is eventually sold to cover debts run up by himself and his father.

By the time his son (5th generation) grows up the business is gone and he is forced back into the poverty his family escaped from 4 generations ago thus completing the cycle.

I can often see parallels between that story and modern western civilization.

[AVGWarhawk]

Good story August and very telling of how society is going.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Originally Posted by August

This thread reminds me of something Chinese friend of mine once told me about he called a 5 generation Coolie rule.

It's been a long time since I heard the story but as I remember it went something like this:

The first generation Coolie, motivated to get out of the crushing poverty he was born into, carefully builds up his business. Eventually with enough hard work and luck he is able to turn it over to his eldest son (2nd generation).

This son, who also spends at least a good portion of his childhood in poverty as his father built up the family business knows the value of what has been passed on to him and he spends his life striving to grow and care for it so as to eventually pass it on in good shape to his son (3rd generation).

This 3rd generation Coolie however has been born into this wealth. As a result he never really learns to appreciate it like his father and grandfather did. Under his leadership the business stops growing and stagnates. He's more interested in pleasurable pursuits, content to leave the day to day running of the business to employees.

When his son (4th generation) eventually takes over the business the poverty and hard times experienced by the 1st and second generation are nothing but boring stories told by old men. Under his control the business crumbles through neglect. A mere shell that is eventually sold to cover debts run up by himself and his father.

By the time his son (5th generation) grows up the business is gone and he is forced back into the poverty his family escaped from 4 generations ago thus completing the cycle.

I can often see parallels between that story and modern western civilization.

I remember reading in Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror where she talks about families becoming nobles. For whatever reason, on average they only stayed ennobled for about 200 years, either dying out or losing their noble status.

Yes, indeedy, family wealth can be fleeting. I once went to a college where there were lots of rich white kids playing hippie. That's not a lifestyle likely to prolong dynastic wealth.

[August]

So how do we instill such values into succeeding generations without exposing them to the hard times that build such drive and character?