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View Full Version : Let's not forget the forgotten man



Robert A Whit
06-20-2013, 07:39 PM
The type and formula of most schemes of philanthropy or humanitarianism is this: A and B put their heads together to decide what C shall be made to do for D. The radical vice of all these schemes, from a sociological point of view, is that C is not allowed a voice in the matter, and his position, character, and interests, as well as the ultimate effects on society through C's interests, are entirely overlooked. I call C the Forgotten Man.
For once let us look him up and consider his case, for the characteristic of all social doctors is that they fix their minds on some man or group of men whose case appeals to the sympathies and the imagination, and they plan remedies addressed to the particular trouble; they do not understand that all the parts of society hold together, and that forces which are set in action act and react throughout the whole organism, until an equilibrium is produced by a readjustment of all interests and rights.
They therefore ignore entirely the source from which they must draw all the energy which they employ in their remedies, and they ignore all the effects on other members of society than the ones they have in view. They are always under the dominion of the superstition of government, and, forgetting that a government produces nothing at all, they leave out of sight the first fact to be remembered in all social discussion — that the state cannot get a cent for any man without taking it from some other man, and this latter must be a man who has produced and saved it. This latter is the Forgotten Man.
The friends of humanity start out with certain benevolent feelings toward "the poor," "the weak," "the laborers," and others of whom they make pets. They generalize these classes, and render them impersonal, and so constitute the classes into social pets. They turn to other classes and appeal to sympathy and generosity, and to all the other noble sentiments of the human heart. Action in the line proposed consists in a transfer of capital from the better off to the worse off.


Very good so far, right??

Read all of the paper


http://mises.org/daily/2485

fj1200
06-20-2013, 09:20 PM
How about this Forgotten Man (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060936428).

Robert A Whit
06-20-2013, 09:48 PM
How about this Forgotten Man (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060936428).

Amity is a very good author. Read it some time ago. She makes an awesome case.

gabosaurus
06-20-2013, 11:57 PM
I always forget to remember those who should never be forgotten. But before we recall the forgotten, one must explore why they have been forgotten in the first place. Obviously, something about them is not entirely memorable, which is why they are forgotten in the first place. As for this particular person, it is obvious why so many fail to remember him. His ideas and accomplishments are fairly forgettable and not really worth not forgetting why he was forgotten.

Robert A Whit
06-21-2013, 12:12 AM
I always forget to remember those who should never be forgotten. But before we recall the forgotten, one must explore why they have been forgotten in the first place. Obviously, something about them is not entirely memorable, which is why they are forgotten in the first place. As for this particular person, it is obvious why so many fail to remember him. His ideas and accomplishments are fairly forgettable and not really worth not forgetting why he was forgotten.

You were reminded but with a mind like yours, you forgot the moment you were reminded.