I was reminded recently of William J. H. Boetcker (1873-1962). He's perhaps best known for his 1916 pamphlet, "The Ten Cannots". In summary:
- You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
- You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
- You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
- You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
- You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
- You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
- You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
- You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
- You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
- And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.
He also authored this list of "Seven National Crimes":
- I don't think.
- I don't know.
- I don't care.
- I am too busy.
- I leave well enough alone.
- I have no time to read and find out.
- I am not interested.
Both lists bear thinking about as we celebrate our nation's quarter-millennium anniversary. May our descendants still remember them when the half-millennial anniversary rolls around!
Peter
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