[lit-ideas] Re: Nation Building

  • From: Eric Yost <eyost1132@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2006 15:34:15 -0500

Lawrence: As we've discussed elsewhere, some Marxist ideals like the 8 hour working day have been incorporated into American Society.

May Day originated in the United States with trade unions and the socialist and anarchist movements organizing for the 8-hour work day. Mostly forgotten now, it's as much a part of our culture as bootstrap capitalism.

For too long, I think, our media culture has emphasized only one aspect of the American ideal, that of individual initiative. We are also a country that thrived through the creation of fraternal orders, trade guilds (such as the one Ben Franklin formed), and other voluntary associations.

Americans go out and get things done. We also help each other.

Anecdotal: I have friends and acquaintances who are doctors working in a large hospital here in Manhattan. The doctors come from all over the world for residencies--India, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, South America. All of them say they prefer working with the American residents because Americans help each other, don't try to impose their caste systems or other cultural baggage.

By stressing only the independent, pioneering aspect of American life, I think Lawrence is underestimating the degree to which this country has flourished as a result of cooperation and mutual aid. They go together. They work together and moderate each other. At least that was our heritage before 1980.

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