“The economy is still substantially that of the fur trade, still based on the same general kinds of commercial items: technology, weapons, ornaments, novelties, and drugs. The one great difference is that by now the revolution has deprived the mass of consumers of any independent access to the staples of life: clothing, shelter, food, even water. Air access remains the only necessity that the average user can still get for himself, and the revolution has imposed a heavy tax on that by way of pollution. Commercial conquest is far more thorough and final than military defeat.” WayKindStillsWaterDifferencesTechnologyEconomyAirMilitaryRevolutionDrugTaxesWeaponsMassIndependentRemainsTradeFinalsDefeatAverageHeavyAccessConsumersClothingsUsersPollutionShelterConsumerismConquestItemsDeprivedNoveltyFurThoroughOrnamentsOverconsumptionStaples Book:The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture Source: The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture
“If one looks closely one sees that there is no essential difference between a beggar's livelihood and that of numberless respectable people. Beggars do not work, it is said; but then, what is work? A navvy works by swinging a pick. An accountant works by adding up figures. A beggar works by standing out of doors in all weathers and getting varicose veins, chronic bronchitis, etc. It is a trade like any other; quite useless, of course - but then, many reputable trades are quite useless.” PeopleIfsLooksSaidCoursesDifferencesDoorsFiguresEssentialsPicksStandingTradeWeatherUselessEtcWorking ItStanding OutVeinsRespectableBeggarLivelihoodAccountantsBronchitis Author:George Orwell
“All experience has taught us that solving a complex problem uncovers hidden assumptions and ever more knowledge, trade-offs that we didn't anticipate but which can make the difference between meeting a deadline and going into research mode for a year, etc.” YearsProblemDifferencesTaughtResearchTradeMeetingsComplexesAssumptionEtcAnticipateDeadlineTaught UsMore KnowledgeTrade OffsComplex Problems Author:Erik Naggum
“In the name of sense, man, if God made fish to be eaten, what difference does it make if I enjoy the killing of them before I eat them? You would have none but a fisherman by trade do it, and then you would have him utter a sigh, a prayer, and a pious ejaculation at each cod or haddock that he killed.” IfsMenDoeMadeNamesEnjoyDifferencesPrayerSeaRiversTradeKillingFishesBoatLakesFishingSighPiousFishermanEjaculation Book:I Go A-fishing Source: I Go A-fishing
“How would you describe the difference between modern war and modern industry-between say, bombing and strip mining, or between chemical warfare and chemical manufacturing? The difference seems to be only that in war the victimization of humans is directly intentional and in industry it is "accepted" as a "trade-off." Were the catastrophes of Love Canal, Bhopal, Chernobyl, and the Exxon Valdez episodes of war or of peace? They were in fact, peacetime acts of aggression, intentional to the extent that the risks were known and ignored.” HumansWarFactsSeemsDifferencesKnownRiskModernIndustryTradeEnvironmentalAcceptedChemicalsPollutionEpisodesAggressionWarfareIgnoredCatastropheManufacturingBombingMiningCanalsChernobylVictimizationTrade OffsModern WarChemical Warfare Author:Wendell Berry
“World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have different patterns, different policies for ecology, labor standards, and so forth.” WorldDifferentCountryDifferencesStagePolicyDependsDevelopmentStandardsLaborTradePatternsAppropriateEcologySimilarityWorld TradeDifferent CountriesStages Of Development Author:Milton Friedman