Posts
1968...
My friend JohnL sent me this email this morning:I received an email this morning from a friend that included a 1968 quote from Robert Kennedy. It struck me as timeless, words worth remembering as we continue to struggle with the challenges of our troubled economy and its human fallout. It also reminded me of a conversation that we had some time ago regarding the Country of Buhtan, and its quest to measure the quality of life of its citizens via a “happiness index”. I seriously doubt whether many American economists will put much effort into quantifying the GNP measurement criteria espoused by Robert Kennedy.
Worthy thoughts to start the week:"We will find neither national purpose nor personal satisfaction in a mere continuation of economic progress, in an endless amassing of worldly goods," Kennedy said. "We cannot measure national spirit by the Dow Jones Average, nor national achievement by the gross national product. For the gross national product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes, and ambulances to clear our highway carnage. It counts special locks for our doors, and jails for the people who break them. The gross national product includes the destruction of the redwoods, and the death of Lake Superior. It grows with the production of napalm and missiles and nuclear warheads . . . It includes the broadcasting of television programs which glorify violence to sell goods to our country.
"And if the gross national product includes all this, there is much that it does not comprehend. It does not allow for the health of our families, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of public officials . . . the gross national product measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile; and it can tell us everything about America - except whether we are proud to be Americans."
Great oratory.
Tomorrow morning I head north for a five day retreat. I'll be back a week from tonight, so keep an on my place while I'm gone.
