Soviet Communism vs. others

I am Polish and I lived in Poland from 1970 to 1993.

While taking an Economic Statecraft class at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, we have read Olson book Power & Prosperity: Outgrowing Communist and Capitalist Dictatorships accurately describes the major mechanism of what was happening in Poland, USRR and other Eastern European countries from roughly 1917 to 1990. Olson accurately points out the “Covert Collusion” and the very fact that the lack of ownership encouraged deterioration of ethic, which in turn started corruption and economical downfall.

People here in USA have, in general, very skewed picture of communism. On daily bases there was some form of competition, career struggles, etc. as the book describes. See the picture! I have never ever felt that scared in Poland! We have never had any drills like that!

A short story. My parents wanted to buy refrigerator. Mother had contact with the store (she new the salesperson there). Father and Mother stayed in line in front of the merchant stores beginning around 3 o’clock in the morning, before it opened. Without any authority present, people in line made a list and established self-imposed rules. When store opened, everybody was allowed to purchase one or two things. The People decided on that rule. They all wanted to buy something and not let the first few get everything. Since only two refrigerators came (some bureaucrat made the decision to produce only so many), the very first lucky two could buy them …unless of course through “contact” the manager of the store already sold one before the store open. Not all contacts were equal. And of course you had to know when the shipment was going to come to the merchant store to begging with – meaning, you better had “contacts” … and they sometimes did not come cheap. The next shipment could come next month or in 3 months, or who know when. How many refrigerators would come, perhaps none?

On the other hand we were all going to schools; my mother had a career as a teacher, my father worked as well. We all laughed, play without any fear. There were office politics just like there are here, people got promoted, went on vacations, they worked for promotions, were stressed, etc. – it was not one big prison with chicken wire around places and people waking in uniforms, sad and hungry.

Freedom? Who needs it if you have money? While inefficient, the story shows a system that in its core is the same. The rich buy 'contacts' and get what they want. Poor will not. The only better thing in capitalism is that ... you can decide that right in the open in the store, no need for inefficient under the table contacts (generally speaking about small things of course; if you want to buy a senator ... [in USA one has constitutional right to do so] you may want to do that not in an open so much)

Sincerely and respectfully,

Shamick Przemek Gaworski

Spank me or not?

My wife and I have some time arguments about spanking kids. She thinks that the act of such is a failure of parents and admission of weakness as the parent failed to communicate his/her authority without violence.

I on the other hand, remembering the very many times I found myself walking to the closet to bring used engine belt for my father so he can make me band over a chair and smack my little bottom with that belt 2 or 3 times, well I think since I survived, perhaps it was not such a bad practice that my parents believed was useful in raising a reasonable person?

The counter argument is that spanking teaches kids violence. That perhaps is true to some degree. It teaches them that if you have authority and tell people to do something and they do not and if you tell them that many times and they still refuse to do it, they may be physically feeling the consequences of such refusal by pinches of pain on their little bottom.

Here is my opinion what's wrong in general even about thinking that spanking a kid may be wrong to begin with (clarification, we are talking about occasional light spanking after trying repeating warnings, time outs, etc. ... not abusive spanking right away)

Kids are kids. They do not have any rights till they graduate from High School. Yest, you hear it right, not till they are 18 even, but they only get rights when they earn their own money to support themselves. Spank them occasionally. They will respect it and a little violence they learn will be nothing in comparison to even simple cartoon such as Sponge Bob that they may watch on TV or play video games.

Sincerely,

Shamick Przemek Gaworski

American Values

I found this document while being in school. I apologize for not showing any copyright info. I simply do not remember

American Values

• Personal Control over the environment.
  People can alter nature, and, to a large extend, can determine the direction of their lives.
  Contrasting value - Fate: What happens in life is a result of a grand plan or destiny.
• Change: Change is healthy. People stagnate if they don't make enough changes.
  Contrasting value - tradition: Preservation and emphasis of rituals, customs, and beliefs from the past.
• Control over time: Time flies. People are pressured and constrained by time because they are trying to control it. People shouldn't waste or kill time. They must rush to get things done. They must follow their schedules to be productive.
  Contrasting value - Time walks: There is no need for people to feel so pressured. They should take it easy.
• Equality and egalitarianism. All people are created equal. (Remember: This is a value or ideal, not a fact.)
  Contrasting Value - Hierarchy, rank, status: Peoples roles are defined in terms of their relationships to other people; people are mostly either subordinate to or superior to someone else.
• Individualism and privacy: Individual needs are considered primary.
  Contrasting value - Group orientation: The individual sacrifices his or her needs to those of the group.
• Self-help: People can and should try to improve their own lives. Many middle- and upper class Americans have the belief that people can "pull themselves up by their own bootstraps."
  Contrasting value - Birthright inheritance: People are born into either wealth or poverty; they cant change their status in life.
• Future Orientation. Look to the future and not to the past.
  Contrasting Value - Past or present orientation: People should live for today or for their ancestors; they should live according to tradition.
• Action and work orientation. Work often defines people; their identities come from what they do. (Don't just stand there! Do something)
  Contrasting value - "Being" orientation: Work is not the center of peoples identity: It is acceptable not to focus on work, accomplishments, and achievements.
• Informality: First name usage ("Just call me Bob"), casual clothes, and the lack of formal ritual are typical in American life.
  Contrasting value - Formality: Use of titles and last names are common. People are restrained and polite with each other.
• Directness, openness, and honesty: Honesty is the best policy. People should express themselves openly. It is not considered good to "beat around the bush."
  Contrasting value - Indirectness and "saving face": People should consider another’s feelings when deciding what to say. Honesty is not always the best policy.
• Materialism: Tendency to be more concerned with material than spiritual or intellectual goals.
  Contrasting value - Spiritualism.
  

Note of caution for critics. I am NOT that naive to think that all "American Values" are so absolute that they are 100% correct in most circumstances.

The "Contrasting values" are also present in many parts of America. America is such a vast and diverse culture (in many way; not so much in others) (It is at least very big geographically) that any generalization about values is bound to fail.

For instance, as a Polish person I would say that Polish people are in general much more materialistic than Americans. Materialism is also paying attention and assigning value to wealth - not necessarily only having wealth.

Sincerely, Shamick Przemek Gaworski

Village or town?

Have you noticed that there are villages abroad and only small towns in USA? This picture could be (it isn't) a picture of the entire population of some small town in USA. Strangely enough, one couldn't even make a village abroad from so few people. Sorry to break your bubble millions of Americans but you live in villages ...

This was 2006 hike. I just made my first 2007 hike.

Sincerely,

Shamick Przemek Gaworski