Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/03/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 97-03-22 00:11:43 EST, you write: << Now there you are folks the moral issue is over. Rush out, spend as much money as you can on new Leica R8's and M6's and the taxes will go to the third world countries and you'll all feel better doing the honorable thing knowing you have made contributions to your fellow man's well being! :) Like that? :) Thought you would. :))) ted Victoria, Canada http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant Ted: I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis. :) It really isn't a moral issue at all. To characterize it as a "moral issue" is silly. The false supposition of liberalism (which is the philosophical underpinning of those who would say that "to have Leicas is to impoverish others" etc.) is their view that everything is a "zero sum gain." In other words, your or my prosperity is always at the expense of another human being or another society, etc. This is pure nonsense, and totally devoid of truth. Economic wealth is something that is potentially unlimited, and is created by hard work and resourcefulness. When those qualities are applied, the potential is unlimited. The best example of that in modern times is Japan. From the defeat of WWII, and with few natural resources, Japan has been and continues to be an economic miracle, primarily the result of the hard work, resourcefulness and the creativity of their people. I would venture to guess that in countries where economic poverty has held a grip on the people for generations, those character qualities are in short supply. The fact that one is able to enjoy a hobby that is expensive in relation to the standard of living of others does nothing to impoverish or hurt another person or society, any more than I should not eat tonight because there are starving people somewhere in the world. My self deprivation would do nothing to put food in the mouths of hungry people. The solution for the less prosperous people in the world is for those who are more blessed to share the knowledge of how to produce wealth with those who are less blessed, including the qualities of character and spiritual virtues that build a healthy and prosperous society. So, let the liberals rail against the "immorality" of owning Leicas, etc. To see the flurry of controversy this issue has created has been entertaining! The illogic of the notion falls under its own weight. As the Latin phrase goes "Res ipsa Loquiter": "The thing speaks for itself." JayPax@aol.com >>