NEXTnin The Rockford PapersnOne of the results of the IndustrialnRevolution in a free society suchnas characterized much of the Westernnworld was a rapid rise in the standardnof living. Specifically, this meant angrowing abundance of goodsnand services at reasonable andneven cheap prices. This .. • •ngrowth of material welfarenwas even more remarkable innthe setting of the IndustrialnRevolution because it camenabout with less and lessnhuman energy required. So,nwe had more and morenresults with less and less effort. On topnof that, the specialization in worknprocesses was developed to such angreat extent that the individual workernsaw virtually no connection betweennwhat he or she did and the finalnproduct. It would have been almostnunnatural at that point for Westernnsociety not to have experienced anchange in its attitudes in regard tonself-sufficiency, self-development andnself-reliance. Without the goad ofnreadily evident stark poverty, andnwithout the psychic rewards of assembling,nservicing, performing orncreating in production, who couldnpossibly get very excited about thenprospects of self-fulfillment throughnhard or harder work? Apparently notnmany people did, and that lack ofninterest in self-development changednour attitude from one of self-reliancento one of parasitism.nSocial and economic parasitismnsimply means living off someone else.nIt means we no longer rely on our ownnefforts and capabilities, but ratherndepend on someone else to do thenwork, make the decisions, and putnthings together. Without the leadershipnand example of the classic entrepreneurs,nand without the direct rewardnbetween production and worknwhich came as a result of the IndustrialnRevolution, with the cushion of savingsnpassed on from one generation tonanother, and with the abundance ofngoods and services generated by thenIndustrial Revolution, it is of littlenwonder that our attitudes changed tonlnr.R0rKF0R13PAPERSnThe Rockford PapersnRecipient of The George WashingtonnHonor Medal for Nonprofit Publicationsnawarded by Freedoms Foundation at ValleynForge.nTo subscribe to The Rockford Papers, fill out and mail the attached business reply card.nnnparasitism.nAs it has taken us generations tondevelop and accept the idea of socialnand economic parasitism and to buildnthe structures and institutions whichnsupport it, it might be expectednthat it would take usngenerations to return to anwidespread attitude of selfreliance.nHowever, one of thengreat strengths of a free societynis its ability to adopt andnbuild on a valid idea. Thenchange does not come all atnonce, but as individuals andninstitutions which make the changenprove to be successful, others quicklynfollow. The re-industrialization processnwill likely follow the same path,nwith some few stepping out in frontnand others following in line behindnthem.nOur future is ahead of us — and itnis in our hands. The ideas whichncould shape that future into strengthnand growth are extant but admittedlynweak. The idea which couldnhold us back is well-entrenched. Thentide may be turning, however, and ifnit is, the re-industrialization ofnAmerica will soon commence.n—William E. Cagen”Reindustrialization Realization”nThe Rockford PapersnSeptember 1981n