Monday, April 6, 2009

The motor of the world


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There are those who can, those who can't, and those who won't, and here are the differences between them.

There are those people who can accomplish tasks. Often it does not matter so much what they can do best, they can do almost anything when needed.

There are those who can't accomplish tasks, or can't do very many, from lack of ability.

There are also those who won't accomplish anything, despite ability or potential.

None of these positions hold a moral high ground, it's just reality with no moral issue to it at all. The idea of right and wrong, or 'moral question', comes into play as we regard how each type of person interrelates with himself and others.

When a person honestly views himself with open eyes, freely admitting what he is and demanding nothing of anyone else to make up for his own unmet needs and desires, no foul may be declared. Oh, perhaps a man who has ability without desire or drive, who languishes in decrepitude through laziness, that man might instill a loathing in others. Yet, that loathing is a product of the other persons viewpoint, not his own. As long as that man does not demand others make up for his own lack, then while his stay here on the earth may be fruitless, it is of little harm.

Then there are those of another condition. Those who lack ability or potential, or have it in limited amounts. The same again; as long as such a man does not demand another supply him what he lacks, but instead is willing to accept himself as he is and live with his lot in life, then so be it. Again, no cry of foul may be raised. In fact, a man of limited ability who uses it to it's fullest everyday, happily striving to do well with what he has, that man has earned a measure of respect. Both internal self respect and external.

In either case, if that same person demands others make up his lack, and fill his coffers without compensation or honor, then that person is a thieving looter. Feeding on those who have ability and use it, such a lowly creature deserves neither respect nor sustenance.

This leaves us those with ability, and who choose to use it to it's fullest. The man who tackles most any job willingly, who's hallmark is the simple phrase "It needs doing, and doing right". These are the people Ayn Rand called the 'Motor of the World'. The people who produce, build, create, manufacture, repair, devise, and sustain.

There is a simple morality held by many of 'those who can and do'. It's that the act of working, of producing, of building, has a value. It is worth and wealth in it's simplest form. By the mind and hand of a working man, the world moves forward.

Those who can't or won't, but demand 'those who can' do so selflessly and for others benefit.... are thieves. They should be treated as such.

I learned a lesson young.... and here it is: When a man asks you to work for nothing, it's for only one of two reasons. He thinks your labor (mental or physical) has no value. If that's the case, why do it? The only other reason a man will ask you to work for free is darker... he knows your labor has value, but he wants it for nothing. He wants what you have, what you produce, what you build, and he wants to steal it. By trickery of phrase or brutality of gun point, he intends to steal your wealth for himself.

Don't work for thieves. Doing so encourages the practice, and successful thieves only beget more thieves. Even the smallest theft of ones labor should be fought, as it's but a pebble on the slope to hell.




1 comment:

Home on the Range said...

I've a number of people ask if they can use my writing for free, and with one exception, a concealed carry publication I strongly support, the answer is no. I write for myself but if someone uses it to gain readers, advertisers or something of tangible interest to them, I except to be paid.