"The government that seems the most unwise,
Oft goodness to the people best supplies;
That which is meddling, touching everything,
Will work but ill, and disappointment bring."
Oft goodness to the people best supplies;
That which is meddling, touching everything,
Will work but ill, and disappointment bring."
- Laozi (Tao Te Ching section 58)
The Han dynasty is considered a success in its economy and culture. As the above quote represents, laissez faire policy was implemented and was the tool in allowing the people to thrive.
Lui Pang, later became to be known as Han Kao-Tsu, was the founder of the Han Dynasty. He ruled for several years and implemented many policies that set this dynasty apart from the previous Qin Dynasty. The first thing that was decided was to not rule with an iron fist. The government would not manipulate that market to fit own needs, and no decisions and actions would be taken until after thorough discussion. By allowing the market to fluctuate on its own and essentially have the control all within the people, it created an economy and culture that thrived and grew.
The quote from Tao Te Ching, emphasizes that a government who gives the people supplies and is in control and interferes with the market is in fact set up to "disappointment bring."
From the implemented policy of laissez faire, the Silk Road was later established. Not by the government, but the people themselves helped establish this trade route. Although it was spurred by the expansion of Alexander the Great's empire, no government was in control or can be credited to have created the Silk Road.
The Silk Road is considered one of the most successful and busy trade routes in all of history. Through the trading and economic activity that existed along that route, the cultures involved as well as economies improved.
Of course, not only goods were transferred along the road, ideas and cultures were as well. The spread of the Han dynasty can be attributed to the use of the Silk Road and sharing of culture. Not just sharing, but also learning and getting ideas from others as well.
I find it fascinating that through some simple exchanges of words, cultures can be influenced and altered. The telling of one's idea could set off a revolution.
What is today's Silk Road?
Trade was the thing that began to set apart nation from other nations. Once the common people are able to be able make money they are able to really begin to come into their own. As we can see by recent history unless the people can be feed they are not able to become a wealthy nation as a whole. Africa has tons of resources but there are place that can feed themselves because they do not have the freedom to produce the food.
ReplyDeleteHere here! I too believe in a government that doesn't mettle too much, but anyway...
ReplyDeleteObviously, the internet is today's silk road. Ideas and cultures can be spread throughout the entire world with the click of a mouse. Although we still deal with the problem of language barriers, there is so much knowledge from so many different sources that is readily available! If I could get people to read my posts, I could spread my ideas to China and back without even leaving my chair. Today's silk road is much easier to travel. ;)
I think it's important that y'all know that Laissez Faire is a french phrase. :P
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that economy, left to itself, grows better and faster; the study of economics (my minor) shows this to be generally true in the vast majority of situations. The various forces affecting a free market have a strong tendency to balance themselves out without much help or interference. Having said that, a rapidly-economy is *not* what is necessarily needed for a country; the economy tends to ignore everything that isn't economy, and lots of other important things can suffer (environment, health, etc.)
The other thing I found really interesting is the apparently stark contrast between the ideals of the Han Dynasty (less government is more) and the government in China today; correct me if I'm wrong, but 'laissez faire' is about as far away from what is happening now as it can get. Interesting how people can praise ideals and institutions on the one hand, and then turn to the other hand and completely ignore all the lessons they were supposed to have learned.
Going off of what Brett said, I think it's really interesting to see so many examples in history of economies that were totally destroyed by government intervention like communism and socialism. You would think that the economic failings of nations like the USSR, Cuba, Europe over the last few years, and even the strain socialist programs in the U.S. would teach us that those policies just don't work economically.
ReplyDeleteJake, I liked what you said about the internet as today's silk road. I completely agree. People in China could actually read your posts, and have input on your ideas! I don't know if you know this but you can see where the people that view your posts are located. I'll comment back later after I put up a post on how to find those! Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteHere it is guys! Cheack it out!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about the internet being today's Silk Road. It connects the whole world (maybe even the whole universe..but that's a topic for a different time). We could even specify some websites as the primary and major source of traffic. Like Facebook, it's useful in connecting people all together. We can throw in Amazon, Ebay, and other sites like that.
ReplyDeleteI think it shows we definitely have advanced as a society but what do you call the fact that we have reduced human to human physical contact significantly?
Do you think that affects us anyway now?
Thanks for the link Erin! That's really good to know. Now I can see if I have any overseas visitors. ;)
ReplyDeleteShuan, you have a point there. Human to human contact has been reduced significantly. For example, I honestly am not even sure who Erin H. is. :) (no offense) And I can see that I'm affected. Although I'm grateful that Erin would comment and provide a helpful link, I can't really have a personal connection with her. It's hard to explain really, but I feel differently about my relationship with her than with any of my fellow group members. Perhaps I'm more willing to be critical, less willing to take her advice, and more inclined to disagree.
Online interactions seem to be more objective in nature and less personal.