Saturday, December 13, 2014

The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Part 3: Victims of Philanthropy: The Settlers of Georgia



Chapter 12.  The altruism of an unheroic age
  • what cosmopolitanism and self-purity did to Pennsylvania, paternalism and philanthropy did to Georgia
  • mid-18th century
    • distinctly unheroic
    • more concerned about living with spiritual and intellectual means than with seeking unfamiliar horizons
    • philanthropy
      • directed toward the removal of poverty and vice
      • attempt to eliminate eyesores to gentlemen walking the streets of London
  • proposal in 1730 to establish colony in Georgia
    • made a welcome impression on the English mind
    • such a thoroughly altruistic enterprise became the subject of much poetry and self-congratulation
    • leaders free or sordid moties
    • planned to the most detailed (petty) specifications
  • General James Oglethorpe
    •  man of action
    • clear and specific in his purpose
    • arbitrary and impatient
    • unbending with the doctrinaire rigidity of the completely practical  man
  • Lord John Percival
    • co-leader of project
    • wealthy aristocrat
  • crucial mistake was making specific plans too far in advance and too far from the scene of the experiement
    • new colonists chosen from needy applicants
    • background and moral character investigated
    • those who showed promise of becoming sturdy colonists
 Chapter 13: London Blueprint for Georgia Utopia
  •  Sir Robert Montgomery proposed a geometric scheme of settlement
    • the mapping of the geography of a pipedream
    • basic errors
      • rigidity of rules for ownership, use, sale and inheritance of land
      • by preventing free accumulation, exchange, and exploration of the land, the planners stultified the life of the colony
    • acted as if they knew the facts
    • imposed their ignorance on the settlers
  • Negro was perceived as a menace to the scheme
    • settlers were to do their own labor
    • prohibition of slavery was integral to plan
  • grandiose plans for Georgia's place in England's economy
    • an envisioned silk trade
  • ad the plan succeeded, Georgia would have been a tidy, antiseptic, efficient, and thoroughly dull place
  • major flaw was that this scheme had to be carried out by real people in a real world

Chapter 14.  A Charity Colony
  • London philanthropists
    • trying to make Georgia a European dream
    • less interested in what was possible in America than in what had been impossible in Europe
  • 18th century English society
    • nothing more valued than security and independence
    • acceptance of his own place by each party (e.g., squire and peasant)
    • America provided a man caught in the lower class a chance to escape, to accept a new life
    • Georgia settlers were at a disadvantage being in the hand of their benefactors
  • Trustees of the colony
    • held a destructively paternalistic attitude
    • their arrogance and condescension bred dependence and discontent
    • settlers made their complaints and looked for aid to their benefactors in distant London
  • Sponsors found themselves becoming increasingly involved in the affairs of the settlement
  • plight of colonists
    • their new home allowed them to become neither prosperous nor hopeful
    • lack of special skills as backwoodsmen
Chapter 15:  Death of a Welfare Project
  •  colonists cursed by universal ills of bureaucracy
    • pettiness
    • arbitrariness
    • corruption
  • most disastrous of trustees' plans concerned the land
    • rigid provisions removed incentive to increased productivity
    • trustees discovered they had assumed a responsibility they could neither fulfill nor abandon
    • disgruntled colonists found themselves shackled to unfertile plots of land
      • laws prevented adding to, seeling, or exchanging parcels of land
      • alternative was flight
  • attempt at prohibition, an unenforceable act
  • silk industry
    • last project to bite the dust
    • story of futile bickerings and unfulfilled hopes
    • sponsors became victims of their own propaganda
    • in 1742, when half the silkworms in Savannah died, the fact that Georgia's climate was not suited to raising silkworms was brutally confirmed
  • trustees gave up their charter in 1752
    • had burdened themselves with powers no one could wisely execute from London
    • less than half the original population remained
    • at the time of the Revolution, Georgia was least prosperous and least populous of colonies

Chapter 16:  Perils of Altruism
  • tried to incorporate too much of a plan
  • frame of mind which stifled the spontaneity and experimental spirit which were real spiritual wealth of America

The book has received mostly positive reviews at Amazon.

I chuckled over this comment from a 2-star review.
This is not a coherent history, but a series of disjointed stories, all related to the original settlements in the US. There is virtually no analysis, only poorly documented anecdotes. 
The book includes a 47-page section of Bibliographic Notes, which I used to bulk up my reading list in 1976.  The content is thoroughly documented.

The author does not present his research in a straightforward, chronological manner; he's not writing a textbook.  And the book is full of thoughtful analysis, which the reader may not always agree with.

Related posts:
The Americans: The Colonial Experience by Daniel Boorstin,  Part 1.  A City Upon a Hill:  The Puritans of Massachusetts.  (12/8/2014)
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Part 2. The Inward Plantation: The Quakers of Pennsylvania.  (12/10/2014)

1959, the Year in Review: Agriculture (How the debeaking of chickens got its start)

Another sidebar from the Agriculture entry.


 As a United Poultry Concerns fact sheet describes it.
...de-beaking started around 1940 when a San Diego poultry farmer found if he burned off the upper beaks of his chickens with a blowtorch, they were unable to pick and pull at each other's feathers. His neighbor adopted the idea but used a modified soldering iron instead. A few years later a local company began to manufacture the "Debeaker," a machine that sliced off the ends of birds' beaks with a hot blade.

From a blowtorch to a soldering iron to a machine with a hot blade.  But as the article also notes,
If an electric beak trimmer is not available, a temporary form of trimming can be done by using a sharp jackknife.

Whatever will get the job done, apparently.

Related posts:
Advertising.  (12/7/2014)
Afghanistan.  (12/7/2014)
Africa.  (12/12/2014)
Agriculture:  mattresses for cows.  (12/13/2014)

1959, the Year in Review: Agriculture (Mattresses for Cows)

An interesting sidebar in the Agriculture entry.



Cows sleep on foam mattresses.  (The Age, 5/13/1959)

It's a big business now, although rubber seems to be the material of choice.



But wait!!  There's more!!




Related posts:
Advertising.  (12/7/2014)
Afghanistan.  (12/7/2014)
Africa.  (12/12/2014)

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Rob Woodall, Georgia's 7th Congressional District

The parade of mostly middle-aged white men continues.

  Photo source U.S. Congress
Text sourceCongressman Rob Woodall

Woodall was re-elected to a 3rd term with 65% of the vote.   No environmental committee assignments.

No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one word:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans hail from Connecticut and Delaware. 
Florida Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia's Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Tom Price, Georgia's 6th Congressional District


  Photo sourceU.S. Congress
Text sourceLos Angeles Times

Price was re-elected to a 6th term with 66% of the vote.   He has no environmental committee assignments but does serve on that spooky Republican Services Committee.

No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one word:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans hail from Connecticut and Delaware. 
Florida Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia's Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives

La Crosse County WI: Public Access Internet Computers (1999-2013) and Print Serial Subscriptions (1996-2013)


2010 population:  114,638

Public libraries in La Crosse County

This line-graph series is the result of my wondering if there's any pattern to the number of print serial subscriptions held by public libraries in relation to the increasing number of public access Internet computers provided by public libraries since 1999. (Earliest year for which Wisconsin statistics are available.)


Note: The 1996, 1997, 1998 Wisconsin public library annual reports asked for the following information: Libraries with Internet access. (Answered yes or no.) Libraries with electronic services. (Answered yes or no.) In 1999, public libraries reported the number of public access Internet computers for the first time in the annual report.


Percentage change 1996-2013.  -30.2%.



Other posts in series
(with percentage change in print serial subscriptions from peak year)
Adams County, -35.6%.  (11/12/2014)
Ashland County, -1.3%.  (11/13/2014)
Barron County, -18.5%.  (11/14/2014)
Bayfield County,+106%.  (11/15/2014)
Brown County, -22%.   (11/16/2014)
Buffalo County, -18%.  (11/17/2014)
Burnett County, -4.4%.  (11/18/2014)
Calumet County, -23.1%.  (11/19/2014)
Chippewa County, -37.6%.  (11/20/2014)
Clark County, -9.0%.  (11/21/2014)
Columbia County, -11.3%.  (11/22/2014)
Crawford County, -3.6%.  (11/23/2014)
Dane County, -16.1%.  (11/24/2014)
Dodge County, -21.2%.  (11/25/2014)
Door County, -37.1%.  (11/26/2014)
Douglas County, -19.1%.  (11/27/2014)
Dunn County, -21.2%.  (11/28/2014)
Eau Claire County, -39.5%.  (11/29/2014)
Florence County, +429%.  (11/30/2014)
Fond du Lac County, -32.5%.  (12/1/2014)
Forest County, -20.8%.  (12/2/2014)
Grant County, NA.  (12/3/2014)
Green County, -1.6%.  (12/4/2014)
Green Lake County, -11.0% . (12/5/2014)
Iowa County, +9.1%.  (12/6/2014)
Iron County, +50.9%.  (12/7/2014)
Jackson County, +48.3%.  (12/8/2014)
Jefferson County, -27.9%.  (12/9/2014)
Juneau County, +46.3%.  (12/10/2014)
Kenosha County, -37.9%.  (12/11/2014)
Kewaunee County, -28.0.  (12/12/2014)
La Crosse County, -30.2%.  (12/13/2014)

Friday, December 12, 2014

1959, the Year in Review: Africa

New Nations of Africa.

Cameroon.  Previously known as French Cameroon.  Gained independence on January 1, 1960



Togoland.  (Togo.)  After World War II, it was a United Nations trust territory administered by the French government.  Gained independence on April 27, 1960.



Somalia.  As the Italian Trust Territory of Somalia, on July 1, 1960.


 
Nigeria.  Given increased control over internal affairs in 1959.  Gained complete independence from Great Britain on October 1, 1960.


My guess is that all of us in Mrs. Carlson's 4th grade class at Jefferson School were oblivious to these goings-on.


Related posts:
Advertising.  (12/7/2014)
Afghanistan.  (12/7/2014)

Survey Sez: American Dream Increasingly Out of Reach

Many Feel American Dream Is Out of Reach, Poll Shows.  (The New York Times, 12/10/2014)
The poll, which explored Americans’ opinions on a wide range of economic and financial issues, found that only 64 percent of respondents said they still believed in the American dream, the lowest result in roughly two decades. Even near the depth of the financial crisis in early 2009, 72 percent of Americans still believed that hard work could result in riches.


72% of respondents favor raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 from the current $7.25.   25% oppose.  3% didn't know or had no opinion.




Gary Andersen: 510 Miles Closer to Home





Gary Andersen leaving UW for Oregon State after 2 seasons.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/20/2014)
"He said he felt like this was an opportunity for he and his family to get back to that part of the country," Alvarez said. "He felt he had to follow through with that opportunity."
Andersen, born in Salt Lake City, played at Utah and spent most of his coaching career in the state.

Number of Paid Full-Time-Equivalent (FTE) Staff in U.S. Public Libraries (Montana-New Jersey)





Henderson libraries to close on Mondays.  (Las Vegas Sun, 8/16/2012)
Budget woes force North Las Vegas to cut back library hours. (Las Vegas Sun, 6/18/2012)



Library shutdown in Camden, NJ.  (Governing, March 2011)
After steep municipal aid cuts, Montclair library board closes branch, lays off staff.  (Newark Star Ledger, 1/30/2012)
Severe Funding Cuts Threaten Library Services Throughout NJ.  (New Jersey Library Champions, 3/29/2010)


Source:  Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries in the United States Survey (1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2011)

Related posts:
U.S., Alabama-California.  (12/6/2014)
Colorado-Georgia.  (12/7/2014)
Hawaii-Iowa.  (12/8/2014)
Kansas-Maryland.  (12/9/2014)
Massachusetts-Missouri. (12/10/2014)


Kewaunee County WI: Public Access Internet Computers (1999-2013) and Print Serial Subscriptions (1996-2013)


2010 population:  20,574

Public libraries in Kewaunee County

This line-graph series is the result of my wondering if there's any pattern to the number of print serial subscriptions held by public libraries in relation to the increasing number of public access Internet computers provided by public libraries since 1999. (Earliest year for which Wisconsin statistics are available.)


Note: The 1996, 1997, 1998 Wisconsin public library annual reports asked for the following information: Libraries with Internet access. (Answered yes or no.) Libraries with electronic services. (Answered yes or no.) In 1999, public libraries reported the number of public access Internet computers for the first time in the annual report.


Percentage change 1996-2013.  -28.0%.


Other posts in series
(with percentage change in print serial subscriptions from peak year)
Adams County, -35.6%.  (11/12/2014)
Ashland County, -1.3%.  (11/13/2014)
Barron County, -18.5%.  (11/14/2014)
Bayfield County,+106%.  (11/15/2014)
Brown County, -22%.   (11/16/2014)
Buffalo County, -18%.  (11/17/2014)
Burnett County, -4.4%.  (11/18/2014)
Calumet County, -23.1%.  (11/19/2014)
Chippewa County, -37.6%.  (11/20/2014)
Clark County, -9.0%.  (11/21/2014)
Columbia County, -11.3%.  (11/22/2014)
Crawford County, -3.6%.  (11/23/2014)
Dane County, -16.1%.  (11/24/2014)
Dodge County, -21.2%.  (11/25/2014)
Door County, -37.1%.  (11/26/2014)
Douglas County, -19.1%.  (11/27/2014)
Dunn County, -21.2%.  (11/28/2014)
Eau Claire County, -39.5%.  (11/29/2014)
Florence County, +429%.  (11/30/2014)
Fond du Lac County, -32.5%.  (12/1/2014)
Forest County, -20.8%.  (12/2/2014)
Grant County, NA.  (12/3/2014)
Green County, -1.6%.  (12/4/2014)
Green Lake County, -11.0% . (12/5/2014)
Iowa County, +9.1%.  (12/6/2014)
Iron County, +50.9%.  (12/7/2014)
Jackson County, +48.3%.  (12/8/2014)
Jefferson County, -27.9%.  (12/9/2014)
Juneau County, +46.3%.  (12/10/2014)
Kenosha County, -37.9%.  (12/11/2014)
Kewaunee County, -28.0.  (12/12/2014)