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SOCIAL SURPLUS
If a person or family or group of people produce more
than they can consume and can do so without damaging the
environment, they are producing a certain social surplus.
When I was a child, people spoke a lot about this. They used
the word sacrifice. They would say that a good Christian
should be willing to sacrifice some present gain for future
benefit. This could benefit everybody. At one time, this
must have been common practice among many religions and
cultures.
Before modern machinery, creating a social surplus was a
slow business. Today, with modern knowledge and machinery
it is possible to create a tremendous social surplus, at
least for the time being. Modern knowledge has relieved a
lot of drudgery and misery. It has brought joys and
comforts. However, something has gone wrong. The
environment has been damaged. The great power that people
have over nature has not been wisely exercised.
(July 2, 1990)
SCHOOL TAXES. ARE WE GETTING OUR MONEY'S WORTH.
(July 12, 1990)
I received an unusual letter from Mr. Ronald A. Stewart,
M.P., Simcoe South. The letter could be addressed;
Ronald A. Stewart, M.P.
Retired Parliamentary Secretary,
Ministry of Supply and Services
House of Commons
Ottawa
CANADA
Dear Mr. Stewart,
I appreciated your recent letter regarding supporting
the English First Committee. I supported it from the
beginning when it was started by Senator Hayakawa .
The cause is worthy. The danger extreme. However, the
results are disappointing. When I was President of the Palo
Alto Lion's Club a couple of years ago, the Club gave me
permission to spend $4,000.00 for several worthy purposes.
One of my concerns was the fact that in some schools there
were children from Mexico who spoke Mexican in the home.
