Thursday, April 5, 2018
Friday, March 2, 2018
Hayek - The "Inevitability" of [Central] Planning
Monrovians - Unite!
Hayek asserts that the most frequently heard argument employed to demonstrate the "inevitability" of central planning is that due to technological changes that have made true competition impossible in an increasing number of fields, the only choice left to us is between control of production by private monopolies and direction by the government. This primarily derives from Marxist thought, but it has been repeated so often that people often have no idea of its origin.
The alleged technological cause of the growth of monopoly is the superiority of the large firm over the small, owing to greater efficiency of mass production.
Various economic studies have concluded otherwise. Monopoly is, rather, attained through collusive agreements and promoted by public policies. When these agreements and policies are reversed, competitive conditions can be restored. Big businesses at every turn seek to obtain favorable treatment from government.
The big idea behind the believe that large and complex problems require a central government solution is that it is difficult to obtain a coherent picture of the complete economic process, hence only government can obtain the information necessary to properly plan and direct the economic activity of each person.
"This argument is based on a complete misapprehension of the working of competition." It is because of the complexity of the division of labor under modern conditions which makes competition the only method by which such coordination can be adequately brought about.
It is only as the factors which have to be taken into account become so numerous that it is impossible to gain an overall view of them that decentralization becomes imperative, writes Hayek. The problem of coordination requires that separate agents be free to adjust their activities to the facts which only they can know, and yet brings about a mutual adjustment of their respective plans.
If instead of central control we have a system by which each agent obtained the information he must possess in order effectively to adjust his decisions to those of others, with constantly changing conditions of supply and demand, we would have the perfect system.
It happens that the price system does this under competition, and no other system can possibly hope to do so. By watching just a few prices, an entrepreneur can adjust his or her activities to those of their fellows. "The more complicated the whole, the more dependent we become on that division of knowledge between individuals whose separate efforts are coordinated by the impersonal mechanism for transmitting the relevant information known by us as the price system."
When there is a strong and urgent demand for copper in one part of the world, we do not have to know the details, but only that the price of copper has suddenly increased, causing us to adjust our use of it. Whether we use less of it, or are willing to pay more for it, or stop using it altogether, we affect the price (and the supply and demand) and further transmit important information to all others who might use copper.
By comparison, a system of central planning is incredibly clumsy, slow, inflexible - and ultimately disastrous.
One need only survey our world to realize that it is not the product of a central planner but instead rose up of its own accord.
Then there is always the problem of the identity of the planners - who decides? The very people who are so sure that they have the only true answers and that their preferences are entitled to priority over those of everyone else would be motivated to become the ones with the power, yet they would be the ones most likely to terrorize everyone else if they ever had true power. So, do we really need central planning? Would a politician have come up with the i-phone?
The alleged technological cause of the growth of monopoly is the superiority of the large firm over the small, owing to greater efficiency of mass production.
Various economic studies have concluded otherwise. Monopoly is, rather, attained through collusive agreements and promoted by public policies. When these agreements and policies are reversed, competitive conditions can be restored. Big businesses at every turn seek to obtain favorable treatment from government.
The big idea behind the believe that large and complex problems require a central government solution is that it is difficult to obtain a coherent picture of the complete economic process, hence only government can obtain the information necessary to properly plan and direct the economic activity of each person.
"This argument is based on a complete misapprehension of the working of competition." It is because of the complexity of the division of labor under modern conditions which makes competition the only method by which such coordination can be adequately brought about.
It is only as the factors which have to be taken into account become so numerous that it is impossible to gain an overall view of them that decentralization becomes imperative, writes Hayek. The problem of coordination requires that separate agents be free to adjust their activities to the facts which only they can know, and yet brings about a mutual adjustment of their respective plans.
If instead of central control we have a system by which each agent obtained the information he must possess in order effectively to adjust his decisions to those of others, with constantly changing conditions of supply and demand, we would have the perfect system.
It happens that the price system does this under competition, and no other system can possibly hope to do so. By watching just a few prices, an entrepreneur can adjust his or her activities to those of their fellows. "The more complicated the whole, the more dependent we become on that division of knowledge between individuals whose separate efforts are coordinated by the impersonal mechanism for transmitting the relevant information known by us as the price system."
When there is a strong and urgent demand for copper in one part of the world, we do not have to know the details, but only that the price of copper has suddenly increased, causing us to adjust our use of it. Whether we use less of it, or are willing to pay more for it, or stop using it altogether, we affect the price (and the supply and demand) and further transmit important information to all others who might use copper.
By comparison, a system of central planning is incredibly clumsy, slow, inflexible - and ultimately disastrous.
One need only survey our world to realize that it is not the product of a central planner but instead rose up of its own accord.
Then there is always the problem of the identity of the planners - who decides? The very people who are so sure that they have the only true answers and that their preferences are entitled to priority over those of everyone else would be motivated to become the ones with the power, yet they would be the ones most likely to terrorize everyone else if they ever had true power. So, do we really need central planning? Would a politician have come up with the i-phone?
The Distressing Disguise of the poor - a great place to meet Jesus!
Monrovians - Unite!
Mother Theresa has been such an inspiration to so many. Perhaps she will inspire you.
40 Days for Life in Monrovia - five years of non-stop prayer on Fifth Avenue!
Monrovians - Unite!
Did you know that a small group of Monrovians have been praying on Fifth Avenue just north of Huntington Drive for five years? Every weekday morning, around 10 AM these days I believe, a small group gathers to pray.
For whom do they pray? The unborn children, the abortionist whose offices are on Fifth Avenue, police officers, clergy, the media, and oh so many more. These pro-lifers celebrate every life, even those with whom they disagree.
How often do we see such long-suffering actions taken in the name of love? Lets celebrate the power of love, of God's grace.
Did you know that a small group of Monrovians have been praying on Fifth Avenue just north of Huntington Drive for five years? Every weekday morning, around 10 AM these days I believe, a small group gathers to pray.
For whom do they pray? The unborn children, the abortionist whose offices are on Fifth Avenue, police officers, clergy, the media, and oh so many more. These pro-lifers celebrate every life, even those with whom they disagree.
How often do we see such long-suffering actions taken in the name of love? Lets celebrate the power of love, of God's grace.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Monday, July 1, 2013
Crossing the Rubicon - where did it come from?
Monrovians - Unite! Know your history and learn from it. Much of it is free on-line.
If two thousand years of popularity among serious readers can make a book a classic, Livy's "History of Rome from Its Foundations" is a classic. It was Livy's purpose "to preserve the memory of the noble deeds of the Roman people and to point out conspicuous examples of good and evil acts."
Livy was born in Padua, in 59 B.C., ten years before Caesar crossed the Rubicon and the beginning of the struggle which brought an end to republican Rome. It was at this point, camped with his army beside the Rubicon in 49 B.C. where Caesar decided that, “the die has been cast,” and that it was time to take action. So he marshaled his forces and brought them with him across the Rubicon as a sign of rebellion, then proceeded to lead them on an invasion of Italy and lead Rome into a great civil war. After claiming victory, Caesar was named “Dictator for Life,” and the Roman Empire (as history will always remember it) was born. It was the crossing of the Rubicon which opened the doors for Rome to expand and take over most of the known world within the next few centuries.
Read more: http://roman-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/julius_caesar_crosses_the_rubicon#ixzz0Xwoo9IIp
If two thousand years of popularity among serious readers can make a book a classic, Livy's "History of Rome from Its Foundations" is a classic. It was Livy's purpose "to preserve the memory of the noble deeds of the Roman people and to point out conspicuous examples of good and evil acts."
Livy was born in Padua, in 59 B.C., ten years before Caesar crossed the Rubicon and the beginning of the struggle which brought an end to republican Rome. It was at this point, camped with his army beside the Rubicon in 49 B.C. where Caesar decided that, “the die has been cast,” and that it was time to take action. So he marshaled his forces and brought them with him across the Rubicon as a sign of rebellion, then proceeded to lead them on an invasion of Italy and lead Rome into a great civil war. After claiming victory, Caesar was named “Dictator for Life,” and the Roman Empire (as history will always remember it) was born. It was the crossing of the Rubicon which opened the doors for Rome to expand and take over most of the known world within the next few centuries.
Read more: http://roman-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/julius_caesar_crosses_the_rubicon#ixzz0Xwoo9IIp
Right to Bear and Use Arms in Self-Defense
Monrovians - Unite! Know your Constitutional rights and the duties they impose on you.
"Arms in the hands of individual citizens may be used at individual discretion...in private self-defense."
John Adams. Second President of the United States, A Defense of the Constitutions, volume III, paragraph (1787-88).
"The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
Samuel Adams, during Massachusetts' U.S. Constitution Ratification Convention (1788).
According to Reading Revolutions, A cooperative project of the University of Maine at Farmington and the Remnant Trust:
John Adams was in London serving as a diplomat for his young country in 1787. He wrote and published A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America in three volumes. The American edition was published the same year in New York and Philadelphia.
Earlier, in 1776, John Adams had been on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence and was an early proponent of separation from England. He describes the Declaration and his work with Jefferson in a letter to Thomas Pickering in 1888. He gives Jefferson full credit for the draft of the Declaration and notes that the original draft contained language to abolish slavery. Adams supported that language and regretted that Congress as a whole struck it from the document.
His strong belief in the individual rights of man was also displayed by his support for the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. He had helped write the constitution for the State of Massachusetts and authored much of the Declaration of Rights for Massachusetts. It included provisions against unreasonable search and seizure, guaranteeing freedom of religion and the press, and providing for trial by jury. The Declaration of Rights for Massachusetts comes before the body of the Constitution of Massachusetts. During 1787 he not only published Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America but also corresponded extensively with those who were writing the Constitution. It must have been frustrating for him to be in England during that period. Nonetheless, the power of his writing and the wealth of ideas explored in the “Defence” influenced the development of the Constitution.
His letters and writings show that he thought the Bill of Rights for the United States should have preceded the Constitution, and that the principles of the Constitution should have been based on them. After he returned from England, he made extensive contributions to what we call our "Bill of Rights", the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution.
John Adams. Second President of the United States, A Defense of the Constitutions, volume III, paragraph (1787-88).
"The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
Samuel Adams, during Massachusetts' U.S. Constitution Ratification Convention (1788).
John Adams was in London serving as a diplomat for his young country in 1787. He wrote and published A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America in three volumes. The American edition was published the same year in New York and Philadelphia.
Earlier, in 1776, John Adams had been on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence and was an early proponent of separation from England. He describes the Declaration and his work with Jefferson in a letter to Thomas Pickering in 1888. He gives Jefferson full credit for the draft of the Declaration and notes that the original draft contained language to abolish slavery. Adams supported that language and regretted that Congress as a whole struck it from the document.
His strong belief in the individual rights of man was also displayed by his support for the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. He had helped write the constitution for the State of Massachusetts and authored much of the Declaration of Rights for Massachusetts. It included provisions against unreasonable search and seizure, guaranteeing freedom of religion and the press, and providing for trial by jury. The Declaration of Rights for Massachusetts comes before the body of the Constitution of Massachusetts. During 1787 he not only published Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America but also corresponded extensively with those who were writing the Constitution. It must have been frustrating for him to be in England during that period. Nonetheless, the power of his writing and the wealth of ideas explored in the “Defence” influenced the development of the Constitution.
His letters and writings show that he thought the Bill of Rights for the United States should have preceded the Constitution, and that the principles of the Constitution should have been based on them. After he returned from England, he made extensive contributions to what we call our "Bill of Rights", the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
40 says for life campaign in Monrovia
A 40 Days for Life prayer campaign started today in Monrovia at 51 N. Fifth Avenue.
Just North of Huntington Boulevard on the border of Arcadia and Monrovia near the 210 Freeway offramp at Huntington, a prayer group will be praying every weekday from 9:30 to 10:30 every weekday morning and Thursdays at 7 pm. All those who would like to pray to end abortion in our city are welcome.
Just North of Huntington Boulevard on the border of Arcadia and Monrovia near the 210 Freeway offramp at Huntington, a prayer group will be praying every weekday from 9:30 to 10:30 every weekday morning and Thursdays at 7 pm. All those who would like to pray to end abortion in our city are welcome.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
ICA School Hosts Pancake Breakfast for Prospective Students on Palm Sunday
Monrovians - Unite!
Rumor has it that ICA Catholic School will host a pancake breakfast for prospective students on Palm Sunday after all morning Masses at Immaculate Conception Church, located at 726 S. Shamrock Avenue in Monrovia.
All prospective students and their parents and family members are invited to attend the Pancake Breakfast.
ICA Catholic School is an elementary and middle school with two campuses, one in Monrovia at the site of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and the other at the site of Annunciation Catholic Church in Arcadia.
Rumor has it that ICA Catholic School will host a pancake breakfast for prospective students on Palm Sunday after all morning Masses at Immaculate Conception Church, located at 726 S. Shamrock Avenue in Monrovia.
All prospective students and their parents and family members are invited to attend the Pancake Breakfast.
ICA Catholic School is an elementary and middle school with two campuses, one in Monrovia at the site of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and the other at the site of Annunciation Catholic Church in Arcadia.
ICA Fourth Graders Visit San Juan Capistrano and San Gabriel Missions
Monrovians - Unite!
So wrote Principal Norma Moreno of the ICA Catholic School, in Volume 6, no. 5 of The ICA Connection, Connecting School to Home.
The motto appearing in that edition of The ICA Connection states: "We give You glory, thanks and praise. Bless our work and guide our ways." It is only in a private Catholic school that children can receive such open acknowledgement of God, and openly seek God's blessing. What a joy that in Monrovia parents seeking that type of spiritual formation for their children have an outstanding Catholic school with two magnificent campuses.
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| San Gabriel Mission - interior |
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| San Juan Capistrano Mission |
"This is an exciting time for the fourth grade students as they continue to learn about the missions and the contributions Fray Junipero Serra made to the state of California and the Catholic Church. They will soon visit San Juan Capistrano as well as San Gabriel Mission. The students will be given the opportunity to enter the Junipero Serra Essay Contest as they write about the mission they are learning about."
The motto appearing in that edition of The ICA Connection states: "We give You glory, thanks and praise. Bless our work and guide our ways." It is only in a private Catholic school that children can receive such open acknowledgement of God, and openly seek God's blessing. What a joy that in Monrovia parents seeking that type of spiritual formation for their children have an outstanding Catholic school with two magnificent campuses.
From Arcadia to Monrovia: ‘Faith families’ connect at ICA
Monrovians - Unite!
This was the headline for a recent article in the Tidings about the new Catholic elementary school that has two campuses, one in Monrovia and one in Arcadia. According to the article:
Monrovia Campus - Elementary School
726 S. Shamrock Ave
Monrovia, CA 91016-3653
Principal Norma Moreno
Elementary School Contact site
(626) 358-5129 office
(323) 730-0321 fax
This was the headline for a recent article in the Tidings about the new Catholic elementary school that has two campuses, one in Monrovia and one in Arcadia. According to the article:
"Last year, the two schools chose to merge their resources, creating two campuses: the elementary school (grades K-4) at Immaculate Conception and the middle school (grades 5-8) at Annunciation. This year, about 150 students call ICA their school."
“It’s a unique situation and I can see the benefits of two campuses,” said Principal Norma Moreno, adding that since the merger, each school has more space for dedicated science, music and art rooms. “The downside is that we don’t get to see each other as an entire school.”
Enter the concept of Faith Families and Joint Campus Days. Students at all grade levels are matched with students of all ages into one Faith Family. As a family, they get together regularly during their monthly Joint Campus Day for fun, fellowship and learning. The idea was introduced last year, and Moreno is fully behind the concept.
It’s a day without homework or regular classes, but, rather as Moreno said, “It’s a day for building community and creating camaraderie. And our parents are a big part of the execution and support.”
Moreno sees the day as a way for the school to embrace its Catholic identity. “Our faith is not just symbols and signs, but a real life experience of God with us,” she said.
For example, before the Blessing of the Animals in honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the entire student body attended Mass at Immaculate Conception, (Next month they will be at Annunciation.) where both pastors celebrated Mass — another sign that despite the two buildings, they are one school.
After the Blessing of the Animals, the students participated in a living rosary and worked together on animal-themed activities. In addition, each Joint Campus Day has a Christian Service component, and for October, students were encouraged to bring pet food, treats and cat litter to be donated to the local humane society.
“Our goal is to make the day fun and yet meaningful as we focus on our religious identity, that’s the heart of our school,” said third grade teacher Vivian Vasquez who planned most of the day’s activities. “We like to remind our students to give back in all they do.”
Monrovia Campus - Elementary School
Grades K - 8th Grade - Catholic Education for your children
Monrovia, CA 91016-3653
Principal Norma Moreno
Elementary School Contact site
(626) 358-5129 office
(323) 730-0321 fax
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