Historical Perspective

If you look at our US history and the changes in our economic activity, you can get a sense of how our economy has evolved. 

Going back to our beginnings in 1620, colonists were working to farm the land and raise livestock to have a food supply.  All of this was done manually and required physical effort and skill. In addition, colonists built homes, requiring work to harvest trees, process lumber and construct these homes.  Hunting wild game supplemented their diets.  These agricultural communities required blacksmiths, leather work, lumber jacks, medical and dental skills to support their farming work.

The Industrial Revolution (1850-1920) gave the US new inventions that produced a new standard of living.  Labor saving devices were developed that would allow us to produce more with less effort.  The development of the portable engine evolved from the steam engine to the gasoline engine.  Steel production was refined.  The gas light was replaced by electric lights.  Hydro-electric plants were built and coal fired electric plants were built.  Electricity allowed for the development of electrically powered tools and appliances.  Ice boxes were replaced by electrically powered refrigerators.  Wash boards were replaced by clothes washers.  Clothes lines were replaced by clothes dryers.  Dish washers were developed. The automobile replaced the horse and buggy.  Railroads replaced the covered wagon.  The telegraph and telephone replaced the Pony Express.  The stage coach was replaced by the railroad car, automobile, bus and airplane.

The Post-Industrial Revolution (1920-Present) continued to improve and refine our industrial development and public health.  Sewer sanitation systems replaced open sewers.  Clean water replaced dirty water; chlorination killed the bacteria.  Penicillin replaced death caused by inflammation in 1945.   Polio was cured in the 1950s. DNA was discovered in the 1960s. Advances in radio frequency technology created radar. Vacuum tubes were replaced by transistors, Computers were developed.  Motion pictures, radio, recording devices and television were developed.  Air conditioners were developed.  Gas furnaces replaced coal furnaces. Composite materials replaced wood, Telephones advanced to wireless. Computers replaced typewriters and drafting tables. Digital storage replaced paper documents.  Computer programming and robotics advanced. Credit cards replaced checks and cash.  Space travel was achieved.  Highways were developed and nuclear power plants joined coal and hydroelectric plants in the 1950s.

Our current economy is in bad shape, due to governmental overreach, unnecessary regulations, excessive government spending and socialist programs.  Reducing government’s footprint is needed to reignite the private sector. 

Reestablishing the US Constitution (as written) and our national sovereignty are necessary to reestablish the free market economy.

Going forward, we need to pay down national debt and allow the market to set interest rates.  We need to have the free market reestablish prices in healthcare and education.  This will require planned decreases in federal subsidies.  We need to abandon all defined benefit pension schemes and replace them with defined contribution plans.  We need to reduce government control of our economy. 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader