tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649343161125212318.post6667704575227219802..comments2024-03-12T22:21:06.324-07:00Comments on Sierra Dragon's Breath : Republicans are the light while the democrats are the darknessTodd Juvinallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11273611043872087559noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649343161125212318.post-83180019853519605742016-05-07T10:36:30.053-07:002016-05-07T10:36:30.053-07:00And of course, Calvin Coolidge never said, "t...And of course, Calvin Coolidge never said, "the business of America is business." <br /><br />What he said was, "“After all, the chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing and prospering in the world. I am strongly of the opinion that the great majority of people will always find these the moving impulses of our life.”<br /><br />He made that statement in a speech where he was talking about the role of a free press and the fear that business would influence editorial policy. His point was that newspapers were a business and that they would act as the people, their customers, directed them. <br /><br />He followed that statement with this, "“Of course, the accumulation of wealth cannot be justified as the chief end of existence,” he said. “But we are compelled to recognize it as a means to well-nigh every desirable achievement. So long as wealth is made the means and not the end, we need not greatly fear it...But it calls for additional effort to avoid even the appearance of the evil of selfishness. In every worthy profession, of course, there will always be a minority who will appeal to the baser instinct. There always have been, probably always will be, some who will feel that their own temporary interest may be furthered by betraying the interest of others.”<br /><br />Get it--there was in Coolidge's mind a higher moral purpose to business and profit alone was not the goal.<br /><br />So naturally, just like just about every other piece of folksy history you share, you got it wrong. <br /><br />Frisch<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4649343161125212318.post-68859411426942205202016-05-06T20:21:02.708-07:002016-05-06T20:21:02.708-07:00Thanks Tood...very true. BMWThanks Tood...very true. BMWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com