Welcome back to The Professional Student! Today, I would like to take some time just to reflect on the previous 6 blogs. I don’t think I knew what I was getting into with the book I chose to do my reflection posts on, but I am a history fan.
History is one of those things that I love to study, especially food history. Many major brands still in existence can be traced back to the early 1900s when food manufacturing was starting to take off. Henry Ford pioneered the assembly line and the McDonald brothers were able to take what Ford did and apply it to their fast food model after they got out of the bbq business and switched over to what we know them for; burgers. McDonald’s still makes fast food, but in actuality, they’re a real estate firm. Franchisees might own the business, but corporate owns the land.
Wars are another area that I enjoy studying, having served myself and having a father (Vietnam), a grandfather (WWII), and a great-grandfather (WWI) who served. More recently, my nephew became a Marine about a year ago, so there is a family history of military service. Aside from the historical significance of historic wars, they cost money and they can make money. I can speak from my own personal experience having been in charge of running food service operations at smaller bases with about 150 personal eating three meals a day plus drinks, snacks, water, produce, etc., the cost is astronomical. I easily spent $15,000 to $25,000+ per week on food orders. Fast forward a full year and that number can reach or exceed $1,000,000.
Reading Americana, A 400-Year History of American Capitalism made me look at everything historically I already knew from a different perspective; the perspective of the dollar. Pilgrims made the journey over on The Mayflower chartered by The Virginia Company seeking religious freedom, which they got in exchange for 7 years of service loading ships up with goods to be sold for profit in Great Britain. Unfortunately for the Virginia Company, there were not able to stay in business to ever reap any fruits of their labor.
What is bad for one company is good for another, and the pilgrims were able to capitalize on tobacco and cotton, among other things, to turn a profit. So, while religious freedom might be the first founding principle of The United States, capitalism comes in for a strong second.
With that being said, no system is perfect. Is it capitalism to blame, the government, consumerism, or the tax code? Or, is it the devil in people that gets the best of us when blinded by prospects of amassing huge fortunes and wealth? Perhaps a combination of all. At the end of the day, money must be spent to make more. You can’t take it with you and a person only needs so much.
I will let you think about capitalism and what it means to you and end here. What is the future of the United States? Will the wealth gap keep getting larger? Will the American Dream disappear? Will we uplift each other as a society, or let those who can’t swim sink and drown? Will equality be achieved for everyone in the land of the free. Free until you don’t pay your income taxes, of course. Free so that the money you’re left with after taxes can continually get taxed over and over again until there is nothing left but fat pockets for some and empty pockets for others.
Innovative Leadership and Entrepreneurship: A Graduate Student's Perspective 
4 replies on “Final Thoughts: Americana A 400-Year History of American Capitalism by Bhu Srinivasan”
Shawn,
I really like your closing questions, such as will the wage gap get larger, will the American Dream disappear? I think the best answer to these questions is we don’t know. I think this is both a good and bad thing.
Good, because American’s have the right to the Pursuit of Happiness. Even Thomas Jefferson eluded that we will never be truly happy, humans are greedy, but we can pursue happiness.
Bad, because while we pursue happiness, and this American Dream we may be ruining our lives waiting for the next big thing, rather than appreciating what life has to offer.
In such an individualistic county as America we have this opportunity to make our own life, rather than everyone else’s and to your point. When does this hurt us as a nation?
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Dear Ivan,
The unknown is always a little scary, but I have hopes we can continue moving forward in the right direction. If not, then I fear our system will eventually collapse as the wealth gap gets larger and chaos will ensue. What kind of chaos? I am unsure. A civil war? Marshal Law? I think thats when it would hurt our nation. It is interesting to see how other countries react to their government when they do not agree. Imagine France when protests outbreak and buildings and vehicles get set on fire with huge outraged crowds. Imagine if that happened here. It isn’t something I would ever wish for, but everyone has a breaking point and eventually enough people will reach theirs and act out in desperation because they feel there is no other alternative.
Kindly,
Shawn
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Shawn,
Good job on your final reflection! When I tell people that McDonald’s actually doesn’t make most of their money on sales they don’t believe me. I tell them that franchises actually make that money and pay a percentage and sales and rent to the corporation for the right to use their name. McDonald’s is the biggest real estate agent. They are also the biggest toy supplier. People are always “wowed” by that. I also like that you spoke about are money being taxed repeatedly until there is nothing less. Why is that we pay tax dollars for hospitals and such, but can’t afford to go to the doctor. Why is the U.S. in so much debt and still borrowing money and individual citizens can’t borrow money to buy houses and essentials. Why are so many people homeless and hungry but we can finance all these wars and people in different countries? I agree that humans are very greedy. The pursuit of money and happiness leads people to forget the important things about life, and blinds them from compassion for humankind. Life is just a breeze and somehow we don’t even have time to enjoy what matters most in that time because of corporate greed. Thanks for sharing!
Kind Regards,
Tonya T. Thomas
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Dear Tonya,
I am glad you enjoyed the posting, and thank you for sharing your feedback and thoughts! I couldn’t agree with you more, and if there was a heart emoji available, I would hit it 1,000 times. Everything you said is true. We are the “greatest nation in the world,” but our quality of life and living isn’t ranked #1? Schools get shot up, and mostly anyone can walk into a store and purchase a gun.
Kindly,
Shawn
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