Rural Wealth and Welfare: Economic Principles Illustrated and Applied in Farm Life

Rural Wealth and Welfare: Economic Principles Illustrated and Applied in Farm Life

Elements of welfare.The welfare of communities, like that of individuals, is made up of health, wealth, wisdom and virtue. If we can say of any human being that lie is healthy, wealthy, wise and good, we are sure of his satisfaction so far as it depends upon self. When a community is made up of individuals kept in health and strength from birth to old age, sustained with accumulated treasures, wise enough to use both strength and wealth to advantage, and upright, just and kind in all human relations, our ideals of welfare are met. These are four different kinds of welfare, each of which is essential, and only confusion of thought follows any attempt to treat them all as wealth, however they may be intermingled and exchanged. Health is essential in gaining a full measure of wealth and wisdom, and perhaps in maintaining genuine character; but a healthy life gives no assurance of complete welfare. The facts concerning health in a community make a distinct subject [pg 002] of study for promotion of welfare, and we call it public hygiene. The science of education deals with ways and means of securing public wisdom. The science of government includes all facts relative to public virtue. So the facts by which we know the nature and uses of accumulated wealth in any community make a distinct study under the name economic science; it deals with certain definite groups of facts. To call everything good wealth and everything evil ilth adds nothing but confusion to our thoughts. Mutual welfare.Every human being in society is directly interested in the study of wealth as related to his own and his neighbors' welfare. No one can understand his relations to those about him in the family, the neighborhood, his country and the world without some understanding of the sources and uses of wealth all about him. His very industry gains its reward by certain means in society depending upon economic principles. His motives for accumulating wealth have a distinct place. His uses of accumulated wealth are a part of the general facts which make wealth desirable. So the study of wealth in society must be everybody's study, if each wishes to do best for himself or for his neighbors. In such study of welfare every one finds his interests completely blended with the interests of others. His existence is part of a larger existence called society, from which he receives himself in large measure and most of his satisfaction; to which he contributes in like measure a portion of its essential character and future existence. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 32158
Author: Fairchild, Geo. T. (George Thompson)
Release Date: Apr 28, 2010
Format: eBook
Language: English