Once there was an old farmer who was out planting some oak trees on his property. A friend commented to him "Don't you know that it takes 50 years for them to mature? You'll never see them provide any shade." The farmer responds "I'm not planting them for me I am planting them for my grandchildren."
There is a difference of vision between the lower class, middle class and the upper class. Throughout history we have seen this represent itself over and over. The difference in results between the US Revolution and the French Revolution a few years later is one of the best examples of what the results of having the different views.
Lower casts: If you stop and think of the vision and views of the lower class what comes to mind? Looking to the next meal? Perhaps the next day? If you have what many in the lower class call a long term view you might be able to look beyond to the next pay check which could be a week or two out. When your vision isn't much beyond the next meal, day or paycheck you are not able to plan and work much beyond that. This also makes you very vulnerable to outside events and actions of others. In this view you are also being led and controlled by others. Whether you want to call it such or not is immaterial as you are actually a slave. A slave to the government, the corporation or the boss.
Middle casts: Now the middle classes do things beyond the near term… or do they? The middle class typically looks anywhere from the next paycheck to retirement. That is anywhere from 1-2 weeks to 40 years. Think of it… what do you think about? Getting to retirement and then if asked about beyond that then you don't have much of an answer other than perhaps puttering around the house or going fishing. All too often in our current society people think of their kids until they are grown and then out of the house. Then they are someone else's responsibility, after all I did my part and raised them. They can then take care of themselves. Our 'connections' are then broken with them and thus ends our direct if not complete involvement with them. This is what? 20-30 year vision? Again we see a relatively short vision that dies at the end of this period.
Upper casts: The upper classes or "elites" have a much different view. The true leaders look far beyond any of the other casts. Their vision is multi-generational. These folks are looking to build something that will last well beyond their lives. Sam Walton wanted to build a business (Wal-Mart) that would last well beyond his life, something that his kids and their kids would enjoy. This is called "Building a Legacy." Kings who build nations want to build something that will last hundreds if not thousands of years.
Let's return to the example of the differences between the US and France in the late 18th century. Our Founding Fathers build a nation that they envisioned would last generations. Their vision was of a nation that filled the continent, sea to sea, a nation that would stand above all others, who's freedom and prosperity would be the envy of the rest of the world. On the other hand the French Revolutionaries had no such vision. The leadership of the French Revolution came from the lower class and had not been educated and prepared to establish a nation. When you take a group of people who are used to having a maximum vision of a few weeks and then making them in charge of a movement or nation you will have problems developing a long lasting society that will function beyond a few weeks.
So what's the difference between the "Classes"? Is it their "birth"? or "Wealth"? No it's their education. The single most important part is education. However education isn't "schooling" nor does it come with an "alphabet" behind it. "The world is full of educated idiots" (Pres. Calvin Coolidge). Where the lower classes fail or lack is the right education. This is something beyond the basic "English" classes, math classes or history classes currently provided in public education. What we want is "classical" education. The education of the elites. Studying the classics throughout history. Adam Smith, Socrates, Plato, Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, Montesquieu, Bastiat, to name a few. Why study a simple math book when you can study under the greatest mathematician in history… Newton? Learn economics from Adam Smith? This is how you gain the right education to develop your long term vision.
When we build a vision that outlasts our lives we build a legacy that will benefit all of humanity. It doesn't have to be as large or grand as building an empire or nation or the largest business in the world, but can only be within the circles of our families. However as we build legacies we build something that in time will benefit far beyond the circles that we originally envisioned.
So when was the last time you planted an oak tree for your grandkids?
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