The First Thanksgiving and the tragedy of the commons

Rush Limbaugh does a piece on this every year, but here's a very good article from John Stossell on the First Thanksgiving, and the message that isn't normally taught.

Because of sharing, the first Thanksgiving in 1623 almost didn't happen.

The failure of Soviet communism is only the latest demonstration that freedom and property rights, not sharing, are essential to prosperity. The earliest European settlers in America had a dramatic demonstration of that lesson, but few people today know it.

When the Pilgrims first settled the Plymouth Colony, they organized their farm economy along communal lines. The goal was to share everything equally, work and produce.

They nearly all starved.

Why? When people can get the same return with a small amount of effort as with a large amount, most people will make little effort.

(Note to any Lyfords reading this - you may follow this link)