“In the depths of the depression of the 1930s, a government
agent visited the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. The federal government was
making small allotments to the impoverished farmer for stock, feed, and
necessary equipment. The agent came
upon a mountain woman who lived all alone and try to grub a living from 2 acres
of land. She had no floors in her cabin (save for the packed earth and just a few
sticks of homemade furniture.) Daylight streamed through the chinks in the
cabin walls. The agent looked around and then asked, “if the government gave
you $200, what would you do with it? The woman weighed the question for moment
and then replied, ‘Reckon' I'd give it to the poor’.” -Hal Brady, quoting Harold Koh, The Tinsel
and Hay, 1968
“Between 1305 and the early 1800’s. the House of Taxis ran a form of pony express service all over Europe…. Its couriers clad in blue and silver uniforms, crisscrossed the continent carrying messages between princes and generals, merchants and money lenders.” –Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave We may think we are the first generation consumed by rapid communication but we are not. Throughout our history it has been a priority. Of course, now in the 21 st century we must ask: are we better or worse for it?
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