Competition!
To compete or not to compete?
-- Should we even ask the question?
by: J.F. (Jim) Straw
To compete or not to compete, that is the question. Whether
it be nobler in the minds of men to accept the challenges and
rewards of competition, or turning away from competition, endure
the apathetic indolence of a non-competitive society.
The United States of America was founded and grew upon competition;
the struggle to survive, achieve, and accomplish. Yet, at this
juncture in our history, we are faced with the possible destruction
of our existence by our own hands. We are, more and more, becoming
a nation of people who demand all of the rewards of competition,
without the challenges and struggles.
Trade Unions demand higher wages, more benefits, and guaranteed
jobs; without the challenges of increased production, job responsibility,
or elimination of non-essential or redundant work units. - Big
business demands sanctions, restrictions and limitations on their
competition; rather than accepting the challenge of the market
place. - Welfare recipients demand higher paychecks for not working;
without competition in the job market.
In days gone by, if a business was confronted by a competitor
who could produce and sell a comparable product at a lower price,
the business scrutinized its production and attempted to meet
the challenge in the market place. Today, the business contacts
one of the many and various governmental agencies, bureaus or
commissions; or one of the trade, consumer or special interest
organizations, and attempts to eliminate the competitions ability
to compete. If they can incite a Trade Union to organize the
competitors work force; or enjoin the competitors from doing
business under the thousands of fair trade regulations; or limit
the competitors ability to compete by enacting restrictive legislation
or trade limitations, the business need not compete.
Remember when you could buy a "brand new" American-made
automobile (less than 20 years ago) for under $3,000? - Then,
the American automobile makers waged war against the Japanese
automobile makers; but not in the marketplace. Rather than trying
to compete with the Japanese, the American automobile industry
lobbied for import restrictions and limitations levied against
that competition.
Unfortunately, this attitude of gaining an unwarranted, non-competitive
edge has permeated our society. - Students can no longer "fail"
in school; as evidenced by a 60% functional illiteracy rate among
high school graduates. They are "passed" because requiring
them to toe-the-mark and earn a passing grade would violate their
human rights (it is their human right to remain ignorant and
unlearned). - People want to receive a paycheck without working;
get rich without effort; lose weight without dieting; live forever
by taking a pill; and be a winner without playing the game (Monday-morning
quarterbacks are the rule, not the exception).
Competition forced this nation to be great. To compete, we have
developed new technologies, advanced methods, and diverse approaches
to production. Without competition, we would still be riding
horses (or walking), firing muzzle loaded muskets, and tilling
the soil with our bare hands. - If necessity is the Mother of
invention, competition is the Mother of necessity.
A business, nation, or person, that accepts, embraces, and relishes
the challenges of competition has the opportunity to succeed.
Those that strive only to eliminate the challenges of competition
are doomed to self-destruction at the hands of the self-same
methods they use to eliminate their competitors.
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Copyright - 2004, J.F. (Jim) Straw. All rights reserved.