The BEES still know

The next discussion at the BEES Book Club will focus on the Development of Capitalism with readings from Rosenberg and Birdzell. The question posed is “Why did the West Grow Rich” when other countries lagged far behind?

February 15, 2012, 7:00 PM, BEES, Room 324, Business and Economics (Gatton) Building, University of Kentucky

Location: 550 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY (Go to Parking Lot 5 at Limestone and Avenue of Champions, across the overhead walk, around Administration Drive to the Gatton Building)

Current Topic: Development of Capitalism
Rosenberg, Nathan and Birdzell, L.E., How the West Grew Rich, Basic Books, 1986:
Introduction, pgs. 3-36 and; Ch. 4, “The Evolution of Institutions Favorable to Commerce,” pgs.113-143.

The discussions of each week will be led by Dr. John Garen, Gatton Endowed Professor of Economics, University of Kentucky

Please send an email to Frank Byron at BEESociety@gmail.com to express interest and access the readings or with any questions.

Exploring Black Patriots

An exciting new program from the founders and creators of the well know Vacation Liberty School.


Welcome to
Exploring Black Patriots

Exploring Black Patriots intertwines the experiences of outstanding African American patriots with engaging activities and discussions that encourage children to practice integrity, perseverance, and responsibility. Each day, black heroes are highlighted who overcame hardships to achieve meritorious accomplishments that impact our country even today. The program was created and available at Ivory Notebook. It is designed to be offered once a week during the four weeks of Black History Month (February). However, the sessions can be offered in a variety of settings at any time of the year.

The Periods in History and the Tytler Cycle

A look at the United States’ history would draw uncomfortable parallels with the Tytler Cycle. The country went from bondage and grew into spiritual faith in the 1760′s with the formation of the Sons of Liberty. From 1770 to 1783, it developed from this spiritual faith to admirable courage during the Revolutionary War.

The country achieved a long period of liberty that you saw climax from 1784 to 1865 with the end of the Civil War and freeing of the American slaves. The greatest period of national prosperity showed in the advance from this liberty to abundance phase that took place from 1866 to 1969. By many measurements, things in the United States have been in a static or declining state since the nineteen seventies began.

Where are we today?

Anyone who is a student of liberty and fan of freedom will be interested in a theory called the Tytler Cycle. The Tytler Cycle describes the ways that a society departs from enslavement and finally arrives at the point of freedom and prosperity.

The cycle works in a continuous circle, eventually leading back to enslavement. This is why some are suggesting that the US has neared the end of the prosperity and freedom part of the cycle and is a step away from the alarming enslavement point again.

So what does this mean?

Some observers in American society have become convinced that America is in the negative side of the cycle now, somewhere between selfishness and dependence. The evidence of this is all around you. How many more Americans right now are engaged in working the national system in order to get a free ride out of it than are trying to build up the country?

Alexander Tytler has sober words that could be applied to America today all too well. He said that democracies are temporary by nature. He did not believe that they would ever survive as enduring forms of government.

They could only exist until the point that the citizens discovered that they had the power to vote generous benefits to be given to themselves out of the public coffers and revenue. At that point, the voters would be certain to select the candidate that guaranteed the highest level of financial benefits from the treasury.

We have been warned by Tytler and others that because of this, each and every democracy would eventually fall apart because of poor financial policy and weakened finances. Dictatorship and enslavement would always result after this.