suppose that America suddenly lost fifty of her best physicists, chemists, physiologists, mathematicians, poets, painters, sculptors, musicians, writers; fifty of her best mechanical engineers, civil and military engineers, artillery experts, architects, doctors, surgeons, pharmacists; fifty of her best bankers, two hundred of her best businessmen, two hundred of her best farmers, fifty of her best ironmasters, arms manufacturers, miners; her fifty best masons, carpenters, and a hundred other persons of various unspecified occupations, eminent in the sciences, fine arts, and professions...
these are the Americans who are the most essential producers, those who make the most important products, those who direct the enterprises most useful to the nation, those who contribute to its achievements in the sciences, fine arts and professions. America would immediately fall into a position of inferiority compared with the nations which it now rivals without them, and would continue to be inferior until this loss has been replaced, until it had grown another head. It would require at least a generation for America to repair this misfortune; for those who are distinguished in work of positive ability are exceptions, and nature is not prodigal of exceptions, particularly in this species.
Let us pass on to another assumption. Suppose that America preserves all those of genius in the sciences, fine arts and professions, but has the misfortune to lose in the same day President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, President pro tempore Ted Stevens, Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snow, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Suppose that America loses at the same time all the great officers of the Presidential Cabinet, all the legislators, judges, and, in addition, ten thousand of the richest corporations who live in the style of the nobles.
this mischance would certainly distress Americans, because they are kind-hearted, and could not see with indifference the sudden disappearance of such a large number of their compatriots. This loss of individuals considered to be the most important in the state would, however, only grieve them for purely sentimental reasons and would result in no political evil for the State.
-adapted from Henri de Saint-Simon, Social Organization, The Science of Man, and Other Writings
these are the Americans who are the most essential producers, those who make the most important products, those who direct the enterprises most useful to the nation, those who contribute to its achievements in the sciences, fine arts and professions. America would immediately fall into a position of inferiority compared with the nations which it now rivals without them, and would continue to be inferior until this loss has been replaced, until it had grown another head. It would require at least a generation for America to repair this misfortune; for those who are distinguished in work of positive ability are exceptions, and nature is not prodigal of exceptions, particularly in this species.
Let us pass on to another assumption. Suppose that America preserves all those of genius in the sciences, fine arts and professions, but has the misfortune to lose in the same day President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, President pro tempore Ted Stevens, Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snow, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Suppose that America loses at the same time all the great officers of the Presidential Cabinet, all the legislators, judges, and, in addition, ten thousand of the richest corporations who live in the style of the nobles.
this mischance would certainly distress Americans, because they are kind-hearted, and could not see with indifference the sudden disappearance of such a large number of their compatriots. This loss of individuals considered to be the most important in the state would, however, only grieve them for purely sentimental reasons and would result in no political evil for the State.
-adapted from Henri de Saint-Simon, Social Organization, The Science of Man, and Other Writings