Freedom

...not only personal, but religous and economic.

It attracted great people

The people that wanted opportunity. The people that wanted a blank canvas. The people that wanted to do it on their own. People that treasured the uncertain mountain over the permanent hill.

It fostered competition

Effort translated into success - and you got to keep it. People wanted to start companies (like Schmidt roller bearings) and didn't have a long list of reasons not to (legal, politics, taxes). We instead create an environment that elevates the rest of the world to the opportunity once here.

Only the large companies really have the opportunity today (careful, what about the monopolies...) What an intimidating sight for someone that wants to start a business. The only way out is to create the next 'Netscape' or sell $0.25 coffee for $3.25 with marketing genius. What happened to an honest product, made well for an honest price? You have to be Intel to deliver this and overcome the overhead.

You were largely on your own. We did not have forced courtest (Political Correctness). That means people act with authenticity.

People wanted a new culture

There wasn't resistance to learning english. People wanted their kids to go to school, and whipped them when they failed. Still, being smart was bad in school when I went.

We made things

Making things makes wealth. It creates jobs.

People spent time with each other

Now, it's like creating a little self-contained family survival fortress, with all your DVD entertainment inside, no need to meet anyone else.

-- MattWalsh - 19 Aug 2003