Washington's Battle Over Israel's Birth Washington Post Take a look at an interesting article we found.
A Marshall Plan for Teaching Education Week Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Does Africa need a Marshall plan? The Statesman (Ghana) Take a look at an interesting article we found.
From Beemans gum to the endangered Necco wafer, they do make 'em like they used to. Nostaligic Baby Boomers are resurrecting the candies they grew up on. Your favorite may be next.
 by Lady Comrade |
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 by Holly |
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 by Cynthia |
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June 05, 2008
The first week of June brings several important anniversaries related to World War II. Of course you know about June 6, D-Day, when the Allies began the slow, painful process of retaking France, the Low Countries and -- eventually -- Germany, from the Nazis.
But let us also spare a thought for June 5, the day in 1947 when Secretary of State George Marshall delivered a speech at Harvard that laid the groundwork for the Marshall Plan, the program that guided the recovery of a devastated continent and a rare example of decision-makers actually learning from history.
Germany and most of the rest of Europe was still in an economic shambles in 1947. For two years, postwar dealings had been guided mainly by the Morgenthau Plan, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau's comprehensive strategy to permanently scuttle Germany's ability to wage war by dismantling heavy industry and partitioning or annexing strategic territories. Germans were slowly starving, and the economy was crippled by design.
The stage seemed set for a repeat of the aftermath of World War I and nearly every other major conflict, with the victor's treatment of the vanquished focused on revenge and restitution. (Let us recall Andromache's son being thrown from the battlements toward the end of The Trojan Women.) That this had proven to be an excellent formula for breeding enmity and new martial ambitions in the defeated -- well, what are ya gonna do?
Marshall and others began thinking that a permanently weakened Germany would be no help in restraining Soviet expansion in Europe. And, this pragmatic approach pointed towards shared prosperity, with prosperous nations aiding their downtrodden neighbors to create a strong Central European economy that would serve as a bulwark against Communism and a disincentive for countries to solve problems militarily.
Marhsall's ideas were hammered into a formal plan at a meeting of European nations in July and codified in 1948 with the creation of the Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA), a multinational effort largely funded by the United States. The program lasted for four years and $13 billion of American investment. By the time it was over, industrial production was up 35 percent and the economies of every participating nation except Germany had grown back to well beyond pre-war levels.
The corresponding Organization for European Economic Cooperation laid the groundwork for European unification by eliminating or reducing tariffs between participating nations and cocoordinating economic policy. ECA advisers in major European cities introduced American management ideas to the continent.
The Marshall Plan was vastly unpopular with major segments of the American public and political establishment at the time of its implementation, with many arguing the country had already sacrificed plenty for the benefit of the Old World.
Historians have argued ever since about how much the program really contributed to the vast economic expansion Europe enjoyed in the 1950 and '60s. However, lefties criticize it as a form of economic imperialism; and conservatives castigate the Marshall Plan as the blueprint for decades of ineffective, misguided foreign-aid programs. Hmm...
It's hard to imagine European cooperation blossoming into something as functional and influential as the European Union without the foundation laid by George Marshall. And it hard to think we couldn't benefit from a little of Marshall's rising-tide thinking as we ponder some of today's peacekeeping and reconstruction challenges.
Share the Eye:
Can We Have the Marshall Plan Money Back Now? Radioactive Liberty Take a look at an interesting article we found.
A Plan that Still Echoes After 60 Years China Confidential Take a look at an interesting article we found.
A Global Marshall Plan Rant & Reason Take a look at an interesting article we found.
Calling for a Marshall Plan, not a Manhattan Project Alt Energy Stocks Take a look at an interesting article we found.
still thinking about today...
Who benefitted most from the Marshall Plan?
36% 36% 7% 21%
I think Marshall gets undue credit for the success of post-war economic reconstruction. Nations that received the most aid from the Marshall Plan, like Britain and Sweden, saw the least returns and grew the least between 1947 and 1955. Germany and Italy, by comparison, received the least aid and had the most economic growth. Perversely, Japan, who received no aid at all, had the most explosive economic growth. A lesson for Iraq: Perhaps it's better to leave well enough alone and allow for an "organic" recovery.
To: Onc Doc,
I think your observation is correct. I was born in England in 1949. I came to this country in 1959. I don't recall anything wonderful about England while I was there. The country slipped deeper into socialism, there was still rationing into the early 50's. In my home town they were still clearing debris and finding skeletons from the Gerrman bombing.
My parents came to the U.S. for a better life. My father was a doctor and you'd think he'd stay in England. He worked as ship's doctor and also worked for the WHO setting up clinics in soon to be former colonies. (His specialty was tropical diseases). On a visit to the West Coast he decided immigration was the best of all possible choices.
I don't recall him regretting that decision. My mother's brother and family also left England for a new life in Australia in 1961.
I think that era was known as the "brain drain".
If it had been so wonderful in England why did so many people leave? To see and experience the mightiest empire in history waiting for a hand-out from the U.S. while it wasted away is enough to make anyone leave for a better life.
The mid 60's was different: Carnaby Street, the music scene, and t.v. shows like The Avengers, or movies like the 007 series. I don't think any of that was the result of the Marshall Plan, it was a younger generation trying to escape socialism's mind numbing collectivist nonsense.
Another example is the fiasco of the millions of aid money that went to Vietnam during the war. What good did it do? I was there, and I didn't see any benefits. Nothing was built, no infrastructure created, no economic miracle. We threw good money after bad money which is always a prescription for disaster.
Can the same principles that apply to individuals also apply to countries?
As in, it's good to help your neighbor, but isn't the neighborhood better off when we set the example and tend our own gardens?
Just a thought.
The Marshall Plan ~ Failure or Success ~ As histtory is written by the Victors It's amazing that there is after 60 years still a great debate rging about this idea.
If it was a success would we be having this conversation?
If it was a failure wouldn't we be saying how bad European economy has been these past 60 years & still be pouring aid in to these countries & dealign with an immigartion issue form all of them in today's world?
Such an intresting way to see one simple plan as a positive change for the losers and then as a very bad political decision by the victors.
I think the Marshall plan had good & bad in it. as with all political decisons it really depends on who & how they carry the ideas out.
Did the plan hlep Western Germany the most? Yes it did it also helped to make sure that the all of Europe was not over run by communist regimes & that free goverments worked just as well as collectivization.
Although it took 40 some years for these economic ideas to translate to the the Eastern side of Europe you have to respect the politcal thinkers like Helmut Kohl & Lech Walesa, who some say are possibly the best politcal thinkers & took Marshall's plan & use it to their countries advantage in the late 70's through the 80's.
although if youaskme about my true feeligs on the whole cold war & restoring Europe after WWII I tend to beleive Patton had the right idea keep marching east and fight the Soviet Union while, "the bayonets were still sharpened"
Don't get me wrong Russia is a Beautiful Country & it's people are great It's really more of a should have gotten rid of Stalin sonner rather than later mentality.
About Onc Doc's observation of Japan ~ ABout 10 years ago the Green Bay Packer Raggie White addressed the WI State Assembly his remarks were considered out of line by a great many people but one thing he said was
"When you look at the Asians, the Asian is very gifted in creation, creativity and inventions. If you go to Japan or any Asian country, they can turn a television into a watch. They're very creative. "
Reggie was referring to the fact that after WWII Japan & the Asian world had to rebuild its economy without any help ~ They took what they had & used it to their advantage & by the 70's because of this skill they were an world economic power.
I'm not really sure that without the Marshall Plan though that European Countries would have had the same outcome.
To: Heiress,
I recently built a new fence across my front yard. I've had neighbors (I don't even know) come up and say how much they like it and how its inspired them to think about a new fence. I'll improve the neighborhood without doing any of the work myself (except what i did in my front garden).
The conversation today reminds me of an old Chinese saying: "If I give you a fish, I feed you for one day, if I teach you to fish I've fed you for a lifetime". handouts never work. Personal responsibility (perhaps after some instruction) is the better way.
The Marshall plan is a classic example of how self-interest is more beneficial to your neighbor than charity and that "exploitation" is better for the downtrodden than hand-outs.
Marshall's desire to help Germany was not out of any great sympathy for the fallen nation but because he knew we would need help against the Soviets. Thus, we help our neighbor for our own benefit... And that's just fine!
If my economy is doing well while the lefties are charging Marshall with exploitation, my response is, "please expolit me some more!" If I'm sitting prettier than I ever did before the war and conservatives are calling Marshall ineffective and misguided, I say "I'll take this misguidance over effective guidance any day." You can't argue with success. Or can you?
This is, of course, the problem of not leaving well enough alone. The problems of socialism in the UK that ExPat mentions were always done "for the sake of the people and in their name" just as they had been in the USSR. And a massive number of emigrants eventually said, "Please, try not to help! I'm being helped to death!" Governments have a habit of being like the boy scout who forces the old lady across the street when she was really only waiting for the bus.
When it comes to politics and economics, the best lessons can be learned from places like the US and Aurstralia, Brazil and Canada, etc. When someone picks up and seeks a better life, the place he chooses to go is probably doing something right. After all, immigration is the sincerest form of flattery.
Well done, ExPat!
"Governments have a habit of being like the boy scout who forces the old lady across the street when she was really only waiting for the bus."
I love this analogy ~ Of Course I always find it funny whenever it's used by comedies ~ I guess I just like the fact that most of the time the old lady take her Umbrella or Hand Bag & starts hitting the Boyscout with it after his "good deed" is done....
The image alway makes me laugh ~ Thanks for the AM smile DPR... I don't know why maybe cause it just reminds me of the No good Deed Goes unpunished philosphy....
To: Heiress,
Thanks! It's an all-white French gothic fence, which means, in the U.S., it's probably about as "French" as "french fries" or "french toast".
To: DreadPirateRoberts,
The interesting part about the boy scout who helps the old lady across the street against her will, is the high probabilty that there's a bus on the other side going in the opposite direction. She'll take that bus and go backwards.
A good metaphor for the interference of well-meaning/mis-directed governments: "Onward to the past", instead of "Back to the Future".
ExPat:
You make me think of the old military joke, "I never retreat! I advance to the rear!"
You folks are all in very good form today! I do believe I shall just sit this one out and enjoy the ride.
Expat,
The all-white French gothic fence sounds wonderful! Thank you for breakfast! : )
To La Donna,
Thanks. It is.
Breakfast was my pleasure. Your new house is truly a home.
Spinner said...
Oh, aren't computers and the wonderful world of the internet grand. Al Gore should be so proud... I just got access back to my server. It has been down since I first tried early afternoon. I hope people are still looking in because I have a different slant here.
I read somewhere, sorry SSJ, I can't remember the exact reference, that the Marshall Plan also had its roots in how miserably the North handled the reconstruction of the South after the "Recent Unpleasentness". They felt that there must be something better that would help regain the support of the general population than carpetbagging. Maybe it didn't quite work as expected, but at least they were trying. Any truth here?
To; Spinner,
You bring up a good point.
I do know that many in Congress opposed the Plan brecause they thought it was an extension of "The New Deal" to Europe. Some saw it as imperialistic. Marshall testified in Congress that it was designed to rebuild Europe and stop Soviet expansion into the war damaged areas. Others thought it was good because the money given had to be spent on American products, so we'd somehow get the money back.
The Netherlands apparently spent their share on fighting a colonial war to recover Indonesia. I guess it worked, as the Soviets didn't invade Indonesia
What you say does make sense. There are records that showed Marshall spoke to a Southern cotton growers association to drum up support for the Plan. As well as other groups in the South. I wonder what he said?