John Nelson
March 29, 2007
Worthy Emperor Wanli, Son of the Most High: It is my humble task to everyday
try to achieve moral force in my character, for Confucius says moral force never dwells in solitude, it will always bring neighbors (Analects 4.25). I have instilled in myself this virtue so that, hopefully, my words will not pass my lips in vain, but instead call others to action to achieve the same end. Maybe together the entire Grand Secretariat can lead with moral force. For Master says, govern them by moral force, keep order among them by ritual and they will keep their self-respect and come to you of their own accord (Analects 2.3).
Today I am to discuss how to raise revenue in the Middle Country. Specifically I will address the legitimacy of our monopoly on salt. Master says, those whose measures are dictated by mere expediency will arouse continuous discontent (Analects 4.12). I believe our economy has for far too long been based on earning money quickly. We established the monopoly on salt in the T’ang Dynasty in order to quickly raise funds, banking on the popularity of salt in trade. We have stopped creating our economic institutions based on what is beneficial to us in the long run. Instead, our government is now competing for profit with our people. The result has been that our primary occupation (agriculture) is crippled, while the secondary occupation (trade) thrives. The people, as Confucius predicted, are discontent. They lack discipline and self-respect, and crave for our ruling with moral force, as was previously stated. I call that we repeal the salt monopoly so as to pursue advancement in agriculture.
But has not the salt monopoly paid for our defenses against the barbarians? What will happen to our military funds? These questions will lose relevance if there is no conflict. For Master says, the ruler must attract [people of far off lands] by enhancing the prestige of his culture; and when they have been duly attracted, he contents them. And where there is contentment there will be no upheavals (Analects 16.1). Without these upheavals, we would be able to save so much of the money being hastily poured into our border defenses in the past. We are asking the wrong questions. We should be asking how to attract these foreigners. These foreigners are a vital asset to the Middle Country, for they become infiltrated into our military. We should look to attract these people instead of exploit our own.
Now what of monopolies? Monopolies should not be allowed to exist any longer here. We are cornering all the goods and raising the prices. Our officials are taking advantage of our own people. These corrupt officials control the supply of goods and keep the demand high in order to reap the maximum profit. Our ancestors understood how to effectively govern the people. Confucius says, if you raise up the straight and set them on top of the crooked, the commoners will support you. But if you raise the crooked and set them on top of the straight, the commoners will not support you (Analects 2.19). Our officials must be illustrations of moral integrity, so that the people will follow their lead.
With all that said, we need to prioritize agriculture to be our chief occupation for profit. For centuries our land has been self-sufficient. We have been able to flourish on our own fruits and catch fish from our own seas. This should continue. Our ancestors were wary of trade with foreigners and we should be as well. Commerce with other countries is tricky, and it will only lead to a sanction of greed. Therefore, a tax on commerce, whether foreign or domestic, is not in our best interest. Also, taxes on landholdings have become exploitative to the point of madness. It has essentially become the economic basis of the bureaucracy as an institution (Huang 145). We need to consider lessening the burden on these landholders, so as to keep their loyalty.
In short I would just like to reiterate that our agriculture needs to be our primary occupation, just as it was in antiquity. Also, we need to attract foreigners with the glamour of our culture, namely literature, music, and dance. My purpose here was to show the Son of the Most High my reflections for raising revenue, which I now ask for his consideration. Thank you.
March 29, 2007
Worthy Emperor Wanli, Son of the Most High: It is my humble task to everyday
try to achieve moral force in my character, for Confucius says moral force never dwells in solitude, it will always bring neighbors (Analects 4.25). I have instilled in myself this virtue so that, hopefully, my words will not pass my lips in vain, but instead call others to action to achieve the same end. Maybe together the entire Grand Secretariat can lead with moral force. For Master says, govern them by moral force, keep order among them by ritual and they will keep their self-respect and come to you of their own accord (Analects 2.3).
Today I am to discuss how to raise revenue in the Middle Country. Specifically I will address the legitimacy of our monopoly on salt. Master says, those whose measures are dictated by mere expediency will arouse continuous discontent (Analects 4.12). I believe our economy has for far too long been based on earning money quickly. We established the monopoly on salt in the T’ang Dynasty in order to quickly raise funds, banking on the popularity of salt in trade. We have stopped creating our economic institutions based on what is beneficial to us in the long run. Instead, our government is now competing for profit with our people. The result has been that our primary occupation (agriculture) is crippled, while the secondary occupation (trade) thrives. The people, as Confucius predicted, are discontent. They lack discipline and self-respect, and crave for our ruling with moral force, as was previously stated. I call that we repeal the salt monopoly so as to pursue advancement in agriculture.
But has not the salt monopoly paid for our defenses against the barbarians? What will happen to our military funds? These questions will lose relevance if there is no conflict. For Master says, the ruler must attract [people of far off lands] by enhancing the prestige of his culture; and when they have been duly attracted, he contents them. And where there is contentment there will be no upheavals (Analects 16.1). Without these upheavals, we would be able to save so much of the money being hastily poured into our border defenses in the past. We are asking the wrong questions. We should be asking how to attract these foreigners. These foreigners are a vital asset to the Middle Country, for they become infiltrated into our military. We should look to attract these people instead of exploit our own.
Now what of monopolies? Monopolies should not be allowed to exist any longer here. We are cornering all the goods and raising the prices. Our officials are taking advantage of our own people. These corrupt officials control the supply of goods and keep the demand high in order to reap the maximum profit. Our ancestors understood how to effectively govern the people. Confucius says, if you raise up the straight and set them on top of the crooked, the commoners will support you. But if you raise the crooked and set them on top of the straight, the commoners will not support you (Analects 2.19). Our officials must be illustrations of moral integrity, so that the people will follow their lead.
With all that said, we need to prioritize agriculture to be our chief occupation for profit. For centuries our land has been self-sufficient. We have been able to flourish on our own fruits and catch fish from our own seas. This should continue. Our ancestors were wary of trade with foreigners and we should be as well. Commerce with other countries is tricky, and it will only lead to a sanction of greed. Therefore, a tax on commerce, whether foreign or domestic, is not in our best interest. Also, taxes on landholdings have become exploitative to the point of madness. It has essentially become the economic basis of the bureaucracy as an institution (Huang 145). We need to consider lessening the burden on these landholders, so as to keep their loyalty.
In short I would just like to reiterate that our agriculture needs to be our primary occupation, just as it was in antiquity. Also, we need to attract foreigners with the glamour of our culture, namely literature, music, and dance. My purpose here was to show the Son of the Most High my reflections for raising revenue, which I now ask for his consideration. Thank you.
posted by John Nelson | 12:27 PM
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