Richard Arthur Kelo - Studies in the Evolution of Liberty

It has been established by thinkers, writers and academics that there is a narrative of progress in many nations that strives towards perfection and the least possible oppression. This thought has dominated the writings of early Greeks, the Romantics and the Enlightenment thinkers of the 16th and 17th Century. The thought culminated in the writings of Hegel who believed that perfect was something that was fought for over time, each era ushering in a new step towards perfect society. The story has been proved to be a little more difficult and is the top of many writers including Richard Arthur Kelo. Kelo is a blogger and economic specialist who has been studying the different stories regarding political and economic progress since figures like Aristotle. In his many writings, that can be found at https://rickkelo.liberty.me or Rick Kelo Brand Yourself, he explores the idiosyncrasies of historical thought

Beginning with the Ancient Greeks Richard Arthur Kelo identified that absolute freedom and movement of the individual was highly prized by philosophers like Aristotle but was opposed by Plato in his writings in the Republic. The battle between Greek philosophers was one of deep argument and debate, and it inspired the thinkers Kelo studied later on. In one of his articles he has looked at Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his thoughts regarding the natural right to freedom. In his own writings Richard Arthur Kelo identifies that freedom is not a natural right but that something that has been created since the rise of capitalism, and he uses this contemporary standpoint to revive older arguments with past thinkers.

The timeline along with Richard Arthur Kelo has worked has given him great scope and he has afforded his time to other figures like Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, John Locke and more, even paying attention to the tyrants of the past like Mussolini. With an arsenal of thinkers at his study, his own writings take on astonishing breadth as evidenced on his many websites. Richard Arthur Kelo was educated at the University of Illinois in Chicago and at the Military Academy in West Point, New York. He now works as a taxation specialist but has in the past been an economic advisor and social skills expert in human resources. He uses his employment and personal philosophy to provide the blogosphere with thought-provoking arguments.

Rick Kelo - The great nation of Africa

In the past Rick Kelo shared how free trading & nearly laissez-faire Botswana has now surpassed Detroit in many measures of standards of living. In this article he wants to provide another perspective and a different comparison. The African continent of Botswana is an exception because most of the continent has been denied access to capitalism. During the Cold War Africa served as a proving ground for Marxism. The Soviets established a university in Moscow called Patrice Lumumba University. The Soviets would bring in African leaders and train them to implement Socialism in their home countries.

Patrice Lumumba was a Congolese visionary who was put to death in the early 1960s. The Soviet Union focused on to his growing popularity and decided to use him as a symbol of their commitment to Africa.  With the Congo’s specific ties to socialism, this story is very compelling. The country never transitioned to socialism although it has remained a very slow command economy even now. Even though the country has one of the most prolific collections of natural resources, it remains very poor. This is a direct result of under-developed social institutions like private property that is necessary conditions for a market economy to function.

Rick Kelo provides an excerpt from an old article in “The Economist.”  Rick found it so memorable that some years later he wanted to look it up again. With the help of the Internet he was able to find it in the annals of history to share with you. What makes one nation richer and another nation poorer Rick asks?  One nation has more accumulated capital per person than the other is the simple answer. This is the case in America because our country has become so wealthy through the capital accumulation process brought about by capitalism that poverty has been eradicated. In this instance he refers to true poverty, or penury, not the relative poverty of “this income quin tile makes XX% less than another income quin tile.”

In the excerpt the chief African correspondent for “The Economist” decided to do an interview with the richest African he could find. He compared their lifestyle against the poorest American he could find. The great continent of Africa has been exploited for many years and for many reasons. The people are tough and hard working that is why they were chosen as slaves. The continent is also full of resources that are needed or wanted around the world. If Africa pulls together as a whole there is no doubt that they can be the greatest nation in the world.