THE WAYBACK MACHINE: on Thanksgiving and capitalism. I had meant to post this last year after visiting the Pilgrim Plantation and the Mayflower II at Plymouth Rock over Thanksgiving vacation.

Every year around this time, schoolchildren are taught about that wonderful day when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared the fruits of the harvest. But the first Thanksgiving in 1623 almost didn't happen.

Long before the failure of modern socialism, the earliest European settlers gave us a dramatic demonstration of the fatal flaws of collectivism. Unfortunately, few Americans today know it.

The Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony organized their farm economy along communal lines. The goal was to share the work and produce equally.

That's why they nearly all starved.

Here are some photos from our visit:


The village arrangement tends to corroborate Reason's assertion that Plymouth Colony was communal. The houses are small, identically built, and closely spaced. The work areas - except for small gardens at each house - are separated from the homes, and the communal areas are larger and more solidly built.


The homes are little more than cooking/sleeping quarters.


The Mayflower II is a replica of the original ship, built in 1955 using original tools and plans.

The original rock fragmented in a years-ago move; this part of the original was set in concrete back in the original location. The date (1620) is barely visible.