[Congressman Billybob]

This is an historical story with just a tinge of current relevance. I hope y'all will find it interesting.

John / Billybob

[Graymatter]

Every now and then I see something on the net that's especially good---I can tell in a couple of paragraphs---and I read it aloud to the kid, joyfully and gratefully.

So I come to the end of my recitation and there's the author's name. John Armor---of course!

Who leaves more pearls on my cyberbeach than Congressman Billybob? Nobody! :)

[RightWhale]

Franklin's investment in the Ohio Company, and the subsequent creation of the modern property-owning corporation was vastly more important. This is the true basis of modern capital. Intellectual property contributes marginally to the main game.

[GVnana]

he would have a blog entitled “Poor Richard’s Almanack”

Come back!

[aculeus]

Thanks for the post.

[Ohioan]

Thank you for posting this.

[Wolfstar]

I hope y'all will find it interesting.

I sure do. Whenver I think about Franklin and the other founders, I am once again reminded of who the TRUE greatest generation is in American history. Although it helped Brokaw sell a lot of books, I rue the day he or his publishers ever came up with that title for the WWII generation.

Without the founding generation, there would have been no American WWII generation to save Europe in the 1940's.

[gitmo]

Congressman, I have to confess my ignorance up until now on this subject. Thanks for the fascinating post!

[tet68]

Excellent JOhn, very well done.

[Hot Tabasco]

Ben Franklin’s Greatest Invention

I always thought his greatest invention was the $100 bill. I've never seen one but I hear they're pretty cool.......

[Willie Green]

And he also recognized that it must be temporary, “for limited times,” since he was aware of permanent monopolies such as the salt monopoly in the Ottoman empire, which were benefits for preferred supporters of the ruler.

This important concept has been completely eradicated by the legal establishment.

[genew]

I emailed a link to this thread to my stepson, who is studying history in college.

Thanks for posting this.

[MilspecRob]

Every thing about Franklin is enterprising and interestiong

[FormerACLUmember]

Excellent post. I even forgive the fact that the author is a lawyer.

[perfect stranger]

**he would have a blog entitled “Poor Richard’s Almanack.”**

And there's no doubt that Silence Dogood, Martha Careful and Anthony Afterwit would all be very pleased at just such a development.

Thank you for another great article.

[ntnychik]

Ben Franklin ping
...as I sit here in my bifocals (and pjs), being warmed by my Franklin stove, protected by my lightning rods...

[Red Boots]

Thank you- I found it very interesting and just finished reading it to my 14 year old.