Tim Jackson: Capitalist Economies

Tim Jackson Money Quote saying we have long viewed productivity as the thing that drives capitalism. Tim Jackson said:
 

“Productivity — the amount of output delivered per hour of work in the economy — is often viewed as the engine of progress in modern capitalist economies. Output is everything. Time is money” — Tim Jackson

In this quote, Tim Jackson seems to be critiquing a narrow focus on productivity and output within capitalist economic systems. By noting that productivity (amount of output per hour worked) is often seen as the “engine of progress” and stating that “output is everything” and “time is money”, Jackson implies an overriding emphasis on maximizing production efficiency and financial gains above all else.

The quote conveys Jackson’s perspective that modern capitalist economies prioritize delivering ever-greater outputs in less time in a way that could undermine other important societal values like well-being, sustainability and work-life balance if not balanced with other considerations. Overall, he appears to be arguing for a more holistic view of “progress” beyond monetary outputs alone.

Barack Obama: Small Business Saturday

Barack Obama Money Quote saying Small Business Saturday supports one of the most important components of the U.S. economy. Barack Obama said:
 

 

“Through events such as Small Business Saturday, we keep our local economies strong and help maintain an American economy that can compete and win in the 21st century” — Barack Obama

In this quote, Barack Obama seems to be expressing support for the economic importance of small, locally-owned businesses in communities. Some key points:

• He references “events such as Small Business Saturday”, which encourage consumers to patronize independent, smaller scale enterprises on one weekend in November.
• Obama implies that by supporting these types of businesses through initiatives like this, it helps “keep our local economies strong” and thriving.
• He also connects strong local economies powered by small businesses to the overall strength and competitiveness of “an American economy that can compete and win” globally.
• This suggests Obama viewed small enterprises as a driving force for both local job/wealth creation and America’s ability to succeed in international trade and industry against larger foreign competitors.

Overall, the quote conveys Obama’s view that small, community-based businesses play a vital role in powering local economies and maintaining America’s position as an innovative world leader through the 21st century if adequately championed and patronized both nationally and locally through events and policies.

Wendell Berry: Global Economy Exploits

Wendell Berry Money Quote saying local economies are not respected and are often sacrificed in favor of global economies for the sake of profit. Wendell Berry said:
 

 

“Today, local economies are being destroyed by the “pluralistic,” displaced, global economy, which has no respect for what works in a locality. The global economy is built on the principle that one place can be exploited, even destroyed, for the sake of another place”– Wendell Berry

In this quote, Wendell Berry is criticizing how the modern globalized economy undermines local communities and their economic sustainability. He suggests the “pluralistic, displaced, global economy” prioritizes profit and efficiency gains above all else, with no consideration for environmental or social impacts felt within specific places and regions.

By stating local economies are being “destroyed” so that the global system can exploit and even destroy one locality “for the sake of another”, Berry argues this dislocated economic model inherently disrespects local needs, circumstances and what works best for individual communities. His view is that the principle of maximizing gains in some areas regardless of costs imposed elsewhere destroys the diversity and self-sufficiency of localized economies.

The overall interpretation is Berry sees the dominant global economic paradigm as threat to community-level prosperity and autonomy due to its lack of accountability for localized destruction and displacement of what naturally sustains individual places and their inhabitants for the benefit of anonymous profits accrued across vast distances and disparate regions. He advocates for models with greater respect for locality-specific needs and circumstances over singular pursuit of efficiency and wealth accumulation through globalized trade and investment.

Nick Hanauer: Plutocrats Made in America

Nick Hanauer Money Quotation saying wealthy need to understand the value in a strong middle class in capitalism. Nick Hanauer said:
 

 

“We plutocrats need to see that the United States of America made us, not the other way around; that a thriving middle class is the source of prosperity in capitalist economies, not a consequence of it” — Nick Hanauer

In this quote, Nick Hanauer is again directly addressing other wealthy “plutocrats” like himself. He is arguing that the plutocratic class needs to recognize that it was the United States as a whole that enabled their wealth, not the other way around where they created the country’s prosperity.

Additionally, Hanauer states that a thriving middle class is the true source and driver of economic prosperity in capitalist systems, rather than the middle class being just a consequence or outcome of plutocratic-led growth.

In essence, he is pushing other wealthy individuals to acknowledge their debt and role in supporting a strong middle class in America, since that middle class is what fuels broad-based economic success, in contrast to the idea that the wealth of the few alone creates prosperity for all.