Henry Ford

     Henry Ford founded Ford Motors when most cars were still made as a fine craft. Different craftsmen worked for months making a car none of them would ever be able to afford to buy.  Henry Ford had a different idea. He would mass-produce a simple car, and pay his workers a high enough wage to be able to afford to but what they were making, To Henry Ford, this would create a system that would perpetuate itself--more people making more things because everyone making the things would also be buying the things they were busy making.
     Many people thought Henry Ford's ideas were outlandish. They thought he paid his workers too much, causing discontent in other workers. Henry Ford was very unpopular with many of the wealthier people. Henry's system worked, but unfortunately, this has not convinced everyone that we are all better off when workers can also afford to be consumers. This needn't be "ungreen"--consuming means services and green products, as well as manufactured goods. When other people can afford to buy what we are selling--and we are all selling something, one way and another--cars, insurance, education, technical services, entertainment--we are all more prosperous. Even people living on retirement income see an increase in their benefits when more people are making a decent living.

Suggestion--anyone's poverty impoverishes everyone.