Adam Smith

In Adam Smith’s discussion of the “Natural Progress of Opulence” he drew light the topic of relations between the farmer and the townsman. He had a basic system of the development of economics within a community. This system included the development of agriculture, then the development of the town, and then trade can begin between the townspeople and the local farmers. The ultimate goal is to become self – sufficient then trade the surplus of the goods.

Because of the dramatic change of the foundation of the economy, money has become of more value than food. Though this foundation of money exists in current times, the ideas and actions of Smith were carried out in earlier ages, and even now some farmers still trade with each other because crops have more personal value then money. Though the growth of trade expanded due to many historical events and the dependency of countries on the global network forces us to continue this trade network with goods and natural minerals; I am curious to know if self - sufficiency would have taken a larger role and money had less value, our country would be more advanced and less dependent on other countries.

The oil dependency is obvious within our country. It has become more of a necessity as the car industry has progressed. It is also known that our country has the technology and the means to provide other sources of fuel, one popular example is ethanol. Car industries have developed ways to install computers within the vehicle to give directions, satellite radios that continually pick up signals from around the nation create and engines that run partially on ethanol. An engine that runs entirely on a fuel source other than oil is merely another technological necessity, and the United States has the means to create it. But, the question stands; is the United States so tied up with the global trade network that it cannot “break away” from the rest of the world and become self sufficient, though the separation may inspire new advancements better for our country and later the global economy. These advancements could include the creation of an alternate fuel source including corn or soybeans. The fuel source would advance our local economy (the United States) and it would decrease the amount of economies dependent on oil.