Video: I, Pencil the Movie

posted at 3:31 pm on November 15, 2012 by Mary Katharine Ham

Based on the classic essay by Leonard Read, a beautiful production from the Competitive Enterprise Institute explaining how the market works to create a simple pencil:

The market is truly an amazing thing. Much of the time, as illustrated by the story of the pencil, it functions so well that we can get away with enjoying its fruits without ever noticing the tree. Its greatest strength is its downfall because it’s so easy for so many to take it for granted. But taking a look at the tree— the impossibly complex tangle of incentives that brings graphite, wood, metal, and rubber together— is the path to appreciation and humility. It’s harder to believe one central power can produce more prosperity once you’ve seen what the market creates without one.

As Read wrote: “There is a fact still more astounding: the absence of a mastermind, of anyone dictating or forcibly directing these countless actions which bring me into being.”

I’ve always thought this would make a great children’s book. The illustrations from this video would work perfectly. Get those kids started right!

Read the whole essay, here. CEI is doing a series on this subject, available at IPencilMovie.org.

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Comment pages: 1 2

MelonCollie on March 14, 2013 at 7:58 PM

Still calling people names over an election that’s been over for several months is such a mature response.

If facts offend you, stop reading. If you have a question about someone’s position on any given issue, ask it.

If you simply wish to be rude, keep walking.

thatsafactjack on March 14, 2013 at 8:09 PM

I support the right of every eligible voter to cast their ballot for the candidate of their choice in a fair and well ordered election.

thatsafactjack on March 14, 2013 at 8:06 PM

Wow, you’re so brave!

Perhaps I’m not explaining myself clearly. The GOP cannot win as long as more eligible voters keep voting. No one’s going to stop the morons from voting. Sure, there will be skirmishes about ID laws etc, but it’s inevitable. The GOP cannot win because their message will never persuade the morons. What’s in it for them? Pay less taxes? Cut spending? Why would the morons want to do that? We are giving them the money, they are the spending. They don’t pay income taxes… Well, the rich morons do. They FEEL bad about their money and “privilege” and the Dems help alleviate that guilt. How can you reach these people? Be more Dem than the Dems?

We will be a one-party-rule country very soon. We already are in policy, we might as well be in name as well.

happytobehere on March 14, 2013 at 11:21 PM

As always he gives a great speech, but if he supports amnesty for illegal low skilled day laborers who support statism, he will kill any chance of the ideals he espoused in this speech ever resonating for generations. For this reason, I could not support him, and it pains me to say that.

Daemonocracy on March 15, 2013 at 2:02 AM

Comment pages: 1 2