3 ms·
It isn't nearly so black and white. The robber barons had deep political connections. No matter how amazing your product is, you won't be as successful as tho
by dhyasama 17y ago
It isn't nearly so black and white. The robber barons had deep political connections. No matter how amazing your product is, you won't be as successful as those men without working the system. Their success is due to great products, timing, luck, hard work and connections. Take away one and their story would be different.
- presidentender 17y agoFrom the article: Political entrepreneurs, by contrast, made money back then by gaming the political system. Steamship builder Robert Fulton acquired a 30-year monopoly on Hudson River steamship traffic from, no surprise, the New York legislature. Cornelius Vanderbilt, with the slogan "New Jersey must be free," broke Fulton's government-granted monopoly. That is, Fulton exemplified your "deep political connections," but Vanderbilt overcame them. I'm not arguing that the robber barons didn't take advantage of politics (they'd be foolish not to!) but rather that they weren't any more political per dollar of resources than any other businessman.