The Mayflower pilgrims tried first to build a collectivist society. “Their ideal was the communism found in Plato’s Republic. All would work and share in common, knowing neither private property nor self-interested acquisitiveness.”
It was a disaster, a death spiral into low productivity and social conflict, which could only be remedied through the reinstatement of private farms, which egoistic incentives caused hard work which produced a bountiful harvest:
https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/the-pilgrims-tried-socialism-and-it-failed/
The less industrious members of the colony came late to their work in the fields and were slow and easy in their labors. Knowing that they and their families were to receive an equal share of whatever the group produced, they saw little reason to be more diligent in their efforts. The harder working among the colonists became resentful that their efforts would be redistributed to their more malingering neighbors. Soon they, too, were coming late to work and were less energetic in the fields.
As Governor Bradford explained in his old English (though with the spelling modernized):
“And so, assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number for that end . . .This had a very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted then otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field and took their little ones with them to set corn, which before would allege weakness, and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.”
Did confession lead you to self reflect or even change behavior? And what is the situation like? Is it like in the (Italian mafia) movies? Does the priest ask questions or explore an issue or just led you talk? Do you feel strange going in or going out of the confession box?
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