A.) I really enjoyed reading about how the production of such a simple product as a pencil not only requires multiple disciplines, but also spans the entire world: the trees which reside in N. Califronia and Oregon, the graphite for the "lead" which is mined in Ceylon, Sri Lanka, the clay mixed with graphite from Mississippi, the "factice" (a rubber-like product used in the eraser) which comes from the Dutch East Indies, the vulcanizing agent pumice which comes from Italy, etc. It opened my eyes to the fact that America really isn't as isolated as I may have thought. We would not be where we are today without the various ingredients/products from places all around the world. And what I found to be intuitive yet still surprising is the fact that not a SINGLE person knows how to make a pencil from scratch. Mastermind be damned. No one can make a pencil by themselves.
B.) 1. It seems as if this article is challenging the involvement of the government in the creation of various products. Why then are we still able to easily make pencils and ipods and the such at extremely high rates and in high quantities?
2. Can we become self-sufficient and use only our own materials to make pencils?
3. How are we able to mass produce all these products when we are using so many different materials/ingredients from all over the place?
C.) This reading was chosen for two reasons: to show that there is not a higher power that controls everything and to show that the economy can flourish if everyone assumes their role and does their part the right way.
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