HANSON--CLARK

In many ways, the egalitarian farming structure discussed at length in Hanson’s piece is much like familial structures we have talked about in class. The fairly socialist concept revolves around the idea that all farmers work together as a community—like a household. And though the Greeks worked very hard to make sure things were divided equitably and no one had a much larger farm than anyone else, Hanson even points out, “In agriculture the quality rather than the quantity, of farmland is the real key to productivity” (183). Is this true for family households today? Does the quality of members make things more effective, or does sheer number have more weight?

Hanson also talks about the differences between the Greek farming techniques and those in America today—all the while implying the Greeks had a better system. I have to wonder, though, if this egalitarian farming concept were brought to America, how things would turn out. Though there would surely be a rough transition, I wonder if, fifty years down the road, things would actually be better in any way. What if an egalitarian household structure was enforced instead? What kind of differences would that make? Would they have similar outcomes?