A work in progress

摘要

When J.W. Smith retired more than a decade ago after serving the Northern Pacific Railroad for 40 years, rest and relaxation were the furthest things from his mind. For Smith, retirement meant being able to devote more time to sharing his ideas with the world. From farmer to railroader to author and economist, Smith, 74, has spent a lifetime using his observations and experiences to analyze the world's wasteful ways. Smith made a living as a brakeman and conductor for the Northern Pacific, but his thoughts ran much deeper than where his train's next stop was. Raised on farms in Montana, Smith developed an eye for the "distribution of unnecessary labor," as he puts it. The railroad industry wasn't an exception. For example, union contracts—written well before Smith began working for the railroad — stated that operating 100 miles constituted a day's work. " [The rules] were set for those little engines, small box cars and slow-moving freight," says Smith, "Then they got great, big powerful engines and modern track, yet had those same rules. Those rules are what made the inefficient labor."