Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-09-18
PROPOSALS FOR OLD AGE
PENSIONS

(ruTulSuou anu TcQucSIcu W UC puU-
lished by Gust Ristrom Of Kingsdale.)
Several outstanding points regard
ing the Old Age Pension plan:
1. Pension for old people and per-
manent cripples (not children).
2. Pension to be universal. 1t is
not pension if it is not universal. If
it is only for those in need it will be
aid, relief, or dole. To select the poor
is to pauperize. To select the deserv-
ing is to patronize. To do either is
to humiliate. To have our own pen
sion is the most satisfactory way for
everybody concerned. 1t is not hu-
initiating to receive a pension drawn
from our own reserve.
3. 1t is not charitable institution,
but business proposition.
4. Experts have figured out that a
poll tax of $500 from each citizen,
starting at the age Of sixteen years
is enough for old age pension, not in
Guiding the cost of administration.
5. The organization is to consist of
local units made up of individuals,
and county and state organizations,
made up of delegates selected by the
local units.
6. The local units rule the whole
organization, and each is in itself
Independent.
7. The local units, as well as the
county and state organizations will in
time be incorporated as an entirely
new undertaking. 1t takes lot of
thinking, work, and some capital to
get everything in first class order, and
cannot be done in a short time.
s. The corporations or units shall
have no capital stock and shall not
be conducted for pecuniary profit.
9. The local units, and the county
and state organizations cannot be
used for political or religious pur-
poses. Full freedom in that respect
is granted members. 1t shall not in
terfere in religion or politics.
10. Men and women are to be ad-
mitted at the age of fifteen years or
over.
II. A yearly income of $3.50 for
each member is allotted to the head
office for pension. $1.20 is the indi-
vidual yearly membership fee, and
$1.3O is to be from the corporations at
large to be gathered in a way the
local units decide.
~. In time the units can take up
in their program a mutual aid and do
away with the poor house and char
table institutions.
IS. There are two factors which make
this old age pension plan very cheap:
First, that it is universal. If you
only take in a certain class Of people
you cannot get enough members to
make it cheap. Second, the admin
stration part of it, to collect small
fee or poll tax and keep track of the
individuals has been the stumbling
block for real universal pension. The
local unit is the solution, just as
trustees of churches do the collecting
at a minimum expense, and the state
corporation has only to do with the
units. In that way very few paid or
salaried workers are needed.
IA. The state, on account of the
above mentioned facts, cannot create
a universal pension through poll tax.
Neither can the state create the pen
sion through general taxation. The
only alternative is that we do it, thus
helping ourselves as far as we can.
The state is willing to help US, If
necessary.
Is. 1t could not we'll be taken from
general taxation for two reasons:
First, taxes are already too high. Sec
ond, only fifty per cent of the popula-
tion pay any taxes. l do not think it
would be right to have it that way,
and it would surely mean a tremen-
dous political fight. If we start our
selves and do what we can and then
run short, the legislature and other
good men and women will help US
with the balance
16. To get real success we need a
large part, if not all Of the citizens
Of Minnesota to join this movement
II. We need voluntary workers to
solicitate applications for member
ship.
IS. We also need voluntary contri-
buttons for the necessary expenses Of
organization, such contributions
should only be paid to persons ap-
pointed and authorized by the general
organization committee.