The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-10-17
Think Twice, Young People!

WAGSf A0NAAB SORASs
In recent radio address, w. E. Mallalieu.
general manager of the National Board of
Fire Underwriters observed that the en-
encroachment of government competition
into industry was narrowing chances Of
young people to go into business for them
selves. Critieizing Mr. Mallalieu's view
point, leading socialist newspaper said:
He might better have deplored the fact that
the government is so little in business that
it cannot guarantee employment to those
worthy young people, but must turn them
loose in chaotic world of industry in which
they connot find jobs" Here we have two
schools of thought represented: The first
upholds our American theory of individ-
ualism; the second. that of paternalsm.
Our country reached world leadership
through the freedom of individual initiative.
So far our socialist friends have been unable
to show the same advancement for the indi-
vidual through their experiments. Under
their theory that the government should
guarantee employment to worthy young
people. the government would have to take
over all business including land ownership.
1t could then. in theory at least. regulate
production and income. Every citizen
would virtually be ward or an emp1oye of
the government and depend upon the public
treasury for his keep. As all government
industries are tax-exempt. they would have
to make a profit as does private industry,
which, in turn, would be handed to the pub
lie treasury to be redstributed. with the cit
liens drawing their living from the public
payrolls or charitable institutions
The fundamental reason for all past fail
ures of government in the field of business,
is simply this: Government does not have
to make profit. 1t can always demand
additional sums from the taxpayers to cover
inefficieney. carelessness or mediocrity on
the part of public servants who are in no
way responsible for losses. This condition
breeds lack of initiative in the rank and file
of public employees for in the vast ma
jority of cases. they can reap no reward for
superior ability. Once we eliminate indi-
vidual incentive. We have gone long way
toward eliminating progress.
Private enterprise, on the other hand.
must be self supporting and make profit
in order to exist and pay taxes to maintain
all functions of government. Each bust
ness and each individual must strive for eff
ficiency Every individual has an oppor-
tunity to progress according to his ability
and latent genius is thereby developed. The
record of this nation shows that the achieve
ment of its citizens have benefited the world
and given our own people more conven-
fences. more luxuries. higher wages, more
leisure time and more independence than are
enjoyed by the citizens of any other coun-
try.
Who will claim that if our young poole
had been guaranteed employment by the
government we could have shown any
such record of progress' We have proof
that in other nations which have extended
paternalism to the limit, there has been lack
of advancement because of restrictions Of
real opportunity and incentive for the indi-
vidual. We have been drifting away from
the old principle of independence on which
our government was founded We have
already allowed too much paternal:sm TO
creep in. We have allowed the bureancrat
to gain more and more power over our lives
and our businesses. We have allowed
our government to become adulterated with
thousand alien theories In our own
lazness about solving our individual prob
lens, we have tried to ciothe it with super
human and supernatural powers to do for
us what we should be doing for ourselves.
We are today paying an exorbitant cost in
taxation. for loading the government with
hundreds of duties outside the legitimate
function of governing. If we obligated our
government to guarantee employment to
worthy young people when they leave
school," we would assume burden Of pa
ternalism and taxation that would make the
cost of government simply staggering and
our young people would be the ones
who would eventually pay this cost
either through destructive taxation. or
destroyed opportunities. or loss in
self respect which would result wker gov
eminent. unable to collect sufficient taxes
to meet its exorbitant demands, would eon-
fseate property in lieu thereof and reds
tribute it in the shape of jobs or doles to