The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-13
IS NEW DEAL SOCIALISM?

- a-ays that the deal is easing the
United States into socialiStic regime. Such
claims come from two widely opposed camps
OF commentators On the one hand we have
the sour apostles of rugged individualisn1"
who have learned nothing from either history
or the experience of the last four years. They
charge in surly tones that the NRA is nothing
short of rank socialism" In this fashion they
hope to discredit and wreck the Roosevelt
program.
On the other side, we find radicals
especially foreign Socialists, who claim to see
in the new deal the most extensive adoption of
socialism in human history outside of Russia
With the growth of Fascism abroad, socialism
has had rather slim pickings during the last
few years. Hence there is an eagerness to
seize upon any seeming proof of it's renais-
sance in our day.
Few sensible persons would be distressed
greatly if the new deal were actually socialistic
in character, provided it works we'll and de-
hvers us from the Hooverian brand of per
manent prosperity" Since, however, the
socialistic DOGGY is raised chiefly by those
eager to sabotage the new deal, it is worth
While to examine the validity of such charges
and epithetS.
Without in any way holding to any ortho-
dox or MARKHAM definition of socialism, we may
note with reason and moderation the traits of
any truly socialistic regime and see how far
. the new deal corresponds to such character
iStics.
A socialstic regime would be one controlled
by the masses of manknd-laborers, the white
o0IJo Iofo
aim very decisively at the end of the capital
istic system of profits, private property and
price values. Goods would be produced for
human service rather than private profits. The
state would own all the major public utilities
manufacturing establishments, oil wells, mines
and the like.
The banks would all be nationalized. There
would be no more private banking and credit
of any considerable proportions. There would
be capital levy taking away all or most of
the holdings of the former capitalistic classes.
There would be a classics society even though
there might be grades of personal reward
based on merit.
Such would be the outstanding traits of
even a moderate socialistic commonwealth
one which might fall far short of the rigorous
communism aimed at in Russia. How does the
new deal measure up to such requirements?
In the first place, the new deal does not
represent popular initiative or control in eco
nomic matters 1t recognizes and permits the
dominion of the capitalistic groups as GER
tainly as did the Hooverian rugged indivi-
dualism." 1t does not challenge capitalistic
authority 1t merely challenges the old
capitalistic piracy which was wrecking
capitalism. Prices and profits are not ruled
out. The price system remains untouched and
the only demand is that profits be reasonable
so that workers and farmers can get enough
of the social income to be able to buy goods.
There is little or no state ownership en-
visaged. The state may promote conservation
and enter slightly into the public production of
power. But there is no hint that the govern
ment will take over basic industries and oper-
ate them or that it will own the utilities and
transportation system of the country. Far
from Matchmaking the banks, the admnistra-
ton banking bills have not even draStically
eliminated the obvious abuses of private bank
ing We have gone little further than to scowl
at finance capitalism
No capital levy is yet in sight. The taxa
ton program has not even gone so far as to
adopt the policy of taxing in proportion to
ability TO pay.
Nor is there any apparent intent to abolish
the economic classes. They remain as before.
The difference is that Mr.. Roosevelt has de-
cided that the government should have some
interest in the SO per cent who are neither
great bankers industrialists nor merchants. It
is no longer a government of, by and for the
capitalist class alone.
In short, the new deal has little or nothing
in common with even moderate socialism. 1t
is a plan which does no more than insist that
capitalism give some evidence of ordinary
sense and decency, so that it can have some
chance of survival.
Let those whe are raising the hue and cry