Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-06-27

ems self respect, weakens independ-
ence and courage. Man cannot long
bend beneath an enforced dependence
to master and expect to retain his
manhood. He will soon come to talk
the language of his masters, think
their thoughts, feel as they feel, for
man must live and he seeks to gra-
tify his desires with the least possible
energy, to those who dispense employ
ment, which is the gift of life and
death, he must bow the knee, and
finally the condition of his mentality
is fit only for dictatorship.
Tariffs contribute to the same habit
of subordination. but in civilization
such as ours it is idle talk as Hoover
does of Rugged Individualism."
Have the workers not been told time
and again that they need protection?
They have been taught for several
generations that they are not able to
take care of themselves and it ill
becomes a spokesman for the party
of protection to talk of Rugged Indi-
vidualism."
Pensions or Rent.
Based on the conviction that the
world with all its natural resources,
which are not and cannot be made or
duplicated by man, by natural right
belong to mankind, with equal right
for all to share, the benefit in breath
ing the air, drinking the water and
access to developing the earth's re-
sources and possibilities an inviolable
inheritance right for every child
born. A right that cannot rightfully
and should not be wrongfully legis-
lated away, sold, mortgaged or given
away.
This rich inheritance to mankind
has been and is today in our consid-
cred high civilized era, subject to
sale, mortgage and gift, which is a
no less crime than highway or bank
robbery, and outright stealing. We
do not realize the consequences of
this system by allowing the world to
be owned by a few and then live on
charity doles and relief as we'll as
old age pension, to what is called,
needy old people.
Assuming we agree that the world
belongs to mankind. by right and not
by few individuals in control of
capital, this worlds natural resources
can be let or rented but not sold, for
the benefit of mankind in what is
called Ground Rent" This can bring
in sufficient funds to defray all ad-
ministration expenses, including edu-
cation for the young and life rent
| (share of the income from ground
rent) for all reasonable honest old
people at a stipulated age gradually
rising. Please notice said "all' and
not NEEDY that is justice, fair anf
square.
The burden of old age benefit should
fall in the main or all on Fedora
Administration, and so should by
right all compulsory education fol
youth.
Old age life rent should be baset
on citizenship and therefore cO-Owner
ship of natural wealth. 1t should MOI
be dependent on residence for any
length of time in any particular com
munity. AS citizens we all belOns
to the commonwealth of the U. S. A.
have been and should be free to NOV,
from and to any place we choose
draw and spend our life rent any
where in the world.
Old age life rent to all on equa
terms, adjustment of all special pen
sions for public servants should b'
the goal for humane society.
What would constitute a reasonable
old age benefit? If the TOWNSEND
theory holds good, that spraying o
money at the rate of 5000 a mOntl
will give relief from the depression
why not then make it three or fiv'
hundred and get so much more pros
perity? However it is not the amour
of money we get hold of that counts
but what counts is what we can get o
buy for a dollar or the price of pOun,
of butter or pork. Let me suggest TO
the sake of an argument that w
begin at the age of so to pay $40 o
$40 a month and then for each sue
ceeding year add $500 a month or 70
every five years add SO a month.
If Bill and John can make bot
ends meet on that rate why shout
professor in economy not be abb
to make it and our other state an
federal servants, collecting a hig
salary from which they should hav
been able to store up a surplus.
LUDWIG MOSBEK.
Askov, Minn,, June 25, 1885.