Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-11-12
HAS DEMOCRACY FAILED 2

number of quarters we hear the ex-
preston. Democracy has Failed
The millions of unemployed, notwith-
standing the billions of dollars that
have been used in an attempt to
prime the pump, the millions of busted
farmers. and growing forces of fas-
cism are pointed to by these people
as evidence that Democracy has
Failed.
The purpose of this article is to
correct that false impression, because
think it's down right harmful. If
man has the cancer and he is
treated for the govt it's just too bad
for Mr.. Patient. And certainly when
we consider the state of affairs in our
economic system today we're mighty
sick and it's important that we take
the right kind of medicine if we are
to be cured.
! And so l say. Democracy has not
failed! Democracy is all right. The
things that has failed is our economic
system called capitalism. Also known
as the profit system. That system is
so set up that wealth just naturally
concentrates in the hands of the few.
The rich get richer and the poor
poorer.
We do not remedy that disease by
doing away with democracy and estab-
fishing Fascism, but continuing with
capitalism. The thing we must do is
keep democracy, but abolish capital
ism, and establish in it's place a new
economic system based on the prin-
ciples of cooperation.
The cooperative system works st
opposite from the capitalist system,
thereby correcting what's wrong with
our existing economic system, the
capitalist system. When profits are
made under the cooperative system
patronage dividends are paid thereby
decentralizing wealth, and replenish-
ing purchasing power; whereas on tie
other hand when profits are made
under the capitalist system stock div
idends are paid concentrating wealth,
and robbing the masses of their pur-
chasing power.
The only thing that's wrong with
our country. as l see it. is that the
spread between what producers set
and consumers pay is entirely too
wide. Producers, therefore, are UNI
able to buy back as much as they
produce, resulting in these so-called
surpluses and panics. Farmers and
workers are both. producers and con-
sumers. They buy back their own
products and each others products,
but under the existing economic sys-
TEN, the profit system, are unable to
do that resulting in this stagnation
called panic.
The spread between what producers
get and consumers pay is too wide
under capitalism. First, because of
private profit. A man who makes a
profit gets toll over and above what
the things he produces are worth.
Second, the profit system has brought
us unnecessary duplication. adver,is-
ing, insurance, soliciting, war, bu-
reaus and commissions of inspection
and regulation resulting in higher
taxes, and dozens of other burdens,
all of which are an economic waste,
that our people are unable to carry.
And these unnecessary and bur-
densome items of overhead in our
system of distribution cannot be UNI
Loaded off the backs of the exploited
masses until we unload the profit sys-
tenn, and replace it with the complete
cooperative system, where business is
carried on at cost, for use and service,
and not for profit.
Capitalism cannot be controlled or
regulated and made to work in behalf
of the masses through the establish
ment of Fascism any more than it
can be made to work in behalf of the
masses through the milder forms of
regulation such as the tariff, tinker
ing with currency, old age pensions,
unemployment insurance, etc., etc.
Like a cancer, it must be cut out; it
cannot be treated.
Fascism is the last desperate at
tempt to sustain capitalism. When
the oppression of capitalism becomes
so severe that the masses threaten re-
volt, and the establishment of some
kind of system of collective owner
ship, state of Fascism is set up,
depriving the masses of the right to
vote, Democracy, and ruthlessly purg-
ing the revolt of it's leadership.
However, such action does not re-
move the oppression of capitalism.
And as long as there is oppression
there is dissatisfaction, which grows
as the oppression of capitalism con-
tinues, no matter what the form of
government, until eventually Il e Fas-
cist leadership will be overthrown.
No question is settled until it is
settled right. People will continue
to revolt at different times, although
they are long suffering and patient,
until oppression is abolished That