Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-10-14
EXPLANATION
Editor Askov American:

Editor ASkOV American:
/ want to express my appreciation
through your generous publication
for the letter of inquiry by Mr.. Ras-
musson of Minneapolis, as recorded
in your issue of September %; as
he rightly says, one should make his
points clear.
The study of economics is sci
ence as true as any, and where
stated, 1--WE choke off opportunity of
people to produce" that means be-
cause of the man-made law, allow
ing land to be bought, monopoly of
desirable sites ensues, and causes peo-
pie to look for work from others or
pay directly or indirectly for the
privilege of working. Get off the
peoples back with these destructive
dozens and dozens of taxes, and in
place of that let the government do
its duty, collect; collect from each
and every one rent according to the
benefits received on account of gov
eminent, police and fire protection,
parks, school, good roads, ETC., the
value of which is reflected in the
land used or held. This done, land
will again become as God (nature)
intended, the inheritance of all, and
man would again be free to produce
and produce abundantly without, as
now, being taxed (ined) for doing
useful things.
Oil, coal, mineral land, shipping
points and even lanes, in the eco
nomic sense, are all land, even in
South Africa, England went after and
got the gold and diamond lands from
the Beers by force of war;
No, I did not expect religion or
politics to be taught in schools, but
do insist with all the force of a God
given hope that superintendent and
teachers learn the law and that they
teach in high schools the principles
in economics, securing to the rising
generation their inalienable rights in
the social value of the land.
Mr.. Rasmussen thinks wild land is
valueless. Pray let him try to pro-
cure vacant, unused land lots as there
are hundreds of them in every big
city, like Chicago or New York, and
see if they don't command a hand
some price. With a little careful
thinking people will see that as to
the desirability of each and every
lot, it has a rental value which is
purely social and therefore consti-
tutes the true and proper public
fund.
Office buildings, workshops, fac
tories, stores and homes are a much
needed and desirable product of mans
ingenuity and labor and should not
be taxed, but pray of what use is
the landlord as landlord only, the
sort of bloodsucker in society, taking
the cream of industry and not giving
a red cent of value in return; lei
us not be fools any longer, giving
social values away for nothing and
in place smothering people and in
dustry with a robber-taxing system
Evidently the hardest job is for
people to let 60 old customs, but lit
tie careful study, as for instance the
increase of population, the spending
of public money, building fine school
houses, parks and immense high
ways-the result of all this is re-
Elected in higher land values. There
fore justice calls for this rent value
to be put into the community, state
and nations chest.
Leviticus 25-23-"The land i!
mine, sayeth the Lord, it shall not be
sold forever" Read Henry George:
Social Problems" and know how tt
fulfill this admonition, as you read i
in the Good Book.
EMIL KNIPS.
Fairhope, Ala.