The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-01-05
STANDARD OF LIVING MEASURED BY
AUTOMOBILE OWNERSHIP "..

Measured by the material prosperity
yardstick, American workers ENJOY higher
living standards than the people of any
other nation in the world. The American
worker gets more money IN his pay en-
velope and his pay will buy more. Aver
age income and the distribution of income
in this country, based on the ownership OF
automobiles and all other necessities, con-
veniences and Injuries, including radios,
telephones and all modern inventions, is
found to be the highest and widest among
the nations of the earth.
For example, the wide distribution of
the ownership and use of automobiles sup
plies impressive proof of the accuracy of
these statements.
In the United States are % automobiles
for every 100 of the population. In Can
ada are only IL automobiles for each 100
of the population, The figures for Great
Britain and France are 5 automobiles for
each 100 of the population; and in Ger
many only and in Italy only l.
Counting about five persons to the fam
lily in this country would be 20 families for
each 100 of population. On this basis the
number of automobiles in the United States
averages one for every family. 1t is true,
of course, that there are some families who
do not own motor cars, but the number is
comparatively small The facts and figures
show that thousands of families in the low
income groups in this country are owners
of automobiles. Such condition is I'M
known in foreign countries. Low income
groups in foreign countries do not own
motor cars and have no hope or expecta-
ton of such ownership.
What is said of automobiles applies, in
varying degree, to all the material bless
ings of life, TO the necessities and with
particular impressiveness to the luxuries.
Workers in nearly all foreign countries are
greatly pleased If they obtain a measur-
able supply of ffe's necessities. In this
, country millions of workers enjoy just
about all the luxuries available for the
wealthy.
- The ownership of automobiles is prob
ably the number one object lesson in point
ing out the wide distribution of income in
, the United States and the notable advance
ment which has been made in accomplish
ing the largest possible distribution of ma
terial benefits among the whole people.
That the American system of govern
ment and our economic and social order is
responsible for this material progress is in
disputable. The proof cannot be success
fully refuted. The youngest in age of the
great nations of the world, the United
States leads all in invention, in industrial
and agricultural advancement, in the Gre
alton of wealth, and in distribution of in
come and in high standards of living for
the greatest proportion of the population
If the American system of government,
economy and social standards and policies
have been able to do vastly more in pro-
noting the advancement and the material
prosperity of this country than other ma
tons have been able to accomplish with
their archaic and outworn systems and
economic and political 'isms," then the
American system must be far better in
every particular and far more efficient
than the systems of other countries.
This, we are confident, is true, in spite
of rantings to the contrary by the lunatic
fringe of our population, the mouthings of
RADICALS and the, criticisms of leafers.
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