The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-11-07
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS
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we really know what it is? Probably
few ever stop to think out just what
democracy consists of, what it means,
or should mean, to the great mass of
Americans.
Mrs. Florence Kerr, Assistant Com
missioner, Work Projects Administra-
tion threw light on democracy's mean
ing in a recent Portland, Oregon, ad-
dress. In a few words, she pointed
to some aspects of democracy that are
given too little emphasis. Talking on
Democracy Begins at Home" the key
note of her address, she said:
owe are preparing today for total
defense Defense implies danger. 1t
means protection against something.
And it implies something to defend
some cherished possession to be pro
tected from the dangers that threaten
"The dangers that threaten are
obvious to US all. We know too well
what they are and from whence they
come. Aggression abroad; hazards at
home. One cannot read the daily
headlines, or listen to a radio COM
mentator without fresh consciousness
of their imminence and their gravity
Mrs Kerr went on to say:
"But | sometimes wonder whether
we are fully conscious of what we are
Neutrality-suspicious. of it, | mean, in
the terms of everyday life. Our de-
mocracy consists of many simple and
homely things. And it has to be de-
Tended and maintained in simple and
homely ways, every day Of our lives.
81 think we are all agreed that the
essence of our democracy is freedom
and opportunity. 1t can be expressed
as the right of everyone to make the
most of his life. What does that mean
| in practice? 1t means a great deal. 1t
means that we must make it possible
for everyone to have a decently shelf
cred home, food, clothes and proper
health protection. 1t means that we
must see to it that everybody has
educational opportunities, and oppor-
tunities for the enjoyment Of leisure
in normal recreation. These are among
| the things we have been striving fol
in America. They are simple and
homely rights. And they are won by
continuous daily efforts. We do not
postpone the struggle for them tC
some further battlefield. We work
from day to day to extend these demo
cratic rights to more and more people
If we would stop trying, that would
he defeat for democracy"
x x x
American advocates of nationa
health insurance, which has been en-
dorsed by the American Federation OF
Labor, are wondering what has be.
come of the well organized health in
surance system IN Norway, now that
that country is in the hands of the
Nazis.
National health insurance was intro.
duced in Norway by an act of 1909
| The law current until the invasion
the 1890 act with revisions, provided
for the inclusion Of every wage-earnel
over Is whose annual income did not
exceed six thousand kroner.
According to income-cIass, the in.
sured worker paid a weekly premium
varying from about Is to about 81
cents. Payable in addition were state
municipal, and employers contri
buttons of 300, 1910 and 1Of, re
spectively. A person not compulsoril!
insurable might voluntarily take ad
vantage Of the plan, but if his income
exceeds the maximum, he was himself
liable for the full extent Of the pre-
MUM. In 1885, the total number o,
persons insured under the scheme was
| ISL $50.
The national health insurance plat
provided for assistance in case Of i'll
ness, birth and death. Members of al
insured persons family also might re
ceive medical aid or impatient treat
ment at a public hospital.