The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-08-20
BY Rober W. Babson


Babson Park, Mass, Aug. 20
Letters continually come to me
asking my idea as to what changes
in the social and economic struc-
ture are ahead. These letters have
increased since Vice President Wal
lace made his recent Detroit ad-
dress. AS this is a nice cool day,
| am making a guess as to what
developments may take place or at
least the routs that such develop
ments may follow. These com
ments, however. are merely fore
casts and | am not arguing for
them.
Begin With Fundamentals
Instead OF Socialism, Fascism,
Communism or even Capitalism
succeeding, | expect that all of
these-as now set up-will change.
The Single Tax" theory OF Henry
George or the Eliminate Poverty"
theory of Mrs. John Martin of Win
ter Park, Fla, comes nearer the
desired goal. In selecting this goal,
| make two assumptions as follows:
/. That soil, babies, education
and religion are the four founda-
ton stones OF any permanent eco
nomic and social system.
2. That the coming economic sys-
tenn will be halfway between Capt.
talism and Communism. The free
enterprise feature of Capitalism
must be conserved; while a mono
poly OF the soil must be avoided,
Home owners, who use the land,
must be protected.
These four fundamentals-soil,
babies. education and religion
must be met one at a time in order
that we do not bite off more than
we can chew. My forecast, there
fore, Is that the first problem to be
tackled will be the soil problem.
BY soil include farms, home
gardens, natural resources and i'm
provements, all of which go to make
up real estate. Due to high taxes
farmers now have not the money
to build up their soil and prevent
its loss by erosion. AS result the
nation is losing every day the soil
equivalent of 200 40-acre farms.
Fair Assessments a Protection
Real estate owners-as well as
the public-should be protected by
fair and equal tax assessment
This can be accomplished only by
legislation whereby the taxable
body-town, city, county or state
must, upon request OF the owner,
take over said property at said
assessed value any time on proper
notice. This is the only way 10
prevent unfair assessments al
though said assessments can De
read iusted each year. Why more
ambitious politicians have not
tackled the problem OF present
ruinous assessments is beyond my
understanding
Fair assessments by themselves
however, may not be enough 10
eaualize opportunities and protect
those who are diligently using pro-
perty to raise families or crops. |,
therefore, forecast that the time
may come when real estate can be
purchased or sold only at the as
sessed values. This would prevent
both unfair foreclosures by banks
and greedy lenders, and 1t would
enable young people to buy farms
and other property at fair prices.
Banks may at first object to this.
but in the end II would protect
their mortgages and enable buyers
of property to more easily secure
mortgage money.
"AFTER.the-WAR" System
We hear much discussion regard
ing what is going TO be put be
hind the dollar" after the war.
Some economists are urging
Commodity Dollar, the value to
move up and down according to the
cost of living; others recommend
a Production Dollar based more
upon the nations Improvements:
while others present still different
plans. | hope that the world
will return to reasonable gold
Jtandard-at least until we