Detroit evening times., 1945-07-09
Can Planning Free Us From Care7

The consolation our planners offer us is that this author
will apply only" This
usually accompanied by the suggestion that by
giving up freedom the less important of lives
shall obtain freedom in the pursuit of higher values.
On this ground people Who abhor the idea of
political dictatorship often eamor for dictator in the
economic field.
The arguments used appeal to If plan
ming really did free from less and made
render existence of plain living and high
thinking who would wish to beittie such ideal
TNFORTUNATELY, purely economic ends cannot be sepa
L rated other ends of life. What misleadngy
called the economic motive merely the desire tor
general opportunity If strive for is because
money widest choice enjoying the fruits of
earned free spend the money as we
wish.
through the limitation of incomes
that feel the which relative poverty still
imposes many have hate the symbol
of these restrictions.
Actually money is one of the GREATEST INSTRU-
MENTS OF FREEDOM invented by 1t is money
which in existing society opens an astounding range
poor greater than that which not many
generations ago open to the wealthy. -
shall better understand the significance of the service
of money if consider what it would really If, so
tive largely displaced by noneconomic incentives.
If all rewards, instead of being offered in money,
uUere offered in the form, public distinctions prV
leges, positions of poWer other men, better hous
ing food, opportunities for traUel education this
lOould merely that the recipient Woud longer
be oloWed to choose, and that UhoeUer fixed the
LOord Uould determine not only ITS BOI iHE
WAY IN WHICH 1T SHOULD BE ENJOYED.
TE socaed economic freedom which the planners promise
precisely that be relieved of the neces-
sy solving economic problems and that the bitter
which this often involves to be MADE FOR US
Since under modern conditions for almost every
thing dependent which our fellow men provide,
economic planning would involve DIRECTION OF ALMOST
THE WHOLE OF OUR LIFE.
There hardly aspect from primary needs 10
family and friends from the nature of
the of leisure which the planner
would exercise his conscious control r2
power planner private lives would be
hardly If nominaly free 10
spend his he pleased for the authority would con-
troll production.
Our freedom of choice in competitive society
rests the fact that person refuses to satisfy
our lUishes, turn to onother But II lDe face
nonopolist at his mercy. And authority
directing the WhoIe economic system Uouid be the
most pouDerfui r,onopoiist imaginable
1t would have complete power to decide what we are TO
given and what 1t would only decide what
commodities and services to be available and In what
quantities able direct their distribution between
districts and groups and could if wishes DISCRIMINATE
BETWEEN PERSONS TO ANY DEGREE 1T LIKED
Not our view but somebody else's view of WHAT WE
OUGHT TO LIKE OR DISLIKE, WOULD DETERMINE
WHAT WE SHOULD GET.
rT,HE will of authority would shape and guide our
i daily lives position producers.
For of us the time spend at work is large
of whole lives, and Job usually determines the
place where and the people among whom live.
HENCE SOME FREEDOM IN CHOOSING OUR WORK
Is PROBABLY EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FOR OUR HAP
PINESS THAN FREEDOM TO SPEND OUR INCOME
DURING OUR HOURS OF LEISURE lG
he best Of worlds this freedom will be limited
people abundance of choice of occupation
that have SOME CHOICE that we are
not abs utey tied to Job which has BEEN CHOSEN FOR
U.s. and that position becomes intoerabe or we set