Detroit evening times., 1945-07-06

FOWOWINN rs SecOnd l1Sfd7NeNf n cONdenSdflOn
Of Friedrich A. Hoyeks book. The Road to Serfdom
reprinted from the April 1885, issue of Readers Digest
Distributed by King Feature. syndicate Inc.
IT is dsquetng England and the United States
today the drawing together of forces and nearly the
contempt of all that is liberal in the old Con
servatve Socialism the slogan under which large
Der of writer's prepared the atmosphere in which national
socialism succeeded is Conservative Socialism" which
the dominant trend among
Planning its popularity largely the that
everybody desires of should handle
mon problems with much foresight as possible.
The dispute between the modern planners and the liberals
NOT whether ought employ systematic thinking
planning affairs 1t is dispute about what is the
BEST WAY o so doing.
The question is whether should create conditions
under which the knowledge and initiative of individuals
the best that THEY plan most successfully
whether should direct and organize all acv
according blueprint that consciously
of society conform the planners particular
views of who should have what"
1t important opposition against
kind of planning with dogmatic lassez aire attitude.
THE liberal argument advocate leaving things just
they are it favors making the BEST POSSIBLE USE
OF THE FORCES OF COMPETITION means of eo-erdi-
mating human efforts.
Is is based the convetion that, where effective
competition be created il better uDay of guild
ing individual efforts than any other.
- IL emphasizes that in order to make competition
york beneficotty carefully though legal frame
existing legal rules free from, grave defects.
LIBERALISM is opposed however suppanng competi-
{ Lton by inferior methods of guiding activity.
And regards competition superior only because
most circumstances is the efficient method but
because 1T is THE ONLY METHOD WHICH DOES NOT
REQUIRE THE COERCIVE OR ARBITRARY INTERVIEW
TION OF AUTHORITY.
1t dispenses with the need for contro'
and individuals chance decide whether prospects
Of particular occupation sufficient compensate
disadvantages connected with it
The successful of competition does preclude
types of government interference For instance 10 limit work
ing hours TO require certain sanitary arrangements pro-
vide extensive system of social services fully compatible
with the preservation of competition.
There too certain fields where system of
petition is impracticatle.
For example the harmful effects of deoresation or of
smoke Of factories be confined of the
property question. But the fact that have to
direct regulation by authority where the conditions
working of competition be DOES NOT
PROVE that we should SUPPRESS competition where it
be made to function
To create conditions in ,Uhich competition ,uiH be
eHecUe possible to prevent fraud and dece pton
to break r,onopoles-these tasks proUide a Dde
and unquestioned field for state activity.
THIS does possible find some middle
way between competition and central direction though
nothing at first plausible, likely
appeal to reasonable people.
Mere common sense proves treacherous guide in this
field Al&ough competition bear admxture of regu
lation it CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH PLANNING TO
ANY EXTENT WE LIKE WITHOUT CEASING TO OPER-
ATE AS AN EFFECTIVE GUIDE TO PRODUCTION.
Both competition and central direction poor and
inefficient tools if they incomplete mixture
two means that neither will work.
Planning and competition be combined only by plan
ming FOR competition not by planning AGAINST competition
The planning against which all criticism is directed is
solely against competition.
The Great Utopia
There be doubt those in the democ-
races who demand central direction of all activity
still believe that socialism and individual freedom be
combined. YET SOCIALISM WAS EARLY RECOGNIZED
BY MANY THINKERS AS THE GRAVEST THREAT TO
FREEDOM
IL is rarely remembered that socialism, in its
beginning frankly authoritarian. II began quite
openly reaction against the liberalism of the
French revolution. The French writers ,Dho laid its
foundation had doubt that their ideas could be
into practice only by strong dictatorioi government
The first of modern planners Saint Simon predicted
that those Who did not obey his proposed planning
boards Would be treated cattle"
NOBODY clearly than the great political thinker
De Tocqueove that democracy stands in irrecon
clable conflict with socialism:
Democracy extends the sphere OF individual freedom he
said Democracy attaches all possible value TO each man. he
ism max a mer