Detroit evening times., 1945-07-07


that equality which tn. opposite OF arbitrary
government.
1t is significant that Socialists (and Nazis) alwa
protested against merely formal justice that they have
jected law which had views how well off particular
people ought that they have demanded Specialization
Of the law" and attacked the independence of judges
TN PLANNED society the law legaize what all
purposes remains arbitrary action. IL the law
says board authority may do what it peases
anything that board authority does is legabu its actions
certainly not subject to the rule of law.
BY GIVING THE GOVERNMENT UNLIMITED POW
ERS, THE MOST ARBITRARY RULE CAN BE MADE
LEGAL; AND IN THIS WAY DEMOCRACY MAY SET
UP THE MOST COMPLETE DESPOTISM IMAGINABLE.
The of consciously only during the
liberal age greatest achievements 1t the
legal embodiment of freedom AS Emmanuel Kant put it, Man
is free he needs obey person but solely the laws
Is Planning 'Inevtabte"7
revealing that few planners today
that central planning desirable Most of them affirm that
compelled to it by circumstances beyond
control
One argument frequently heard is that the complexiy
OF modern civilization problems with which
hope deal effectively except by central planning.
This argument is based upon complete nisapprs,
hension of the working Of competition The oery COM
piexy of modern conditions makes competition the
only method by Whch ordination of affairs can be
adequately achieved.
There would be difficulty about efficient control
planning conditions simple that sngs person or
could effectively survey all the facts But the factors
which have to be taken into account become numerous and
complex, center can keep track OF them.
The constantly changing conditions Of demand and
ply of different commodities be fully known,
quickly enough disseminated by any center.
Under competition-and = under NO OTHER economic
orderhe price system automatically records all the reeva
data Enrepeneurs by watching the movement compare.
lively few prices engineer watches few dias sd
just their activities 10 those of their fellows
COMPARED this method solving the prob
~ lem-by decentralization automatic coordination
through price method of central direction il
incredibly clumsy, primitive and limited in scope
1t exaggeation that if had had to rely
central planning for the growth Of industrial system 1T
WOULD NEVER HAVE REACHED THE DEGREE OF BfF.
FERMENTATION AND FLEXIBILITY 1T HAS ATTAINED
Modern civilization has been possible precisely because it
did have be consciously created The division of labor
has gone beyond what could have been planned
Any further growth in economic compexity, far from
making central direction necessary makes i'm
portant than that should the TECHNIQUE OF
COMPETITION and depend conscious control
1t s also argued that chronological changes have made
competition impossible constantly increasing number of
fields and that only choice between control Of produc
by private monopoes direction government
The growth Of monopoly, however, not much
Of the advance Of technology the
result of the policies pursued in countries.
The comprehensive study Of this situation is that by
the temporary national which certainly
be accused Of unduly liberal bias The committee
concludes:
The superior efficiency of large establishments has not
been the that supposed To de-
competition failed manifest themselves In
heds The conclusion that the advantage of iage-scsls
production lead inevitably the abolition Of competition
cannot he accepted 1t should be noted that
monopoly frequently attained through couse
and promoted by public policies When these
nyadated and these policies reversed competitive conditions
be restored"
Ito BE Continued