Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1946-08-14
TOWNSEND PLAN REVIVED

AS socologits, rather than a political socialists. we are in
terested in the proposal, made by Senators Pepper, Downey and Tay-
Tor, for a special Federal income tax to provide pensions for Americans
who live to be 60 years old.
1t is reasonably certain that a Socialist administration would con
Germ itself with the business of retiring workers after a stipulated
period of service, although the primary task which Socialists have
undertaken is to see to it that workers are rewarded with the full
social value of the product of their toll while they are n the job.
However, while Socialists would view retirement more in the nature
of a humanitarian measure, defenders of capitalism should be no less
interested in the general idea as a practical means of keeping their
economy from colapsng.
What the three Senators arr now proposing is, in effect, merely
n extension of the misnamed social security" program that already
has become a part of the American way of life. What we have to-day
sets IS years as the age at which a worker may begin to collect from
TIE government. The present age requirement is, therefore, five years
greater than what is now proposed" Moreover, the largest amount thai
can b collected by any worker who accepts Old Age retirement Is
Woefully inadequate to meet the needs of decent existence.
When we suggested that the retirement of workers at the age
of 60 would have a stabilizing effect upon the capitalist economy we
had in mind the increased productivity of modern machinery The
fact is that machines have largely reduced the need of human labor
they have made it possible for society to produce surpluses without
working everybody all of the time, despite the fact that a growing
number of individuals is constantly shifting from productive employ
nent to service work of one kind O. another.
We believe that, once this nation gets producing to its full ability
it will not be long before another job slump again will put millions
OF people in the ranks of the unemployed. We submit, therefore, that it
would be better for the policymakers of capitalism to recognize the
fact and prepare a orderly and civilized plan for taking people off
Of the job market.
The retirement of workers at so, with pensions that would en-
able them to finish out their years in comfortable leisure would be a far
better way of adjusting to the productivity of the present industrial
machine than would be the device of wasting labor and life or boon
dogging-whether by leafraking or by large-scale miltarism.
However, one of the many paradoxes of the capitalist economy is
that, while it needs some sensible way of disposing of those human
beings who become economic surplus, it cannot operate such a plan
without either surrenderng the factor of private oWnership-for-p
ateprofit o sacrificing democracy. For that reason those who own the
system have been fighting against controls. But because free" capital
ism can no longer function in a manner that will meet the needs Of
society that fight is doomed to be a losing one.
The future will see the growth Of economic controls. Who will do
machinery are questions that time will answer. - Reading Labor
Advocate.