The midland journal., 1946-11-22
LOOKING
AWE4D
by GEORGE S. BENSON
\ PNsidehf--Harding College
Sedrfy. Arkansas
Turn Back


Three easy steps will degrade a
self-governing people to the level of
dictatorship; Q) to planned econ
omy (2) to government manage
ment (3) to government control.
America has already taken the first
step. War pushed central planning
upon us, and people who like it are
trying to make it permanent. If it
can be made to stick, the nation will
be ready for the second step-gov-
ernment management.
Disregarding all fancy and imprac-
tical theories, history proves that
private enterprise made America
the worlds most powerful nation
and gave us all the most comforta-
BILE lives that common people ever
lived. Our only wise course is to turn
back to free enterprise, but first we
must get shed of planned economy.
1t is going to demand series of
strenuous treatments, for it is we'll
advanced.
1t Is No Dream
Disaster for the only remaining
prosperous people on earth can not
be avoided by any magic method
like suddenly waking out of a bad
dream. Things we have learned
about what took personal liberty
from the Germans, the Russians and
the French, and more recently from
the British, may seem like night
mares but they are very real and
painful. Here in America we have
a chance.
1t is hack illustration but very
useful: When you want to get rid
of darkness, you turn on light. When
you want to get rid of ignorance,
you admit truth. Incompetents
scatter when they hear intelligent
competition approaching. The first
move against politics in business is
70 take the handouts off business
itself. Set private enterprise free
and it will protect itself.
Let Money Work
Laws made to take the profit out
of war are now taking the pay out
of work. Laws have rolled profits
in some businesses so thin that
there is nothing left to make but a
loss. Ill-advised taxes on some COM
modities are SO large that fair
price will not cover them. Indus
trial relations are so needed with
politics that declining volume al
ready is endangering jobs and
wages.
People who are saving money are
obliged often to let it lie idle in
banks because there is no reason
ably secure place to put it to work.
Some invest in government bonds
but the earnings of bonds come
from taxes and serve not at all to
put men to work and increase the
national wealth. When private in
vestors are afraid to trust enter
prise, government management is
at the door.
The Need of Today
Getting the United States out of
it's present entanglements with state
socialism is one thing, keeping it out
is another. For the long-range good
of this nation, and of the world that
looks to us for leadership, cease
less campaign of education is need
ed. The present need is to cut re-
straints on production and set Amer
lean business on its feet again; by
three measures:
(1) Change the tax structure to
permit profits to operators and
dividends to investors. (2) Bal
ance the federal budget now, in
prosperous times when, if ever, high
taxes can be paid. (3) Improve in
dustrial relations. In the long run,
workers get paid in proportion to
what they produce; and high wages,
fairly earned, comprise the founda-
tion of American prosperity.