The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1946-04-18
Something New
Thot's All to
The Good

The people OF the united SLate'
are witnessing an entirely new anc
most fortunate condition in the so
cial life of the nation.
One gathers this from a pro
nouncement by an observer who i:
trained to watch and analyze trends
in governmental affairs.
This observer, writing from Wash
ington, D. c., attempts to explain
why there is now such a scarcity
of nearly everything the people
want, from shirts and nylons to
houses and automobiles. His eX-
PLANTATION is interesting and if true
IS most enlightening
This observer says that as a mat
ter of fact u. S. industry IS begin
ming to turn out fairly large
volume of goods, much more than
was produced six to eight months
ago-true in most everything except
houses. Then why does the scarcity
appear to be as pressing as ever?
This is his explanation.
Because of high wages and the
superabundance of jobs during the
war years, nearly everyone now has
more money in his pocket than
ever. This is especially true Of
that large segment of the popula-
ton that usually occupies the low
eat position in the social scale
Thus those people who formerly
possessed, as rule, only enough
to supply themselves with the bare
1ororc1fioc of Iifa oro v,nxrv IN, much
improved condition. In other words,
they are in position to compete
with high paid executives for more
of the good things of life" And
that is all to the good
Therefore we find new mar
ket created that has never before
been in a position to participate
in more of the good things of life"
That demand, added to the require
ments of the usual markets, is
greater than industry can at pre-
sent supply. This becomes espec-
tally true because of the delays
and confusion that have resulted
in converting from war to peace
conditions.
This observers explanation, if
true is highly interesting. Here
we see the standard of living of
large part Of the population being
bettered. And it is part of the
population that more than any
other needs that improvement. The
bordering Of these things starts an
interesting trend of thought
One might ask, What is the func-
ton of government" The usual
answer comes to mind-to maintain
law and order, to dispense justice,
to defend the nation against at
tack, to provide equal opportunity
for its citizens, etc, etc. And there
is still another function of a wise
government, one that more and
more is holding the attention of
thinking men and Womenl This
other function is the duty of gov
eminent to constantly plan and so
legislate as to raise the standard of
living of its people. And in this
attempt to improve the way of life
of It's people, a government need
not be so greatly concerned with
the welfare of those at the top of
the ladder
They can look after themselves
In most things. First consideration
should be given to those who are
less fortunate A helping hand
given to those at the bottom of the
ladder
Therefore when we see a con-
siderable part of our population
that has never had many of the
good things of life" now able to
enjoy them, it is indeed a source of
real qualification
I'm all this discussion we are
talking about material things. Those
whom we have referred to as oc-
cupying the higher rounds of the
ladder are often more in need of
an improvement in their moral con-
cepts than anyone else.)
Right in line with this bordering
is another trend of thought. For
many years now we have heard a
great deal about the common man.
About this being the century of
the common man."
That term has never appealed to
US. Somehow it CRATES on us-it
seems un-American No one here
should be looked down on as a com
mon man. Here there should be