The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-12-12
"Citizens of the World"

es of people do not face starvation
In USA there is great abundance, as
measured by world standards. On the
whole its people are better cared for
than any people in the world. They
actually have little or no conception
of how two-thirds of the world popu-
lation is living, or failing to live.
In the USSR which is Russia, the
standard of living is still far below
America but there is no starvation.
On the contrary, standards of living
are constantly rising and the Rus
sian people have hope-great hope.
Under the banner of free enter
prise capitalism, the USA is prepar-
ing for an about war against Rus
STA. Under the banner of Commu-
nism, Russia is preparing for an all
out war against the USA. Each side
protests that it wants peace, but
neither side does anything very def
mite to get peace. Each side in this
titanic conflict is doing everything
within its power to attract followers,
to influence people, to line up other
short to set up the strongest possible
SiiipllCs AL Gill pre- IiidC Will ClilloI
and go to war under it's particular
banner. And that's how it looks to
the hungry two-thirds of the world
population who are not enrolled un
der either banner.
And, says Mr.. Barr, these masses
Of hungry and down-trodden are not
particularly interested in either CAPT
talism or communism as a way of
life. They have never been a part
of either system, they have virtually
no understanding of how either sys-
tenn works and they have no desire
to throw in with some distant. power
for the sake of making it more pow
erful and dominant. These have ac-
tually been living under a feudal-
ism, subject to all the mastery, ex-
ploitation and brutality that colonial
masters have felt is necessary to i'm
pose. The burden has become I'M
bearable, and they now want-and in
tend to get-two things, bread and
freedom. The first is paramount, the
second only highly desirable. AS
the author aptly says, "The World
Slum is going to rescue itself. If we
do not want the world revolution
to turn to the Communists for lead
ership, then we will just have to
furnish alternative leadership, The
bulk of the planets population is in
the position of sick man visited by
two doctors. One doctor offers him a
pill, Red one, which he claims can
cure him. The other doctor is looking
not at the dying man but at his
rival, and is shouting: DO not trust
hat man! He's a quack! These ex-
do not constitute a medi-
,al prescription. Which doctor is the
lying man likely to choose?"
The author wildly portrays world
conditions and dominant world poll
,ies; i. e. the policies of capitalism
and communism. Vast groups of hun
cry, sick and wretched people look
IN the Russian direction and are told
Throw out your bankers, traders
and landlords and we will help you |
get onto your economic feet. This
has to be the hard way, by years of
heavy hand work and self denial to
accumulate the capital that will |
start industrialization and finally
bring mass production and plenty.
We had to do it that way and you
,an too. We will give such help as
We can" Then the hungry group
ooks in the USA direction and is
5old. "Quit rioting, establish law and
order and get into training to help
contain communism. Then we will
guarantee your freedom and start
,rading with you. Our slogan is trade
lot aid"
These frantic people have never
lad much freedom but think they
would like the idea. They know the
JSA started its great upward rush
~ a seven-year war for freedom
rs years ago. They can't wait It's
ears or even twenty years; what
hey have to have now is bread and
,eans, even if it takes some fight
ng on the home front to get that.
hey are not much interested in our
veil advertised deluxe refrigerators,
elevision sets and floods of coca
ola. They do prefer tractors to
anks, butter to battleships, and gar