Milford chronicle., 1958-11-07

dangerous business Tor manufacturers TO
increase prices on 1859 models.
COMPLACENCY is BAD
1t is no longer very striking to predict
that the United States may conquer poverty
within the next two or three decades if we
can preserve the peace and maintain econom-
ic stability. The prediction has become al
most commonplace The striking thing now
would be the statement of some foolprOof
ways to keep the economic boat on an even
keel on relatively calm international seas.
H. Christian Some, the chairman of the
National Planning Association, did not quite
do that in his recent address at meeting of
the New England council He did, however,
issue pertinent warning about the state of
our economy. He sharply differed with those
who feel that little imitation may be good
thing.
"It is impossible" he said, "to carry on
for any length Of time with mild initiation
without grave danger Of progressive deter
ioration. One day-the precise moment is
difficult to predict-peOple completely lose
confidence in their currency and rush into a
violent infation.'
SOnne'S fears may appear to be somewhat
exaggerated. They seem less so when one
considers that the United States dollar cur
rently has lower value than at any time in
years. and that both initiation and talk of in
fation are rising. The warning that mild in
fiation may lead to severe initiation should be
needed.
One fair conclusion is that we had better
not be complacent about the present drift.
The problems of imitation are real. They
must be dealt with on a broad scale, and i'm
aginatively, if our society is to realize its full
potential.
YOUR MONEY
D. Io44
from a reader which offers an interesting
suggestion. He proposes that we stop the
'silly practice" of referring to the financing
of projects with government money" or
Federal funds" as though it was mamma
from heaven.
Instead, he thinks, we should start call
ing such financing by its right name-that
is "your money or taxpayers funds
There is world of merit in this idea. A
great many people, apparently, don't re-
late Federal funds" or government mon
ey' to the state of their own pocketbooks
They don't realize that every cent must be
paid one way or another by the taxpayers of
today and of generations to come. And that
term taxpayers" includes everyone in the
country. Even people in so low an income
bracket that they pay no direct taxes, must
pay hidden taxes every time they buy an
article or a service.
The widespread use of such term as
"your money would be tremendous help in
correcting this sad situation. We'd thinl
twice if we really understood that we must
pay a part of the cost of everything govern
ment dOeS-Where as now we only think once
or don't think at ALL
At any rate, keep in mind next time yol
read about government spending. It's "youI
money''-billions upon billions upon billions
of it, collected in taxes.
.1~S9(&
LIGHT FOR ADVERTISING
An American electric committee recently
visited Russia. One of it's members, Edwin
Ve,nard, a top official of the Edison Electric
Institute, has reported on what the commit
tee found
Russia's electric power plants and related
installations are good, he says, and there
has been notable expansion in late years
However, to quote the Butte Montana, Stan
dard he also says: ''The Soviets have one
tremendous obstacle to surmount. They are
running out of consumers"
How can this be in a nation of more than
200 million people? The Standard explains:
Russian homes which have electricity have
only a single bulb hanging on wire in the
center of the room much the same as was
the case in the United States 80 or 35 years
ago.
This single bulb represents the extent
electric energy is consumed by the average
home-owner in Russia :"
Mr.. Vennard was asked by Russian how
the problem of stimulating demand was solv-
ed in the United States. Mr.. Vennard answer
ed that it was largely matter of advertis-
ing. To that the Russian said-"Oh propa-
ganda'. And Mr.. Venard let it go at that.