Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-17
JFK's Economics

JFkS economics
In his talk on economics,
the President said: Since the
beginning of 1857 we have
had a five-year period where
We have been more or less
standing still economically,
at least in comparison to the
countries of Western Europe
and Japan" Other similar
comparisons were given.
Woodrow Wilson in his
famous essay, The Study
of Public Administration"
(after rs years still regarded
as the alpha and omega of
administrative science) had
this to say with regard to
comparing our peculiar prob
lens of administration with
those of another country:
I'VE can borrow the science
of administration with safety
and profit if only we read all
fundamental differences of
condition into its essential
tenetS. We have only to filter
it through our constitutions,
only to put it over a slow fire
of criticism and diStil away
its foreign gases"
The President gave no fig
ureS, no reason, to explain
high growth rates in Western
Europe and Japan which, by
comparison. are supposed to
down-grade growth rate in
this country at this time.
However. conditions affect
ing growth rates III the
several countries are quite
different. Ii short, the econ
omies Of Japan and Western
Europe were torn down in
World War II, while in the
United States industry was
built up. We caught up with
conSumer-demand in the
years Immediately following
the war. Quite to the con-
trary it is just now that the
economies of these other
countries (much aid has
come from us) are exhibit
ing high growth rates.
The conditions are entirely
different. For instance, the
Western Europe countries
and Japan are enjoying low
costs and highly efficient
new plants and equipment,
coupled with soaring de-
mand; we in the United
States have to contend with
high costs and older, less
efficient plants and equip
ment. and with slackened
demand at this time.
Any comparison without
weighing and adjusting for
these and other factors is
almost certain to be errone-
Gus, and therefore ought to
be inadmissible until proved.
John F. Clagett.
4 -
The Presid ent has re-
assured the Nation that
things are moving forward.
AS a listening citizen I de-
tected a lack of personal
assurance on the part of the
speaker. My confidence was
shattered by the Presidents
timld approach and by the
meager listing Of accomplish
ments of the administration.
WHAT a great confidence
builder for those genuinely
interested in the advance
ment of the Nations econ
omy: We were treasured that
over the past year and a half
measures were taken to lessen
the burden of the hard
pressed of our citizenry. The
Federal Government has
taken g more active hand in
providing relief for those in
need. People over 10 can now
draw all of their social
security regardless of their
annual income. Fathers who
cannot support their families
can now remain with their
families and receive aid
where in the past they had
to abandon them in order for
the family to qualify for aid.
Bravo, Mr.. President, we
can all look forward 10 this
kind of aid when the con-
slant downward trend in our
economy envelopes us all in
the circumstances requiring
aid from the all-knowing
Federal Government. We
were even informed that the
only sad spot in this years
Congressional activities was
the failure of the social Sc
curity dole for medical assist
ance to pass. We should all
feel detected because this
piece of socialism failed to
pass an enlightened Congress.
We can now look ahead to
a Congressional campaign
sprinkled with promises of
a tax cut. The leader" has
set the pace. Let us hope
that the electorate of thl,