The Freeman 1989 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

22 THE FREEMAN. JANUARY 1989new program. Thus far, it appears the townshipwill collect far less for recyclables than it ispaying a contractor for the service of pickingthem up, and the volume collected has been anegligible fraction of the amount of landfillspace still being used. Nevertheless, the townshipis proclaiming the program a "success,"while 'at the same time searching for scapegoatsto blame for why it's not more successful. Residentsare asked to tum in the license numbersof suspicious vehicles that might be "scavenging,"and, in another perversion of voluntarism,there is talk of establishing "blockcaptains" and using Neighborhood Watchgroups to enforce the recycling law. People criticizingthe program at public meetings havebeen subjected to vicious verbal abuse, includingsuggestions that they leave the country ifthey don't want to be part of a "civilizedsociety. "The above is only one example of how voluntarismceased being good when perverted bya collectivist mentality. There are others. In anothercity, a group of volunteers found a way tobuild shelters for homeless people at a cost of$40 each. Buoyed by their success, they approachedthe city with a plan to build moresubstantial shelters-but now at a cost of$10,000 each, to be paid for by a public grant.It is unexplained why they expect their conceptofpublic housing to be more successful than thescores offailures ofpublic housing in the pastorwhy a target cost of $40 per unit seemedappropriate while using their own funds, butgrew to $10,000 when other people's funds becameavailable.It has become a cliche for volunteer workersto decry the "Me Generation," but they fail tosee that what they offer is something far worse.In the past, when asked who would undertake avolunteer effort, volunteers answered, "Me!"Today, their answer is, "You!"Somehow, the so-called "Me Generation"seems less self-centered and arrogant-andcertainly far less threatening to our freedom.DCamping: Societyin Miniatureby Eugene L. GotzMy wife and I are inveterate campers.We enjoy the pleasures of traveling,outdoor living, and seeing the countryat a relatively low cost.Campgrounds fall into two major categories-thoseoperated by the state or federal governmentand those privately owned. Essentially,they offer the same basic servicescampingsites, toilet facilities, and water. InMr. Gotz, who is retired as Manager ofEngineering at theGeneral Electric Company, resides in Arlington, Massachusetts.addition, some campgrounds offer such servicesas electricity, laundries, stores, entertainment,and recreational facilities. Each campground,either state or private, offers a uniquemix of facilities.A campground, in a sense, is a miniaturesociety. Campers generally are strangers, havea wide range of ages, and come from differentbackgrounds. They live within sight and soundof each other. They share basic necessities suchas toilets, water, and other camp facilities. Perhapseven more so than in normal living, a fun-