The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

1972 BUSINESS BAITING - 197.2 STYLE 371vation, and LQ. The demagogicstruggle to level down is an effortto replace divine patterns withman-made molds making all personsidentical.Much of the business baitingresults from an emotional biasagainst competition. It takes characterto be willing to be measured,and to face the grim fact that notall of us are topnotchers in everyskill. And it would be a dull worldindeed if we were all cast in preciselythe same mold. Instead ofletting destructive emotions becomedominant, there should benot only a renaissance of respectfor the work ethic, but also newapproval for self-supporting individualswho achieve up to theirown optimum in all categories oftalent. The diligent hewers ofwood and drawers of water deserverespect, which should not bereserved exclusively for glamorouscreative artists, publicists, professionalmen, and chairmen of corporateboards.The threat to economic andother achievement does not comeprimarily from overseas competitors,but from ill-conceived, misguidedtheories developed at home.No investments in growth are attractiveif the "wave of the future"is for home-grown communesin place of competitiveeffort. Prosperity will rest on aslender reed indeed if those whovote and ratify public policy don'tunderstand the factors that makefor better living.Slogans against the Establishmentshould be examined minutelyto determine whether they hiderejection of self-discipline, thriftand industry. In a free society, noone is forced to work for a higherstandard of living than he desires,but none who undermines the systemby circulating misconceptionsshould go unanswered. Just as afreeman is entitled to expresshis views, his neighbor shouldhave the freedom to audit andappraise the other fellow's opinions.Then the validity of conceptscan be tested in the unrestrainedInarket place for ideas. ,IDEAS ONLIBERTYA Precarious LifeANY COMMUNITY which depends for its economic growth up,on thewhims of succeeding Congresses is in economic jeopardy. Someday,the taxpayers mightsay "no," and then where is the life ofthat region which has become wholly dependent upon federal help?From an address in 1955 by CLARENCE A. DAVISUnder Secretary of the Interior