The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

730 THE FREEMAN DecemberWelfare CostsGovernment welfare activitiesare another source of corruption.Such programs- have grown byleaps and bounds in the past quartercentury at a time when the nationwas never more affluent. Thereasons are many and often complicated.Many social workers andother government employees seemto measure their success by thenumber of cases handled and theamount of money distributed. SocialSecurity offices, for example,post notices in local papers sayingin effect: "Are you getting all theSocial Security you are entitledto? Come in and let us help you!"Workmen's Compensation clientsare officially advised not to dealwith employers but to come directlyto the Board.Aside from the outright cheating,one of the causes of the risingcost of welfare, a cause which thewelfare client cannot change, isminimum wage legislation. Wages,set higher by law than they wouldbe in a free market, increase unemployment.The unemployablesare especially the young, the old,and members of minority groups.Whether for lack of skill, or ofeducation, or whatever the reasons,unemployment rises sharplyin such categories whenever minimumwages are raised by law. Increasingunemployment means increasingwelfare costs.Respect for PropertyPart of the problem is the breakdownof respect for property. Andespecially is this true of the growingvolume of "unowned" or "public"property. Consider, for instance,the breaking of windowsand other destruction of schoolproperty. The problem is seriousenough that some schools havegone to the considerable expenseof installing "unbreakable" glass.Some new school buildings are beingbuilt without windows.College buildings and groundsare prime targets for vandalism;public parks and playgrounds alsoare used and treated with disrespect.It seems that what belongsto everyone belongs to no one. Thecost to those who must pay forsuch vandalism and destructionlowers their level of living, deprivesthem of alternative waysthey would spend their money.Governmental efforts at "consumerprotection" go far beyondcuring us of the "bad habits" ofdrugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Thegovernment also tries to do to uswhat is "good" for us. An illustrationis the requirement that variousgrocery and other items bepriced by weight so that shopperscan more easily compare productsof different distributors, differentsize packages, and the like. However,after sellers have gone to theexpense of doing this (which con-