The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

94 THE FREEMAN Februarythe Third World - caused by realsympathy - is perfectly in order,but Catholics especially shouldbear in mind that among the nationsinvited to dig deep into theirpockets there are only two predominantlyCatholic ones: Franceand Belgium. Catholic sentimentalistsare actually asking countriesbelonging to the ReformedChurch to shell it out, countriesthat worked hard while the Catholicnations (to whom I myselfbelong) enjoyed a dolce vita. ofleisure, reverie, and artistic pleasures(even if in relative poverty.)How loudly can Catholics ask theirseparated brethren to be the mainproviders?If, on the other hand, the entireChristian world decides to helpthe "emergers," we have to reflectmost carefully on how this is bestto be done. Obviously, not bydistributing bank bills on streetcorners, nor by giving money tocertain governments one wouldnot like to touch with a bargepole. Under no condition would Ilike to see my tax money squanderedon socialist experimentswhich have empirically shown sucha poor record. Realistic aid isgiven by Misereor, Oxfam, andother charitable organizations.And there are also our courageousentrepreneurs who have gone outto teach skills and disciplines, toprovide for jobs, salaries and taxmoneys.All in all, I think that we oughtto make concerted efforts to reinvestigateall these issues, cease tobe lachrymose cry-babies, calculatewith paper and pencil, travel,read the necessary source books,learn languages, study the manyfacets of human nature. Only thenwill we put an end to making foolsof ourselves and begin to help thedeveloping nations - firmly, scientifically,without yielding to blackmail,impudence or guilt complexes,helping them in all charity,as we would help our children, togrow up and to achieve what wehave achieved. I)IDEAS ON$LIBERTYThe Tyrant As SlaveHE WHO IS THE REAL TYRANT, whatever men may think, is thereal slave, and is obliged to practice the greatest adulation andservility, and to be the flatterer of the vilest of mankind. He hasdesires which he is utterly unable to satisfy, and has,more wantsthan anyone, and is truly poor, if you know how to inspect thewhole soul of him: all his life long he is beset with fear and isfull of convulsions, and distractions, even as the State which heresembles: and surely the resemblance holds? PLATO, The Republic