NEW DEMOCRACY

Northland Age, Volume 5, Issue 3, 18 October 1935, Page 6

NEW DEMOCRACY

Sir, —Many think the Douglas Movemenut is concerned with economics only (that is because they have not read a line of Douglas). Of course, the job of the existing economic organisation is to teach and spread the new economic gospel, but that job is only a wee part and not the whole job of the bigger movement—the “bornihg” a new civilisation—new democracy.

Every intelligent person who thinks “knows” that existing democracy is fraudulent, that it is not democracy but bureaucracy government by boards and state departments, under the supposed authority of the general government (usually minority), whose policy is not the policy of the people, but the inspired policy of a hidden anti-people power. In the new democracy the people will initiate and control policy; the Government will implement and be responsible for its proper functioning; and the people or sections immediately concerned will elect the boards arising therefrom such as unemployment, highway, dairy, meat, etc.

It will be suggested that the intelligence of the people will be incapable of doing this. If this were true then millions of money have teen wasted in the Education Department ; but it is only partly true. However, in the new democracy, education will mean the teaching the people how to “think” and “to do,” and not to prevent “thinking” and “doing”; talents will be sought and developed for the good of all (and none will suffer in that development because of the lack of the thing called money.) In short, the new democratic educational system will develop character by developing the triple constituents of the whole man, and not a part thereof. And the ministers of justice will not punish severely breaches of the law by culprits because of the lack of good upbringing and associates on the one hand, and leniently on the other, because well-born and brought up. That is to say, there will be no gaoling (if there be gaoling) because of the theft of a pair of gloves from a counter, and quite different treatment for the theft of £SOO. For after all every bad citizen can be made better by decent treatment—and will be made better in the new democracy. Isn’t that a purpose of society ? And religion in the new democracy will lack sect-brands because concerned with love, sacrifice, service, “forgiveness,” and brotherhood; things of essentiality of the gospel of Christ yet ‘“crowded out” of Christion life. And all money-work will be spread —be it of the brain, muscles or hands —so that each shall do his “bit” for the new democracy. (There will be no snobishness arising out of work.) And any and everything physically practicable and desirable shall be financially practicable. And lastly, the purpose of money or money-credit in the new democracy will be for the purpose of production, consumption, and the enjoyment of wealth—“the life more abundant.” And if this be not the purpose of society, will someone tell us “what is the purpose of society ?" And if that be the purpose of society, why are the many defrauded of “the life more abundant ?” I put this question to the intelligent who do not think and not to those who do, because they “know” an! I ask it of the former Decause their lack of “thinking” is keeping us where we are. Yours etc., C. L. WHITE.