assumption seems plausible. Let us examine briefly the following list, which is
more or less typical of general social welfare programs.
HEALTH. Drastic expansion of medical research, education, and training
facilities; hospital and clinic construction; the general objective of complete
government-guaranteed health care for all, at a level consistent with current
developments in medical technology.
EDUCATION. The equivalent of the foregoing in teacher training; schools and
libraries; the drastic upgrading of standards, with the general objective of
making available for all an attainable educational goal equivalent to what is
now considered a professional degree.
HOUSING. Clean, comfortable, safe, and spacious living space for all, at the
level now enjoyed by about 15 percent of the population in this country (less in
most others).
TRANSPORTATION. The establishment of a system of mass public
transportation making it possible for all to travel to and from areas of work and
recreation quickly, comfortably, and conveniently, and to travel privately for
pleasure rather than necessity.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. The development and protection of water
supplies, forests, parks, and other natural resources; the elimination of chemical
and bacterial contaminants from air, water, and soil.
POVERTY. The genuine elimination of poverty, defined by a standard
consistent with current economic productivity, by means of a guaranteed annual
income or whatever system of distribution will best assure its achievement.
This is only a sampler of the more obvious domestic social welfare items, and
we have listed it in a deliberately broad, perhaps extravagant, manner. In the
past, such a vague and ambitious-sounding "program" would have been
dismissed out of hand, without serious consideration; it would clearly have
been, prima facie, far too costly, quite apart from its political implications. Our
objective to it, on the other hand, could hardly be more contradictory. As an
economic substitute for war, it is inadequate because it would be far too cheap.
If this seems paradoxical, it must be remembered that up to now all proposed
social-welfare expenditures have had to be measured within the war economy,
not as a replacement for it. The old slogan about a battleship or an ICBM
more or less typical of general social welfare programs.
HEALTH. Drastic expansion of medical research, education, and training
facilities; hospital and clinic construction; the general objective of complete
government-guaranteed health care for all, at a level consistent with current
developments in medical technology.
EDUCATION. The equivalent of the foregoing in teacher training; schools and
libraries; the drastic upgrading of standards, with the general objective of
making available for all an attainable educational goal equivalent to what is
now considered a professional degree.
HOUSING. Clean, comfortable, safe, and spacious living space for all, at the
level now enjoyed by about 15 percent of the population in this country (less in
most others).
TRANSPORTATION. The establishment of a system of mass public
transportation making it possible for all to travel to and from areas of work and
recreation quickly, comfortably, and conveniently, and to travel privately for
pleasure rather than necessity.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. The development and protection of water
supplies, forests, parks, and other natural resources; the elimination of chemical
and bacterial contaminants from air, water, and soil.
POVERTY. The genuine elimination of poverty, defined by a standard
consistent with current economic productivity, by means of a guaranteed annual
income or whatever system of distribution will best assure its achievement.
This is only a sampler of the more obvious domestic social welfare items, and
we have listed it in a deliberately broad, perhaps extravagant, manner. In the
past, such a vague and ambitious-sounding "program" would have been
dismissed out of hand, without serious consideration; it would clearly have
been, prima facie, far too costly, quite apart from its political implications. Our
objective to it, on the other hand, could hardly be more contradictory. As an
economic substitute for war, it is inadequate because it would be far too cheap.
If this seems paradoxical, it must be remembered that up to now all proposed
social-welfare expenditures have had to be measured within the war economy,
not as a replacement for it. The old slogan about a battleship or an ICBM
