Ethics of Democracy
Part 4, Economic Tendencies
Chap. , title
A great change is going on all
over the civilized world similar to that infeudation which, in Europe,
during the rise of the feudal system, converted free proprietors into
vassals, and brought all society into subordination to a hierarchy of
wealth and privilege. Whether the new aristocracy is hereditary or not
makes little difference. Chance alone may determine who will get the
few prizes of a lottery. But it is not the less certain that the vast
majority of all who take part in it must draw blanks. The forces of the
new era have not yet had time to make status hereditary, but we may
clearly see that when the industrial organization compels a thousand
workmen to take service under one master, the proportion of masters to
men will be but as one to a thousand, though the one may come from the
ranks of the thousand. "Master"! We don't like the word. It is not
American! But what is the use of objecting to the word when we have the
thing?
- HENRY GEORGE, in Social Problems Ch. V.
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Saving Communities
Bringing
prosperity through freedom, equality, local
autonomy and respect for the commons.
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