"The store by itself," said Norrena, "could not do this, but the
financial power that can always be secured by wise business methods
could. To the extent that the use of money can be minimized and
debts paid, of course interest will be saved. And to the extent that
consumption can be organized and concentrated, a smaller number
of business houses will also be needed and thus rent saved to the
customers who in the last analysis pay all the expenses. And just in
proportion as business houses are not needed, they will be for sale to
people who can use them, as landlords could not afford to pay taxes on
property for which tenants could not be found. This property would
all be needed by the organized consumers who, with their continually
accumulating fund from pooling the savings of profit, interest and
rent, even on a comparatively small scale, would always be able to
buy. The profits on distribution will constitute an ample fund for
socializing the land and furnishing employment for a continually
increasing number of people."
"But," I said, "to be able to hold our own against the world-wide
profit system, would require a world-wide organization."
"Do not be too sure of that," said Norrena. "The benefits of equitable
exchange in a single locality, would be most decided. Of course it
would be more effective if extended over a wider field. But the
distribution of literature, such as the accumulating profits would
enable you to make, added to the far-reaching effects of a successful
object lesson, could not fail to make the organization world wide. All
that is necessary for this purpose is a practical demonstration, that
by this system, the productive laborer and not the money king is master
of the situation."
"Is this the same plan that you outlined in your address?" I asked.
"Just the same," he said. "All that is required is such a business
organization as will cover the entire ground demanded by absolute
justice. It must look to the elimination, as rapidly as possible, of
the elements of interest, profit and rent. To avoid the payment of
interest it is necessary to minimize the use of money, and as soon
as debts are paid, refuse to use it at all. To avoid profits, you
must purchase your supplies and sell your products through your own
exchanges. To get rid of rent, use the profits to socialize the land."
"This is certainly sweeping enough," I said, "but it seems to me, that
it would be an almost endless task to induce the masses of the people
to unite their trade to such an extent as would be necessary to secure
the full measure of relief demanded by absolute justice."
"It certainly would be," said Norrena, "if you did not prosecute a
vigorous educational work, and at the same time offer inducements that
the profit system cannot afford."
"I fear that this would be impossible," I said. "The dealers with
millions of money could beat us in offering inducements to catch the
trade of the unthinking."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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