A B C of modern socialism

19 tion, it follows that discord in the pursuit of function—in plain English, amongst the workerscannot be tolerated. Nature is democratic; function, its instrument, must also be democratic. In other words, since all functions are essential, if not equally important, there must be a fundamental equality throughout any functional society. This equality is based on its functional utility and not on its monetary rewards. The stock-broking fraternity no doubt obtain, if they do not earn, large incomes. But how helpless are they without prompt and efficient postal delivery and collection, upon the telegraph and telephone? Whatever the amounts in profits and salaries to Capel Court or the weekly pay of the postal service, who can doubt that, functionally considered, the postal service is infinitely more valuable than the Stock Exchange? Without, however, making invidious comparisons, it becomes evident that in considering the work of the world, or of our own country, if we are to achieve functional harmony, there must be a drastic transvaluation of all existing economic values, and, as we shall discover, of social and ethical values also. Viewed functionally and apart from a thousand other incongruities and misdirected efforts, the condemnation of the capitalist system is found in the degrading class struggle essential to its continuance. It also follows that to put a commodity valuation upon labour, the depository of function, is to create discordance and inequality, when function demands harmony and equality.