Functional socialism

WHO CAN SHALL 165

wiser, however, to assume that God expects us to extricate ourselves from the Hell of our own making. But we may be sure that there is a longer and shorter way of salvation. As usual, the politicians, with their smooth phrases, advise the more pedestrian route. They admit the evil posture in which we find ourselves; but they are equally insistent that now as always patience with tortuosity will bring at least some measure of relief. They suggest tentative measures of nationalization: transport or electricity; perhaps coal, or even cotton. Then provisionally, and with proper safeguards, we might proceed to experiment with terms of employment, conveniently forgetting the sweated conditions of the nationalized Post Office. Also forgetting that our task is functional and not political. Even if functional organization were not clearly the way out we cannot endure the Circumlocution Chamber of our political Bourbons. The time to act is now; the one thing to be done is to give power and authority to the men and women who know how to do things and can get them done. Obviously it is no job for the politicians or financiers. Not politics but function; not finance but real wealth equitably distributed.

THE CHOICE: FUNCTIONAL CONTROL

In the jargon of the market-place, the choice is between nationalization and workers’ control. Consider well what nationalization means. A long campaign, perhaps for another decade, protracted and detestable bargaining upon compensation or share