OCR Text |
Show Origin Of Townsend Plan Good and great as millions of people believe the Townsend Plan to be, it must be remembered that the good doctor did not originate the plan, but, as one writer puts it, the plan was originate by Thomas Paine During the Revolution he wrote a pamplet entitled "Agrarian Justice," etc. In that pamphlet pamph-let he proposed the following plan : "A plan for ameliorating the condition of man by creating in every nation a national fund to pay to every person, when arrived at the age of 21 years, the sum of 15 pounds sterling (about $75) to enable him or her to bngin the world; and also 10 pounds sterling per annum during life to every person now living of the age of 50 years, and to all others when they shall arrive at that age without wretchedness, and go decently out of the world." Paine proposed to raise funds for such a pension through an inheritance tax of percent. "It is a right, and not a charity, cha-rity, that I am pleading for. It is proposed that the payments as already stated, be made to every person, rich or pooi . Such persons as do not choose to receive it can throw it into the the common fund." It was his contention that in the course of 3o years 1 generation the bulk of the real and personal property of the entire Nation would have become subject to the tax. In dis. cussing eligibility for such a pension. But Dr. Townsend must be given credit for bringing out a practical plan ready to be used by the people. Why not try it? |