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Show The UTAH INDEPENDENT Page 6 January 24, 1972 New Economic Dictatorship Continued from Page 1 Leader Hugh Scott interesting to sound statements compare the contained in that release with the It is deceptive propaganda being fed Americans today by the same Administration: Q. What are the methods used to fight inflation? A. Government has only two real tools to use against inflation. They are monetary restraint and fiscal restraint. . . . The Democrats fight the use of either tool. . . . Instead, they advance tired old panaceas ; they want the President to jawbone inflation away, as if that were possible, or they urge compulsory wage and price controls which, as they ought to know best of all, never have solved the underlying causes of high prices. . . . Emphasis added. And further along in the release: Q. If jawboning" won t work, why not set up wage and price controls? A. Because they won't work either, unless there are strong patriotic motives which support them, such as a situation like World War II. And even in World War II, about a quarter of a million volunteer and Federal workers were used to administer and enforce the program. Even so, black markets were the rule rather than the exception. Even under the best of circumstances (i.e., when were at war and appeals to patriotism are most effective), wage and price curb controls dont work to inflation, and never have. But they do provide an excuse for establishment of a huge bureaucracy and an accompanying increase of government control over the lives of the people. Mr. Nixon has consistently implied that a burgeoning bureaucracy would not accompany his program of controls, however. During his August 15, 1971, address announcing the wrage and price freeze, for instance, he declared that the freeze will not be they would do more harm than good. But Congress went ahead and passed the legislation anyhow, and on August 17, 1970, Richard M. Nixon reluctantly, of course signed his unwanted powers into law. On February 1, 1971, the Pres- President accompanied by the establishment of a huge price control ident delivered his annual econobureaucracy. Yet just such a mic report to Congress, asserting bureaucracy is beginning to once again: I do not intend to mushroom around the nucleus of impose wage and price controls a Pay Board, a Price Commission, which would substitute new, a Committee on Interest and .growing and more vexatious Dividends, a Cost of Living problems for the problems of inflation. But later in the month Council, etc. The relationship e Secrbetween wage-priccontrols and (February' twenty-thirdis an expanding bureaucracy etary of the Treasury John similar to that between fire and Connally wfent before the House heat. There is just jio way to Banking and Currency Committee to plead for an extension separate the twro. You may recall that Mr. Nixon of the Presidents authority to vigorously opposed the original implement controls. The legislation which gave him audacity of this Administration authority to implement the may be seen in the fact that, even controls he has now instituted. while demanding an extension of televised the Presidents power, Mr. During a nationally broadcast on June 17, 1970, he Connally attempted to maintain told the American people: the impression that the Administration did not actually intend to I will not take this nation down use it. For instance, when it was the road of wage and price conpointed out to him that many extrols, however politically polls indicated that most people seem favored controls, he responded: pedient that may This is not the time for the Congress to play politics with If they really realized what inflation by passing legislation they were saying I question that granting the President standby they would be in favor of it. . . . Now, if they thought they had powers to impose wage and price controls. The Congress knows I to go through rationing, if they will not impose controls because thought they couldn 't get a wage increase, couldnt get a salary increase, couldn t raise the price Last year, when the legislation giving Mr. Nixon his of anything they sold without authority was being congoing through a board somesidered by Congress, estimates preI think you would get an sented to the House Banking and where, Currency Committee showed that in entirely different answer. ), , order to institute a nationwide program of controls it would be necessary for the federal government eventually to hire about 1.7 million people and spend almost two billion additional dollars. To illustrate his point, Secretary Connally referred to the situation that existed under the Office of Price Administration HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU? : during World War II Everybody has forgotten what is kind living under OPA is like. It of like everybody favored Prohibition, but it just didnt work. Everybody thought they wanted it - but they didn t want it. As I recall, one of the greatest reliefs in the world, even when we War II, got home from World when there was very strict price controls and wage controls -frankly, I think it is a bigger relief to more people that they got rid of not just the war but the OPA. I think it had gotten to be almost a bigger enemy than the real enemies. They just couldn V stand trying to get butter and tires and everything in the world meat carrying around their little cards. We, incidentally, will have to ask for a fiirther appropriation for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing so we can print all of these little ration tickets again, and people forget these things. - All of which is true, of course, but it raises the question as to why President Nixon has now implemented the very controls he admits will lead to rationing, will not work, and will snuff out the dynamism and strength of our economy. What are the real objectives being sought by the government through the use of wage and price controls? As summarized in the Bulletin of The John Birch Society for September, 1971, they include: (a) a mushrooming increase in the size of the bureaucracy, and in its ubiquitous interference in the lives, businesses, occupations, and professions of the American beAnd do! sure mainly They people; (b) a growing shortage of cause the Administration is now merchandise sold through regular from them all it can to channels, supplying the excuse in keep doing due course for rationing; (c) the remembering. As far as we know, nothing has rise of black markets, which will been said publicly by the Adminsupply the excuse for a more istration since controls were rapid building and oppressive use implemented regarding this ofa national police force. Also, (d) the gradual eliminapossibility of resurrecting the disbe ration book. But it should tion, especially from mass conis book cussed, because the ration sumption, of many products and economic of services the ultimate which can no longer be weapon a dictator. President Nixon himsupplied at the "legal" prices; (e) self told news media executives the allocation of raw materials, attending a background briefing and the enforced relocation of in Kansas City, Missouri, on July labor, according to government-determine- d 6, 1971, that you cannot have priorities ; (f) the wage and price controls without rapid rise of both crime and inflrationing. The President then ation, which inevitably accomwent on to explain, as had Secre-tar- pany and materially advance any social revolution; and (g), the Connallv, that: eventual approach of destitution . . .despite the fact that a majorand famine conditions, which ity of the American people, when always make the rule of any asked, Do you believe there people by absolute tyrants far should be wage and price coneasier to maintain than under trols? they say yes, if they had conditions ofabundance. them for a while, they would say Continued on Page 7 v 0 i r mmm - no with a vengeance; one, because they do not work in peacetime in controlling the problem, and two, because the cost in terms of snuffing out the dynamism and strength of the American economy would be a cost much too high to pay. Make a Clean Sweep of Your Nutrition Problems This Brand New Year. HLP.: 4c DOES YOUR TRAILER VIBRATE, BOB, SWAY, JIGGLE AND Youll Feel Better for It. WEAVE?' 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