III. A class of blue collared and white collared producers of
goods and services who hold their jobs during good
behavior. When not needed or wanted they are pushed
into the ranks of the partially or wholly unemployed.
Most civilizations have added to the working force serfs,
peons and/or chattel slaves.
IV. A class of hangers on--economic parasites--who consume
more than they produce. The payment of unearned income
to property holders and the creation of monopolies
enables this class to live on rent, interest and profit in
proportion to their ownership. As parasitism increases
and multiplies it proves to be a dead weight which
eventually drags down any economy that tolerates it.
V. A class of dependents, defectives and delinquents, supported
by society but contributing little or nothing to
its maintenance or its advancement.
Every civilization has maintained a greater or lesser degree of mobility
between the classes. Mobility makes it possible for those with greater
ability and energy to leave the countryside, settle near the
market-place and climb the ladder of success. It has also made it
possible for policy makers to dump those whose services are no longer
needed or wanted by the ruling oligarchy.
Among the driving economic forces in a civilization are hunger, fear,
greed, ambition. In practice these forces have proved far more effective
than whips and clubs in the hand of slave drivers.
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