Page:David Atkins - The Economics of Freedom (1924).pdf/13



To those who are prepared to take a partially disguised dose of economic argument it is perhaps a kindness to say that Part, The Essentials of a Remedy, may be read first, before concerning themselves with the groundwork of the theory, as stated more fully in Part , upon which this tentative program is based. However, since the theory itself deals with the economics of freedom, and not the politico-economics of thwarted welfare, which men have tried so vainly to reconcile with good sense, it is not as much a recital of ritual as might be apprehended: it deals with freedom, not with output: with value not with goods.

If, in attempting to fit together a simple and logical structure, very little attention has been paid to a great deal of the available material so ably gathered by my predecessors, this is due to the self-imposed obligation of utilizing only what is measurable in some basic terms, upon the assumption that the science of economics is primarily concerned with measurement.

If, further, it seems presumptuous, uncharitable or irreverent to question the tireless activities of the political-economists who would so often hit the nail squarely upon the head—if only it had not moved—it should be apparent that whatever shadow of criticism there may be falls much more nearly on those who so dextrously move it. And yet this is only an appearance of censoriousness.
 * “No villain need be!…
 * “We are betray’d by what is false within.”

The writer is conscious of only one clear prejudice, and that lies, not against any individual or group, but against an attempt to measure by means of unmeasurable factors, since equity, justice, security, value—and freedom itself—are vain words until we devise an unimpairable measure.

Under democracy we enjoy the full political privileges of sovereign citizens; and if there is any blame to be appor-