Page:David Atkins - The Economics of Freedom (1924).pdf/296

 sound, and who realize that its misguided advocates are crying proudly every few days, “The dollar is dead. Long live the dollar!”

If we could comprehend that without any means of economic measurement society must continue as a closely-locked conflict for a pitiably insecure foothold, there might come a realization that the only hope of peace and progress is to provide some sound footing for those who want, not only security, but the further right to exercise their talents in production, instead of facing the necessity of continually changing front to meet bewildering threats from unexpected quarters. This sound footing, of which we dream, is only obtainable by devising a means of making effective economic value apparent and susceptible of measurement, and then coupling the control of this value with its complementary responsibility. If such a moment of realization does come, it may be possible to gain some attention for a diagnosis based upon symptoms, even if this diagnosis appears very cold-blooded to the ardent reformer, and very visionary to the conservative who has come to regard the status quo as desirable. The danger, even at the point where it is realized that something is wrong, is that not a diagnosis will be asked for but some painless remedy. If the logical remedy is not painless, or if it appears superficially to be of the same nature as something that has been tried before, or if it is only partially accepted, then the diagnosis upon which the remedy was based is likely to be discredited, and the net result will be a postponement, rather than a hastening, of well-being and order. Far more important than any remedy is a general appreciation of the fact that if our certified token of value diminishes in effectiveness, then effort also diminishes, whether consciously or unconsciously. Sabotage is inherent in our present unit; and it is not surprising that we find it elsewhere.