18

THE NONCONTRIBUTOR TO CHARITY

We are beset by the view that it is blessed to give to charity. That it is also virtuous, seemly, good, fair, respectable, altruistic, and endearing. In like manner, the refusal to give to charity is met with contempt, derision, incredulity, and horror. The person who refuses to contribute to charity is considered a pariah.

VI. BUSINESS AND TRADE

19

THE CURMUDGEON

Imagine, if you will, the problems of the real estate developer who is trying to supplant a city block of crumbling tenements with a modern residential complex, replete with gardens, swimming pools, balconies, and other accoutrements of comfortable living. Many problems arise, some by governmental obstacles (zoning laws, licensing requirements, bribes for acceptance of architectural plans). Nowadays, these are widespread, and stultifying.

20

THE SLUMLORD

To many people, the slumlord—alias ghetto landlord and rent gouger—is proof that man can, while still alive, attain a satanic image. Recipient of vile curses, pincushion for needle bearing tenants with a penchant for voodoo, perceived as exploiter of the downtrodden, the slumlord is surely one of the most hated figures of the day.

21

THE GHETTO MERCHANT

“How dare he charge such outrageously high prices for such shoddy merchandise? The store is filthy, the service horrible, and the guarantees worthless. The installment buying will keep you in debt to them for the rest of your life. The customers of these leeches are among the poorest, the most financially naïve to be found anywhere. The only remedy is to prohibit the high prices, low quality products, the devious installment plans, and the general exploitation of poor people.”

22

THE SPECULATOR

Kill the speculators! is a cry made during every famine that has ever existed. Uttered by demagogues, who think that the speculator causes death through starvation by raising food prices, this cry is fervently supported by the masses of economic illiterates. This kind of thinking, or rather nonthinking, has allowed dictators to impose even the death penalty for traders in food who charge high prices during famines.

23

THE IMPORTER

The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) has recently launched an unusual, extensive, and costly advertising campaign. For racist, jingoistic appeal, it is unparalleled. The theme of the campaign is that “foreigners” (dishonest and undeserving) are taking jobs away from Americans (honest, upstanding, and forthright).

24

THE MIDDLEMAN

We are told that middlemen are exploitative. Even worse than other profiteers—who at least provide some type of service—the middleman is considered entirely unproductive. He buys a product which someone else has made, and resells it at a higher price, having added nothing whatsoever to it, except the cost to the consumer. If there were no middlemen, goods and services would be cheaper, with no reduction in quantity or quality.

25

THE PROFITEER

It is clear that profits and everything associated with them have been under attack for a long time. What is not so clear is the reason for these attacks.

VII. ECOLOGY