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.I too am in favour of abolishing large cities, but not of settlingpeople of a particular type--e.g., old people--in particulartowns.Frankly, the idea strikes me as horrible.I am also ofopinion that fluctuations in the value of money must be avoided,by substituting for the gold standard a standard based on certainclasses of goods selected according to the conditions ofconsumption--as Keynes, if I am not mistaken, long agoproposed.With the introduction of this system one mightconsent to a certain amount of "inflation," as compared with thepresent monetary situation, if one could believe that the Statewould really make a rational use of the windfall thus accruing toit.The weaknesses of your plan lie, so it seems to me, in the sphereof psychology, or rather, in your neglect of it.It is no accidentthat capitalism has brought with it progress not merely inproduction but also in knowledge.Egoism and competition are,alas, stronger forces than public spirit and sense of duty.InRussia, they say, it is impossible to get a decent piece ofbread.…Perhaps I am over-pessimistic concerning Stateand other forms of communal enterprise, but I expect little goodfrom them.Bureaucracy is the death of all sound work.I haveseen and experienced too many dreadful warnings, even incomparatively model Switzerland.I am inclined to the view that the State can only be of real use toindustry as a limiting and regulative force.It must see to it thatcompetition among the workers is kept within healthy limits, thatall children are given a chance to develop soundly, and thatwages are high enough for the goods produced to be consumed.But it can exert a decisive influence through its regulative functionif--and there again you are right--its measures are framed in anobjective spirit by independent experts.I would like to write to you at greater length, but cannot find thetime.MinoritiesIt seems to be a universal fact that minorities--especially when the individualscomposing them are distinguished by physical peculiarities--are treated by themajorities among whom they live as an inferior order of beings.The tragedy ofsuch a fate lies not merely in the unfair treatment to which these minorities areautomatically subjected in social and economic matters, but also in the factthat under the suggestive influence of the majority most of the victimsthemselves succumb to the same prejudice and regard their brethren asinferior beings.This second and greater part of the evil can be overcome bycloser combination and by deliberate education of the minority, whosespiritual liberation can thus be accomplished.The efforts of the American negroes in this direction are deserving of allcommendation and assistance.Observations on the Present Situation in EuropeThe distinguishing feature of the present political situation of the world, and inparticular of Europe, seems to me to be this, that political.development hasfailed, both materially and intellectually, to keep pace with economicnecessity, which has changed its character in a comparatively short time.Theinterests of each country must be subordinated to the interests of the widercommunity.The struggle for this new orientation of political thought andfeeling is a severe one, because it has the tradition of centuries against it.Butthe survival of Europe depends on its successful issue.It is my firm convictionthat once the psychological impediments are overcome the solution of the realproblems will not be such a terribly difficult matter.In order to create the rightatmosphere, the most essential thing is personal co-operation between men oflike mind.May our united efforts succeed in building a bridge of mutual trustbetween the nations!The Heirs of the AgesPrevious generations were able to look upon intellectual and cultural progressas simply the inherited fruits of their forebears' labours, which made life easierand more beautiful for them.But the calamities of our times show us that thiswas a fatal illusion.We see now that the greatest efforts are needed if this legacy of humanity's isto prove a blessing and not a curse.For whereas formerly it was enough for aman to have freed himself to some extent from personal egotism to make hima valuable member of society, to-day he must also be required to overcomenational and class egotism.Only if he reaches those heights can he contributetowards improving the lot of humanity.As regards this most important need of the age the inhabitants of a small Stateare better placed than those of a great Power, since the latter are exposed,both in politics and economics, to the temptation to gain their ends by bruteforce.The agreement between Holland and Belgium, which is the only brightspot in European affairs during the last few years, encourages one to hopethat the small nations will play a leading part in the attempt to liberate theworld from the degrading yoke of militarism through the renunciation of theindividual country's unlimited right of self-determination.IIIGermany 1933ManifestoAs long as I have any choice, I will only stay in a country where politicalliberty, toleration, and equality of all citizens before the law are the rule.Political liberty implies liberty to express one's political views orally and inwriting, toleration, respect for any and every individual opinion
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