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dividends and low wages； and painfully conscious of the futility of trying
to adjust the balance by means of charity； private or public； they would
answer unhesitatingly that they stand for the ABOLITION OF POVERTY。
Well and good！ On that issue every Socialist is with them。 But their
answer to my question is none the less wrong。
Poverty is the symptom： slavery the disease。 The extremes of riches
and destitution follow inevitably upon the extremes of license and
bondage。 The many are not enslaved because they are poor； they are poor
because they are enslaved。 Yet Socialists have all too often fixed their eyes
upon the material misery of the poor without realizing that it rests upon
the spiritual degradation of the slave。＇59＇
＇59＇ ‘‘Self…Government in Industry；'' G。 Bell & Sons； 1917； pp。 110…
111。
I do not think any reasonable person can doubt that the evils of power
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in the present system are vastly greater than is necessary； nor that they
might be immeasurably diminished by a suitable form of Socialism。 A few
fortunate people； it is true； are now enabled to live freely on rent or
interest； and they could hardly have more liberty under another system。
But the great bulk； not only of the very poor； but； of all sections of wage…
earners and even of the professional classes； are the slaves of the need for
getting money。 Almost all are compelled to work so hard that they have
little leisure for enjoyment or for pursuits outside their regular occupation。
Those who are able to retire in later middle age are bored； because they
have not learned how to fill their time when they are at liberty； and such
interests as they once had apart from work have dried up。 Yet these are the
exceptionally fortunate： the majority have to work hard till old age； with
the fear of destitution always before them； the richer ones dreading that
they will be unable to give their children the education or the medical care
that they consider desirable； the poorer ones often not far removed from
starvation。 And almost all who work have no voice in the direction of their
work； throughout the hours of labor they are mere machines carrying out
the will of a master。 Work is usually done under disagreeable conditions；
involving pain and physical hardship。 The only motive to work is wages：
the very idea that work might be a joy； like the work of the artist； is
usually scouted as utterly Utopian。
But by far the greater part of these evils are wholly unnecessary。 If the
civilized portion of mankind could be induced to desire their own
happiness more than another's pain； if they could be induced to work
constructively for improvements which they would share with all the
world rather than destructively to prevent other classes or nations from
stealing a march on them； the whole system by which the world's work is
done might be reformed root and branch within a generation。
From the point of view of liberty； what system would be the best？ In
what direction should we wish the forces of progress to move？ From this
point of view； neglecting for the moment all other considerations； I have
no doubt that the best system would be one not far removed from that
advocated by Kropotkin； but rendered more practicable by the adoption of
the main principles of Guild Socialism。 Since every point can be disputed；
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I will set down without argument the kind of organization of work that
would seem best。
Education should be compulsory up to the age of 16； or perhaps longer；
after that； it should be continued or not at the option of the pupil； but
remain free （for those who desire it） up to at least the age of 21。 When
education is finished no one should be COMPELLED to work； and those
who choose not to work should receive a bare livelihood； and be left
completely free； but probably it would be desirable that there should be a
strong public opinion in favor of work； so that only comparatively few
should choose idleness。 One great advantage of making idleness
economically possible is that it would afford a powerful motive for
making work not disagreeable； and no community where most work is
disagreeable can be said to have found a solution of economic problems。 I
think it is reasonable to assume that few would choose idleness； in view of
the fact that even now at least nine out of ten of those who have （say） 100
pounds a year from investments prefer to increase their income by paid
work。
Coming now to that great majority who will not choose idleness； I
think we may assume that； with the help of science； and by the elimination
of the vast amount of unproductive work involved in internal and
international competition； the whole community could be kept in comfort
by means of four hours' work a day。 It is already being urged by
experienced employers that their employes can actually produce as much
in a six…hour day as they can when they work eight hours。 In a world
where there is a much higher level of technical instruction than there is
now the same tendency will be accentuated。 People will be taught not only；
as at present； one trade； or one small portion of a trade； but several trades；
so that they can vary their occupation according to the seasons and the
fluctuations of demand。 Every industry will be self…governing as regards
all its internal affairs； and even separate factories will decide for
themselves all questions that only concern those who work in them。 There
will not be capitalist management； as at present； but management by
elected representatives； as in politics。 Relations between different groups
of producers will be settled by the Guild Congress； matters concerning the
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community as the inhabitants of a certain area will continue to be decided
by Parliament