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Phanny, v. 3, issue 3, December 1944

Page 3

3              P H A N N Y               3
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to that of the Economic Democracy. Instead of eliminating the expression of Political and economic opinions contrary to those of the party in power, this older system encourages such expression; in fact, it could not very well exist except through such expressed disagreements. The result is a series of compromises between extreme views on many subjects, plus substantial agreement on other matters which have developed through the interchange of contrasting views. Such a system functions best when the number of divergent groups is relatively small; a large number of dissident groups, capable of only very temporary agreement on controversial topics, results in such frequent changes of government that stagnation may result.

   The most logical division is that of Conservative against Progressive, Conservative meaning the party which wishes to retain all or most of the institutions existing presently, or to "return to normalcy," meaning the status before the Progressives took over, if the Progressives happen to b "in:" and Progressive meaning the group which favors the principal experimentation in the field of government, usually for the purpose of correcting economic and political inequalities, when such exist (and the always do!). The Conservative is satisfied with what he has, or what he hopes to get, under existing conditions; the Progressive advocates change, as the only way to avoid stagnation and eventual decadence. Generally speaking, the Progressive tends to favor a higher degree of Economic Democracy, while the Conservative is likely to prate of the "place" of "inferior racial groups," or "lower social and economic classes," and the "advantages" which accrue to those groups as a by-product of their "Betters" [efforts] to get rich.

   Under such a set-up, a very considerable degree of Economic Democracy may exist, simply because economic factors are so important in the daily lives of the people who make up the electorate. People of similar ideas unite on economic grounds, and vote for those candidates which most nearly represent their desires. A very large part of the economic progress of the last century--and its has certainly been very considerable--has resulted from this system of Political Democracy.

   Actually, of course, insofar as this country is concerned, at least, there is no division into discrete Progressive and Conservative parties, each of the two major parties containing within their make-up,  both Conservative and Progressive elements; as for example, the presence of the Southern Democrats and the New Dealers in the same party, a situation which almost automatically drives the Negro voters into the Republican Party, which, in this particular respect is the more liberal of the two. The Co-Operative system, which is certainly on the liberal side, also flourishes in States which are normally Republican, and the system is forwarded vigorously by factions of that Party.

   In fact, at present, both Parties lay claim to the "Progressive" label--at least for vote-getting purposes--although on somewhat different grounds, while Socialists and Communists, with some justice, label both of them "hopelessly conservative." (Note--in case your wondering, this is being stenciled before the National Election--on October 29, to be exact--but since you won't be reading it until long after November 7, I'm sure it won't affect the outcome of the election in anyway (ahem!).

   The leavening in this hodge-podge is furnished by the Independent Voter, a mythical individual [made] up of the relatively small but important group of politically active persons who pay little attention to Party labels, but base their decisions on the avowed intentions and past records of the candidates. They regularly scratch their ballots, and it is to them that the major candidates direct their appeals.

   Generally speaking, if a Conservative (basically) group is "in," it will

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3 P H A N N Y 3 ____________________________ to that of the Economic Democracy. Instead of eliminating the expression of Political and economic opinions contrary to those of the party in power, this older system encourages such expression; in fact, it could not very well exist except through such expressed disagreements. The result is a series of compromises between extreme views on many subjects, plus substantial agreement on other matters which have developed through the interchange of contrasting views. Such a system functions best when the number of divergent groups is relatively small; a large number of dissident groups, capable of only very temporary agreement on controversial topics, results in such frequent changes of government that stagnation may result. The most logical division is that of Conservative against Progressive, Conservative meaning the party which wishes to retain all or most of the institutions existing presently, or to "return to normalcy," meaning the status before the Progressives took over, if the Progressives happen to b "in:" and Progressive meaning the group which favors the principal experimentation in the field of government, usually for the purpose of correcting economic and political inequalities, when such exist (and the always do!). The Conservative is satisfied with what he has, or what he hopes to get, under existing conditions; the Progressive advocates change, as the only way to avoid stagnation and eventual decadence. Generally speaking, the Progressive tends to favor a higher degree of Economic Democracy, while the Conservative is likely to prate of the "place" of "inferior racial groups," or "lower social and economic classes," and the "advantages" which accrue to those groups as a by-product of their "Betters" [efforts] to get rich. Under such a set-up, a very considerable degree of Economic Democracy may exist, simply because economic factors are so important in the daily lives of the people who make up the electorate. People of similar ideas unite on economic grounds, and vote for those candidates which most nearly represent their desires. A very large part of the economic progress of the last century--and its has certainly been very considerable--has resulted from this system of Political Democracy. Actually, of course, insofar as this country is concerned, at least, there is no division into discrete Progressive and Conservative parties, each of the two major parties containing within their make-up, both Conservative and Progressive elements; as for example, the presence of the Southern Democrats and the New Dealers in the same party, a situation which almost automatically drives the Negro voters into the Republican Party, which, in this particular respect is the more liberal of the two. The Co-Operative system, which is certainly on the liberal side, also flourishes in States which are normally Republican, and the system is forwarded vigorously by factions of that Party. In fact, at present, both Parties lay claim to the "Progressive" label--at least for vote-getting purposes--although on somewhat different grounds, while Socialists and Communists, with some justice, label both of them "hopelessly conservative." (Note--in case your wondering, this is being stenciled before the National Election--on October 29, to be exact--but since you won't be reading it until long after November 7, I'm sure it won't affect the outcome of the election in anyway (ahem!). The leavening in this hodge-podge is furnished by the Independent Voter, a mythical individual [made] up of the relatively small but important group of politically active persons who pay little attention to Party labels, but base their decisions on the avowed intentions and past records of the candidates. They regularly scratch their ballots, and it is to them that the major candidates direct their appeals. Generally speaking, if a Conservative (basically) group is "in," it will