Page 28 - Michael August 2021

u Social Credit, as Douglas presented it, as MICHAEL “Social Credit” to a lifeless thing that implies no per-
strives to present it better and better to its readers, sonal responsibility whatsoever.
cannot be linked to a political party, and even less be Human powerlessness
used as a label for a political party, without prostituting
the meaning of words. Question — Supposing a government in office
“Social Credit” and “party” are two contradictory would wish the well-being of the people, could it
adopt and implement Social Credit, or would a refer-
terms. The first term implies an association that in- endum be needed?
cludes every member of society; the latter implies a
division, a group that fights against other groups for This question implies that until now, no govern-
power. The aim of a party is to come to power to run ment has ever wished the well-being of the people, but
the country, whereas the aim of Social Credit is to that such a well-meaning government can come out of
distribute to each individual a power that will free a future election. This is quite a severe judgment for
him more and more from state interventions. the present and past governments, and one must be
As for the platforms of political parties, after all that quite optimistic to suppose that, from the same tree,
a completely different fruit could be picked. But let us
has been seen in less than a generation, more than admit that supposition: a perfect government is now
blind faith is needed to attach importance to them. in office. Can it adopt and implement a Social Credit
Only one point in their platforms is sincere: to try to economic system?
win the election, in order to come or remain in office.
The answer is NO. With or without a referendum:
A truth like Social Credit cannot be subjected to NO. It is humanly impossible in front of the present
the criterion of a majority of votes. power of the financial monster. (Please note the word
Nothing of course can prevent politicians — “humanly”.)
whether in office or not, and whatever their political The financial monster, the super-power of the
allegiance — from being personally convinced of the global controllers of money and credit, is more power-
excellence of Social Credit, of proclaiming it object- ful than all the governments in the world; it dominates
ively, and not out of political self-interest. But to make them all!
of Social Credit a party’s platform, and to promote
the idea that bringing this party to power is enough This subjection of governments to the lords of Fi-
to implement the Social Credit principles, is to lie and nance is no secret. More than a century ago, Disraeli,
hinder the progress of the Social Credit Cause. who was several times Minister of Finance and even
Prime Minister of mighty Great Britain, publicly com-
Social Credit is a living idea; it lives in the minds of plained about this state of affairs, but could not free
the people who welcome it and become its apostles. himself from it. Other statesmen spoke alike. Besides,
To make of it a simple question of vote in favour of a one just has to look at the situations that follow one
man or a party is to reduce the meaning of the words another in our times: a ten-year money shortage (the
1929-1939 Depression), followed by six
years of war with plenty of money, then
Free access to books on Economic Democracy cyclic credit squeezes, perpetual and
ever-increasing public debts, concerted
austerity measures, whereas nothing
diminished in the production capacity
of the countries in question.
These plain facts show that the
controllers of money and credit “hold
our lives in their hands” (Pope Pius XI),
and that with banks at their service,
they “direct the policy of governments,
and hold in the hollow of their hands
the destiny of the people” (Reginald
McKenna, one-time Chancellor of the
We encourage our readers to visit our website (www. Exchequer, and for a long time Chair-
michaeljournal.org) to read the full text of our various books and man of the Midland Bank, England’s lar-
brochures in order to better understand the principles of Eco- gest commercial bank). Governments,
nomic Democracy. If you prefer a print version of these resour- reduced to the state of lackeys of this
ces, visit our website and follow the links to order copies from super-power, are unable to free them-
our Rougemont, Canada office. We especially recommend new selves from this bondage — even if
editions of two of our classics, Economic Democracy (in 14 les- they wanted to!
sons) $8; and In this Age of Plenty: $10. Does it mean that any hope is in
vain, and that any effort to promote

28 MICHAEL August/September 2021 www.michaeljournal.org