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8
The
PLAJN TRUTH
-
Ambassaáot
Ca/lege
Photo
lntercity trucks stand idle in los Angeles, victims of early 1970 strike. Many
economists claim wage set tlements are far out of line with job output.
national interests. Yet, instead of gear–
ing up for the fight for economic sur–
viva!, Americans are seemingly more
interested in battling themselves.
1970
may go down in U. S. history as
the Year of the Strike.
All that matters for the average
working man, it seems, is a fatter pay–
check every year. Whether the increase
is tied to an increase in productivity is
of little consequence to him.
President Nixon and Labor Secretary
Shultz suggested last winter that unions
should moderate their demands in com–
ing bargaining talks. Otherwise they
would run the risk of pricing their
employers right out of the marketplace.
One powerful labor boss retorted that
no union leader would think of scaling
clown his demands.
"If
he does, he isn't
going to be in the head of that union
very long," he reasoned.
Another top union leader, look–
ing ahead to a major contract negotia–
tion later this year, said: "We're going
to the bargaining table in
1970
to get
our equity, and we don't care what busi–
ness' attitude may be or the attitude of
the Nixon Administration may be."
But who is going to act in the
naJional
interest?
Where do we .find
saC1·ífice
for the
good of the nation - which in the end
is
for the good of every individual
within the nation?
In his new book,
The End of the
American E,.a,
author Andrew Hacker
laments that "a willingness to sac;rifice
is no longer in the American character."
What was once a nation, writes
Hacker, "has become simply an agglom–
eration of self-concerned individuals"
- 200
million egos, as he captions one
chapter.
Americans are in "a stage of moral
enervation," and "we lack the will" to
continue being a great nation.
What kills a nation? Lack of
national spirit, purpose and unity- and
an unwillingness to sacrifice for the
common good.
How Can We Compete?
"Both the Japanese and the Germans
are determined to be outstanding in the
world," said Philip H. Abelson of the
Carnegie Institute. "How can the
United States, which is in sorne sense
lethargic and without a seose of direc–
tion, compete with such energetic
people, especially when we do not rec–
ognize that we are in a contest?"
The Japanese have such a team spirít.
The nation ís determined to
be
lchiban
- Number One.
Japanese industry, government and
the public as a whole are concerted in
the national efforts.
The average Japanese has been will–
ing to sacrifice for the good of his coun–
try, even to the point of accepting
overcrowded living conditions, housing
June-July, 1970
shortages, and other prívations.
The average Japanese workman "socks
away" 18% of bis take-home pay
into savings. In West Germany, the fig–
ure is
11%-
The Uníted States? A mere
6% -
with much of this diluted by the
exploding growth of consumer credit.
The Japanese have a sense of national
purpose and will. Western Europeans
are determined to overcome their his–
torie differencés to create a United
Europe.
And the United States? It's coming
apart at the seams in all directions!
Listen to the words of John W.
Gardner, former U. S. Secretary of
Health, Education and Welfare:
"While each of us pursues his selfish
interest and comforts himself by blam–
ing others, the nation disintegrates.
I
used the phrase soberly: The nation
disintegrates.
"This is a time for the highest order
of patriotism. This is a time to ask what
it is we stand for as a people....
"We face two overriding tasks. We
must move vigorously
to
solve our most
crucial problems. And we must heal the
spirit of the nation. The two tasks are
inseparable.
lf
either is neglected, the
other becomes impossible."
Time Is Short
It's time Americans wake up to
tbe facts - and act before it's too late.
There is still time for all Americans
- governmental bodies, industry, labor
unions and every individual - to act
responsibly and do their part to stem
inflation, and help put the nation's eco–
nomic house back in order.
But who will
be
the fust labor union
leader, for example, to tell bis men hon–
estly and frankly that the company and
the nation can't afford them a pay raise
this year.
What about honest cuts in govern–
mental spending?
All that is needed are sorne good
examples and forthright, unselfish
leadership.
There is still time left. There is still
time left to rescue the dollar on the
international front. Our creditors are
more than willing - in their own
interest - to give the U. S. time to put
its economic house in order.
But time is running out.
o