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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； while all disputes between Parliament and the Guild
Congress will be decided by a body composed of representatives of both
in equal numbers。
Payment will not be made； as at present； only for work actually
required and performed； but for willingness to work。 This system is
already adopted in much of the better paid work： a man occupies a certain
position； and retains it even at times when there happens to be very little to
do。 The dread of unemployment and loss of livelihood will no longer
haunt men like a nightmare。 Whether all who are willing to work will be
paid equally； or whether exceptional skill will still command exceptional
pay； is a matter which may be left to each guild to decide for itself。 An
opera…singer who received no more pay than a scene…shifter might choose
to be a scene…shifter until the system was changed： if so； higher pay would
probably be found necessary。 But if it were freely voted by the Guild； it
could hardly constitute a grievance。
Whatever might be done toward making work agreeable； it is to be
presumed that some trades would always remain unpleasant。 Men could be
attracted into these by higher pay or shorter hours； instead of being driven
into them by destitution。 The community would then have a strong
economic motive for finding ways of diminishing the disagreeableness of
these exceptional trades。
There would still have to be money； or something analogous to it； in
any community such as we are imagining。 The Anarchist plan of a free
distribution of the total produce of work in equal shares does not get rid of
the need for some standard of exchange value； since one man will choose
to take his share in one form and another in another。 When the day comes
for distributing luxuries； old ladies will not want their quota of cigars； nor
young men their just proportion of lap…dog； this will make it necessary to
know how many cigars are the equivalent of one lap…dog。 Much the
simplest way is to pay an income； as at present； and allow relative values
to be adjusted according to demand。 But if actual coin were paid； a man
might hoard it and in time become a capitalist。 To prevent this； it would be
best to pay notes available only during a certain period； say one year from
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the date of issue。 This would enable a man to save up for his annual
holiday； but not to save indefinitely。
There is a very great deal to be said for the Anarchist plan of allowing
necessaries； and all commodities that can easily be produced in quantities
adequate to any possible demand； to be given away freely to al