Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1396

Carbon of a letter from Heath to Frank Dickinson

August 28, 1961

Dear Frank Dickinson:

     I want to thank you warmly for the data you have sent me from time to time concerning your original investigations. I have been greatly interested, especially in the Journal of Insurance reports of discussions among actuaries of your paper, “The Social Security Principle.” I am gratified to note that your fundamental exposé of the political fraud in the guise of insurance has stirred up serious discussion among the professionals in the actuarial field. I only wish your destructive technique could percolate down far enough among the electorate to provoke enough indignation to assure political results. However, this is a far wish and, I fear, a vain hope.

     My own hope and reliance is that such opposition as we have to the totalitarian tide may hold back catastrophe long enough for our free enterprise principle to mutate into the field of those services which must be conducted on a collective or community basis — an emergence of social growth now showing itself in the widespread establishment of self-sustaining community complexes, all operated in the proprietary instead of political mode. I of course refer to large shopping centers, housing and industrial community complexes and so forth.

You know my position and contribution in this growing, developmental field. I am happy to tell you that my grandson, Spencer MacCallum, has now made a very substantial contri­bution towards recognizing this social phenomenon in his thesis, Proprietary Community, upon which he has just received his Master’s degree in anthro­pology from the University of Washington. I am sure you will be greatly interested in this.

I note that your present assignment is coming to a close, and do look forward most hopefully for your proposal for further research in cultural changes to receive interested and financial support. There is all too little fundamental research in the field being cultivated by you. I hope to keep in touch with you personally and well informed with what you are doing.

        Cordially,

        Spencer Heath