Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2757

Typed draft of form letter from Heath on Science of Society Foundation letterhead but with typed-in address of Van Rensselaer Hotel, 15 East 11^th Street, New York City, promoting to prospective publishers a typescript of Citadel, Market and Altar. Penciled in the margin in someone else’s hand: “I would advise against using this one.”

No date

 

Dear Sir:

How can PUBLIC SERVICES be carried on by governments with­out subjecting their citizens to violence or force, thus causing insecurity, fear and distress and giving occasion for counter-violence, revolutions and wars?

 No other service institution seizes the properties of its customers, nor is force of any kind considered necessary to the support or conduct of any private services — however widespread.

 Then WHY in the PUBLIC services?

 One part of the public business — and that the basic, oldest and most essential part — is carried on wholly by particular contracts and consent and paid for automatically by the values it creates.

 So well is this done, we are not conscious of it — even of

it being necessary. We think very little about it; some think ill

of it — mistakenly — and would destroy it as an evil, tax it out of existence.

 The accompanying typescript includes full disclosure of what this GREAT AND NECESSARY PUBLIC SERVICE now is, and how it can be PROFITABLY expanded to include ALL public business, — without compulsions or compromises of any kind, with enormous advantages and bene­fits to all — and injury to NONE.

 It is only necessary that a considerable number of publicly articulate persons become aware of this BASIC PUBLIC SERVICE and of how it is now non-coercively performed, even to the finding of its own revenues, without taxation, endowments or alms.

 Automatically, and without resistance, its extension will then follow, as a matter of course — and PUBLIC VIOLENCE CEASE.

 “Until now, the kingdom of heaven (civilization) suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Him that hath ears…”

 Permission for this typescript to occupy a place at or near your elbow for a little time is all that is asked. You will like it very much — if you like it at all. Please do not waste any time on it — unless it interests you.

Spencer Heath