Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1415              

Carbon of a letter from Heath at 102 West 85th Street, New York City, to Mr. and Mrs. Walker

December 12, 1942

 

 

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Walker:

    

     Nearly a year has passed since I saw you. Many, many thanks for the book and forgiveness craved for not writing before now although I started two or three times. I wanted to criticize not so much its errors as its omissions, and so great and important were these that I felt overwhelmed. So I have made more inclusive dia­grams, graphs etc., than Mr. Cullman’s and incorporated them in a special new chapter on the Distribution of National Income in my forthcoming book.

     Narrow and particular ideas, specific proposals must stand or fall, depending upon their articulation with wider views and coming under more “general principles.”

     I love your intellectual battle against the tax scourge and the “regulation” pestilence. But we have been too naive in supposing that any tax or any compul­sive technique whatever can have any such effect or lead to any such happy result as the abolishment of taxation and the sound financing of public services.

     There are no social growths, gains, blessings or values except as they arise out of free contractual relations. There is no freedom except there be mutual consent. No impairment of contracts can either bless or free, whether in respect of goods or of lands and their distribution by a social (contractual) process.

     When we become more enlightened concerning property in land and have let our light shine, then the objects we sought by the crude seizure of ground rent will be peaceably attained by its voluntary investment and em­ployment to create and maintain better community services and so create higher community values and further ground rents as their reward — all under a proprietary creation of public services and public values under the social technique of free contract instead of their destruction by political brute force.

     I delight in the spirit that animates you and your colleagues — but there must be more light. The Great Heart of mankind only gropes its way to despair until there is enlightenment of mind, and then: “right actions” follow without force and no “sword of justice” ever need fall, for the blessings of service in freedom and love now descend.

Sincerely,

 

The above letter was first written on the cards enclosed. I have transcribed it as above for your convenience and to be sure of your being able to read it.

Warmest wishes.