American Alliance to Advance Freedom
Sidney Abelson
[Reprinted from Land and Freedom,
January-February 1941]
A group of Georgeists have been meeting during the past few weeks for
the purpose of launching an organization that will bring Henry
George's proposals to the forefront "in the councils of world
affairs." Calling itself the American Alliance to Advance Freedom
(with the subtitle, "By Promoting the Principle of Natural
Economic Rights"), this organization plans to issue pamphlets,
conduct current events forums, and engage in related activities. The
following aims have been formulated:
- To awaken interest among non-Georgeists in the Georgeist
doctrines, so that many whose curiosity is thus aroused will seek
formal instruction.
- To crystallize Georgeism in terms of specific goals in order to
offer concrete objectives for men and women seeking a way out of
the present social and economic crisis.
- To bring the issue of Georgeism before legislative bodies
throughout the country in order that the principles of equal right
to the use of land and free trade will be adopted as the basis for
making the coming peace a permanent and a just one.
The Chairman of the Alliance is Sidney J. Abelson, the Secretary is
Elbert Josefson, and the Financial Secretary, Sara Wald. The
Provisional Committee consists of Lloyd Buchman, Miles Shefferman,
Roberty Clancy, Gilbert M. Tucker, Erna L. Nash, and Malcolm R. White.
The Alliance is issuing a "Proposal for Georgeist Action Now,"
to be submitted to followers of Henry George. Herewith are selected
passages:
"What stands out in the life of Henry George, in
his life as an author and his life as an active man of affairs, is
his belief in immediate social reform and his faith that vigorous,
zealous action could make that reform a reality.
"We side with Henry George in his belief and in this vision.
"The cry for bread and peace issues from the throats of nearly
two billion human beings. Who can answer this call?
"So-called 'capitalism' (a misnomer for our monopoly system),
Socialism, Communism, Nazism, Fascism, each in turn had its day and
failed. There is no answer to be found in any of these.
"With each passing day the cry becomes deeper and more
desperate. The organism we call society does not and cannot stand
still.
"We believe that the doctrines of Henry George answer this
call for a new way of life that will bring peace and prosperity
through justice. We believe that the two billion human beings now
inhabiting this planet, however indifferent they might have been to
us before the various "isms" were tried and found wanting,
are now hungry for the very doctrines we have to offer, and that
they will listen to us if we speak up.
"We believe that our time, the time of a Georgeist emergence
into the councils of world affairs, is at hand."
The Alliance has also issued a "Declaration of Principles."
The complete Proposal, the Declaration, application for membership, or
any other information, may be obtained by writing to the American
Alliance to Advance Freedom, 22 West 48th Street, Suite 505, New York,
N. Y.
|