Who Are the Problem-Solvers? J. L. Payne

A second problem with government is that it relies on bureaucracy: large, complex organiza tions that are handicapped by self-defeating rules and staffed by less-than-dedicated em ployees. Bureaucracies cost a lot, often fail to James L. Payne is a political scientist who is writing a book on the theory and tactics of voluntary methods of reform. solve problems, and frequently make things worse. A third problem with government action is that it is insensitive. Government acts through universal prescriptions, laws that apply to ev eryone. It therefore attempts to regulate situa tions it does not know anything about. For ex ample, how can anybody claim enough understanding to declare what all doctors should be paid? There are millions of different doctor-patient situations. Unless we study each one, we cannot make a wise and fair determi nation of the proper prices to be charged. Gov ernment will not and cannot study each one; therefore it is bound to impose unfairness and inefficiency in many, many cases.

The alternative method of dealing with social problems is voluntarism-laying aside the use of coercion and depending on individual action, persuasion, and voluntary organization. For ex ample, if you felt physicians were charging too much, your first step would be to look into the matter and find out what doctors' costs were, why they were charging what they were charg ing, and so on. A next step might be to ap proach physicians and try to persuade them to charge less. This would engage you directly with the problem, exposing you to the complex ities of the issue and perhaps revealing gaps and intolerance in your own views. A third step might be to form a voluntary organization aimed at persuading doctors to charge less, or aimed at helping the poor to pay medical bills.

184 THE FREEMAN • MAY 1989 Would such methods work? Not perfectly, by any means. But, depending on the effort you put forward, they would be a start. All too of ten, we treat social issues as just another form of TV entertainment, like Monday Night Foot" ball. We sit in our armchairs and expect , 'them, " the people on the screen quarterbacks, congressmen-to solve the prob lem. When it comes to making a better society, we should get out and work on the problems ourselves. To some extent, your belief in coercive con trols stems from a cynical view of human na ture. You declare that "all people are naturally selfish-and will take all that they can get. If you do not believe this, tell me one person who will not do it. " I agree with you that selfishness is an element of the human makeup. But so are idealism and the desire to help others. The ques tion is, on which aspect of human nature should we found our philosophy of social improve ment?

Shouldn't we stress the positive? Shouldn't we adopt the voluntary methods that assume people will be helpful and sharing toward oth ers? In this way we shall encourage those vir tues. The coercive method that assumes people must be forced to help others promotes more selfishness and the ever-greater use of force. You ask me to show you "one person" who will not "take all that they can get." I can: yourself. You took the trouble to type a three page, single-spaced letter to me, a stranger, not because it would make you any richer. You were motivated by a deep concern with social problems. And I'll give you another person who is not totally selfish: me. I want to donate $100 to your Society for Low-Income Medical As sistance as 'soon as you've got it set up. Now that makes two of us, and we're on our way to winning the world. Sincerely, Jim Payne F·E·E / 1989 Summer Seminars July 23-29 August 13-19 Join us in Irvington to explore the philosophy of freedom. Our 5-acre facilities in suburban Westchester County provide the ideal setting for intellectual pursuit. Tuition: $350 (includes room and board). For full details and applications, write or telephone The Foundation for Economic Education. (914) 591-7230.