Note
This is a very interesting and valuable text on Mutualism. It is slightly dated in some points and a bit off the target when dealing with monetary matters. Nevertheless it remains a powerful exposition of the main tenets of Mutualism and a sincere plea in favour of the freedom and autonomy of the individual.
MUTUALISM - A Social System Based on Equal Freedom, Reciprocity, and the Sovereignty of the Individual Over Himself, His Affairs, and His Products; Realized Through Individual Initiative, Free Contract, Cooperation, Competition, and Voluntary Association for Defense Against the Invasive and for the Protection of Life, Liberty and Property of the Non-invasive.
FOREWORD
In the preparation of this book, the Mutualist Associates specifically delegated the following of their members to assist the author: Henry Cohen, lawyer and publicist, whose lifelong study of the financial question has particularly fitted him for the formulation of the Mutualist idea of Money, Credit, and Exchange; John K. Freeman, educator and student of sociology, whose wide experience in pedagogy and in various aesthetic pursuits has qualified him to speak competently upon the relation of those subjects to Mutualism; Virgile Esperance, entrepreneur and industrialist, whose familiarity with the various processes of pro-duction and distribution has made him capable of treating those problems with genuine ability; Hans Rossner, libertarian and writer, whose philosophical studies and ripe scientific scholarship have rendered his criticism and constructive advice invaluable.
With the division of labor thus indicated, and with the harmonious cooperation of all the collaborators, a comprehensive presentation of ideas has been produced that could have been secured in no other way.
Unlike all authoritarian movements for social betterment, Mutualism requires no compulsory measures for its introduction or maintenance. It is eminently practical, and can be adopted at once in ever-widening circles of social and economic life with great advantage to those who practice it; and it is based on a logical extension of the past history of mankind: the gradual evolution of free society.
Finally, it may be said that, with the exception of Individualist Anarchism, which is not now actively organized in this country, no other proposed remedy for the ills of society has, as one of the cornerstones of its foundation, the unique concept on which Mutualism is built - the principle of equal liberty. No other school has this one certain test by which all transactions between man and man can be measured.
CLARENCE LEE SWARTZ
Los Angeles, California, March, 1927
CONTENTS
The Development of "Big Business"
The Growth of Monopoly
The State as Oppressor
Nefarious Features of Present System
II. PROPOSED BUT INADEQUATE REMEDIES
Socialism
What has happened in Russia
Some Socialist Prophecies
The Single Tax
Other Movements
III. THE CASE FOR FREEDOM
Mutualism Universally Applicable
The Four Great Monopolies
Co-operation and Competition
History of the Term Mutualism
IV. MONEY, CREDIT, INTEREST AND EXCHANGE
What is Money?
The Gold Monopoly
The Profits of Banking
What is Interest?
Benefit to the Workers
Power of Interest
Price Level Theory Awkward
Not More but More Flexible Currency Needed
Value of Paper Money
Successful Experiments
Necessity for Sound Basis for Money
What is Credit?
Insurance of Credit
The Mutual Bank
Mutual Bank in Operation
The Marginal Producer
Benefit to Farmer and Manufacturer
Benefit to the Wage Worker
V. MUTUALIST PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS
What about the Big Trusts?
Forms of Economic Organization
The Constitution of Price
Patents and Copyright
Distribution
Price without Privilege (Tariffs, Franchises, etc.)
Semi-Public Service Enterprises Under Mutualism
VI. LAND AND RENT
The Rent-Payer
Economic Rent
Russia's Land Experiment
Land Ownership
Abolish the Landlord
Various Problems Solved
VII. SOCIAL ASPECTS
The Individual and Society
Mutualism Essentially Libertarian
Trial by Jury
Invasiveness and Futility of the Ballot
Mutual Insurance
Freedom Instead of Authority
The Boycott a Non-invasive Measure
Rights Not Natural or Inalienable
Mutualism Not Meddlesome
VIII. EDUCATION AND THE ARTS
The Public School System
Private Educational Institutions
Arts and Culture
IX. VOLUNTARY ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION -- THE CO-OPERATIVES
The Co-operative Movement
Co-operation is Libertarian
Voluntary Organization Immediately Practicable
Colonies
Other Efforts
Practical Program
Ignoration of Laws
Passive Resistance
Tendency to Evade Taxes
Voluntary Association
Organized Labor's Opportunity
Bio-Bibliography by Clarence Lee Swartz
Some general comments and notes by John Zube
Some Web Sites and Documents on Mutualism by Gian Piero de Bellis