In Our Hands, Part 3: How to Lose What We Have (1950, sound)

Description:

Description: Part 3 of 4 of "In Our Hands".
From the How We Live in America Series.

Anti-communist, pro-capitalist film. Drama of an authoritarian (probably Communist-type) coup in the U.S., assisted by apathy, an indifference to federal intervention in community affairs, and lack of economic incentive.

"We can lose what we have in America by a lack of interest in our government, a lack of training needed to recognize false promises and false leaders, an indifference to federal subsidy and control of community activities, and a lack of incentive for greater progress."

Contains stock footage from a number of other Wilding productions and several Encyclopaedia Britannica films. For more information on the business community's offensive against New Deal liberalism and organized labor, see Elizabeth A. Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

Synopsis from study guide in film can:

It is the eve of an election. Tom, Midge and guests are watching a television debate. One speaker urges the viewers to vote for the Master Plan run by a Master State.

The other speaker urges them to continue their present government — one that preserves political and economic freedom. The advocate of the Master Plan insists that we have solved our production problems but that we have not yet solved our problems of distribution. He indicates that the Master Plan would solve our problems of distribution by applying the principle "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." He promises socialization of property, full employment and full security.

His opponent insists that full security and full employment are available now in a penitentiary; that with ten million work places in America we are now free to make ten million plans. Some of these will succeed, others fail. He insists that enough of these plans have succeeded so that we double our production of goods and services every generation. "If the one Master Plan were to fail it would be a national catastrophe."

All four agree that they will vote for the Master Plan. One guest asks, "Why shouldn't the government take care of us?"

Big headlines in newspapers announce:

MASTER PLANS WIN
BANK ACCOUNTS FROZEN
MARKETS SUSPENDED
INSURANCE COMPANIES TAKEN OVER
LABOR FORCE TO BE REDISTRIBUTED

The family is forced to move as the government plans to give Tom a job in another part of the country and their house is to be taken over by two families.

As Tom and Midge ride away on the truck with the few belongings which they are allowed to take with them, Tom asks, "How far does the Plan go?"

Midge asks, "Can't we go to court or to somebody?"

In the concluding scenes the film tells us that under the Master State —

— the government has become the master of the people
— all power is in the hands of one group with absolute power
— there is no incentive or opportunity for the individual
— tools come from savings. With unlimited government, force would be used to get our savings in order to get tools
— the government has nothing it does not get from the people.

— FORCE is substituted for freedom. The freedom which we have, such as the right to buy, to sell, to save, to invest, would be taken away under the Master State.

Reuse Statement: For information on reusing Prelinger Archives footage and obtaining written usage agreements, please visit http://www.prelinger.com.

Subjects: Capitalism; Communism; Commerce; Economics; Families; 1950s; Extractive industries; Manufacturing; Food

Tags: anti-communism; free enterprise; economics; voting; elections; eviction; dispossession; forcible collectivization; Soviet-style coup; individual freedom; workers; ranches; production; productivity; democracy; government; Manhattan aerials; farmers; sowing land; settler colonialism; tools; money; customers; factories; raw materials; trade; war; military; soldiers marching; Washington DC; Soviet conquest; counterfactual narrative

Film Sponsor: The American Economic Foundation, Inland Steel Company, Borg-Warner Corporation

Creator: "Wilding Picture Productions, Inc.", Jack Tilles, James Prindle

Credits: Director: Jack Tilles
Writer: James Prindle
Camera: J.J. LaFleur
Editor: Glen McGowan
Sound: by Cecil Meek

Distributor:

Contributor: Prelinger Archives

Source Collection: Delaware County Committee on Patriotism

Digitizing Sponsor: Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web (FFDW) and Internet Archive

Production Date:

Release Date: 1950

Geographical Location: USA

Genre/Form: sponsored

Language: eng

Rights: "Copyright MCML Wilding Picture Productions, Inc."

Film Format: 16mm film

Element: release print

Color: b&w

Color Process:

Sound or Silent: sound

Film Soundtrack Type: variable density

Edge Code:

Frame Rate: 24 fps

Length (feet): 846

Complete Record: Description: Part 3 of 4 of "In Our Hands". From the How We Live in America Series. Anti-communist, pro-capitalist film. Drama of an authoritarian (probably Communist-type) coup in the U.S., assisted by apathy, an indifference to federal intervention in community affairs, and lack of economic incentive. "We can lose what we have in America by a lack of interest in our government, a lack of training needed to recognize false promises and false leaders, an indifference to federal subsidy and control of community activities, and a lack of incentive for greater progress." Contains stock footage from a number of other Wilding productions and several Encyclopaedia Britannica films. For more information on the business community's offensive against New Deal liberalism and organized labor, see Elizabeth A. Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1994). Synopsis from study guide in film can: It is the eve of an election. Tom, Midge and guests are watching a television debate. One speaker urges the viewers to vote for the Master Plan run by a Master State. The other speaker urges them to continue their present government — one that preserves political and economic freedom. The advocate of the Master Plan insists that we have solved our production problems but that we have not yet solved our problems of distribution. He indicates that the Master Plan would solve our problems of distribution by applying the principle "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." He promises socialization of property, full employment and full security. His opponent insists that full security and full employment are available now in a penitentiary; that with ten million work places in America we are now free to make ten million plans. Some of these will succeed, others fail. He insists that enough of these plans have succeeded so that we double our production of goods and services every generation. "If the one Master Plan were to fail it would be a national catastrophe." All four agree that they will vote for the Master Plan. One guest asks, "Why shouldn't the government take care of us?" Big headlines in newspapers announce: MASTER PLANS WIN BANK ACCOUNTS FROZEN MARKETS SUSPENDED INSURANCE COMPANIES TAKEN OVER LABOR FORCE TO BE REDISTRIBUTED The family is forced to move as the government plans to give Tom a job in another part of the country and their house is to be taken over by two families. As Tom and Midge ride away on the truck with the few belongings which they are allowed to take with them, Tom asks, "How far does the Plan go?" Midge asks, "Can't we go to court or to somebody?" In the concluding scenes the film tells us that under the Master State — — the government has become the master of the people — all power is in the hands of one group with absolute power — there is no incentive or opportunity for the individual — tools come from savings. With unlimited government, force would be used to get our savings in order to get tools — the government has nothing it does not get from the people. — FORCE is substituted for freedom. The freedom which we have, such as the right to buy, to sell, to save, to invest, would be taken away under the Master State. Reuse Statement: For information on reusing Prelinger Archives footage and obtaining written usage agreements, please visit http://www.prelinger.com. Subjects: Capitalism; Communism; Commerce; Economics; Families; 1950s; Extractive industries; Manufacturing; Food Tags: anti-communism; free enterprise; economics; voting; elections; eviction; dispossession; forcible collectivization; Soviet-style coup; individual freedom; workers; ranches; production; productivity; democracy; government; Manhattan aerials; farmers; sowing land; settler colonialism; tools; money; customers; factories; raw materials; trade; war; military; soldiers marching; Washington DC; Soviet conquest; counterfactual narrative Film Sponsor: The American Economic Foundation, Inland Steel Company, Borg-Warner Corporation Creator: "Wilding Picture Productions, Inc.", Jack Tilles, James Prindle Credits: Director: Jack Tilles Writer: James Prindle Camera: J.J. LaFleur Editor: Glen McGowan Sound: by Cecil Meek Distributor: Contributor: Prelinger Archives Source Collection: Delaware County Committee on Patriotism Digitizing Sponsor: Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web (FFDW) and Internet Archive Production Date: Release Date: 1950 Geographical Location: USA Genre/Form: sponsored Language: eng Rights: "Copyright MCML Wilding Picture Productions, Inc." Film Format: 16mm film Element: release print Color: b&w Color Process: Sound or Silent: sound Film Soundtrack Type: variable density Edge Code: Frame Rate: 24 fps Length (feet): 846

Transcription

e now that we have seen what we have in the United States let's talk about how to lose it just what would we have to change to be sure to lose what we have suppose this is the night before a national election suppose you sat in this room and saw and heard this let me sum it up this way way you are going to vote tomorrow in an election which will do one of two things keep our limited government with its constitutional freedoms rights and responsibilities or change them for unlimited government and a planned economy we've already amended the Constitution dozens of times let's throw it away for a master plan run by a master state would you care to reply to that I certainly would at this time there are some 10 million workplaces in the United States States 10 million places where we're free to make 10 million plans we're free to try any new idea new product new service a a new anything but we're all human beings we can't all be right but we have free choice we're free to try to make a profit to just get by or to fail some of us do fail every day but enough of us succeed so that every generation we double our production of goods and services under a master plan there would only be one plan with just one plan there wouldn't be any room for a mistake if anything went wrong with a master plan the result would be a national disaster and every man woman and child would suffer for wait a minute wait a minute we know all we need to know about how to produce things what we don't seem to know anything about is distribution we have't solved such things as full employment real security from each according to his ability and to each according to his need sure that sounds good but how are you going to do it we're already on our way we've partly socialized incomes we're going ahead and socialized property too let the people own the means of production transportation and communication let the people have full employment and full security but what price Freedom you talk about full security full employment why you can have that in the penitentiary I'm here tonight because I believe in the right of an individual to be able to choose the kind of job he wants with the company he wants to work for in the part of country he wants to live in yes sir freedom of choice right down to the brand of cigarettes he smokes or doesn't smoke government can't control everything without controlling me what I can say and what I can't say and I mean police control that tells me where I'll work where I'll live and all the rest of it just words the people know what they want vote against the old ruthless sick American economy with its private property in its so-called free competitive Enterprise vote for the master state with the master plan our time is almost up but tomorrow you'll be able to vote to keep what we have or tock change for a total economy where everything will be run according to a master plan for or against the master State under the master plan thank you and good night well what do you think I'm for it I'm tired of being kicked around I think it sounds wonderful he said it would mean full employment that's something just think what that means full security why shouldn't the government take care of us I'm afraid I I don't understand it very well well the way I get it everything will be planned and the whole country will run according to the plan what's wrong with that they talk about free enterprise private Enterprise I I'm sick of listening to them I'm going to vote for him well I am that's for sure I guess I will too here's good news workers in some mass production industries are about to be quickly moved to New locations so that under the master plan the right man will be in the right job at the right time here we are it's a nice home Bob yes but I wonder how they're going to take [Music] it hey this your house yeah here two families going to live here youve been transferred see it's all right here what do you mean I'm not looking for another job well how should I know don't Yap at me brother I don't get it so you don't get it ah good morning ask him he's the party man hey what is this well this is correct look I like it here I don't want another job well it uh it may seem a little rough at first but uh in the long run it'll be better for everybody but when the truck is unloaded you can take your personal things and uh we'll move you and your family I I live here I work here yes I know but that plant's been closed temporarily it has you mean I I've got to drive to another state right now Tom who's that man what's going on here we've got to move move haven't I got anything to say about this well what do you want to say well I've got some right of course you have okay come on folks we need your house for two families now and they'll use your car too what you better start now to get your things together okay folks inside oh to no no no don't be worried you'll only be out of employment for a day or two wait a minute you can't do this to me government can't control everything without controlling me what I can say and what I can't say and I mean police control it tells me where I'll work where I'll live and all the rest of it we've worked so hard now we've lost our house a cop I didn't even get a chance to finish the new curtains in the kitchen tell what's happening to us they say we'll get government certificates for all private property can't we go to court or go to somebody say how far does this go about 300 miles no I mean this plan oh the plan all the way everything's going to be better under the plan yeah don't be like that you're going to like it see sure sure I'm going to like can I ask a question sure why not our baby she's never been baptized does that mean that look I'm not a full party member I'm just driving this truck I don't know what they're going to do about churches and stuff like that but you better button your lip just remember it's all part of the plan what are you yapping about you voted for it of course it would never happen this way real freedoms are eaten up a little at a time while government controls are slipped on while the real power is collected into a few hands where government is not limited no man is free chains limited government to unlimited government and our rights would be only what the master planners say they are no longer the servant of the people government would be the master of the people that's the way to change what we have take all power and all freedoms away from the people and collect everything into the hands of one small group with absolute power but and think about this we would have the same Manpower the same brains and muscles we had before but without our present incentives and opportunities and that would change something else tools always come from savings government has nothing it does not take away from the people with unlimited government whether they want it to or not force would have to be used to take away our savings just to get the tools they must have to carry on production it's the difference between force and freedom nobody in his or her right mind would willingly sacrifice freedom for the iron discipline of a regimented state it can't allow individual Freedom such as our free choice as customers in a free economy we are all each other's customers every farmer and Rancher is free to farm or not to farm free to work for himself or for somebody else free to save and buy his own land his own seed to to invest in more and better tools free to sell what he produces for a profit or a loss every worker in this country has the right to live and worship and work as he chooses it's as simple and fundamental as the right of workers to work and to bargain for their wages and working conditions the right of Management workers to manage Savers to invest and the right of all of us freely to buy and sell all this is part of what we have freedom for all is the key we'll take up more of our great problems later when you look around and think about what we have don't forget for a moment that we do have more individual Freedom we're better clothed we're more comfortable we're further from starvation than the whip of the police state we're far better off than the rest of the world we have our great men and women and we have some flannel mouth fools too we all want to live in a better world we all want to have more but there's no mystery about what we have or how to lose it let's look straight into this one let's talk about how to lose what we have and what that would mean to you