Competition and free enterprise

“WHO DOES NOT OBEY, SHALL NOT EAT”

I came across a great quote in an old Queensland Hansard debate from 1970 the other day.

It is from Leon Trotsky and says:

“In a country where the sole employer is the State, opposition means death by slow starvation.  The old principle of ‘Who does not work shall not eat’ is replaced by a new one:

“WHO DOES NOT OBEY, SHALL NOT EAT”.

Interestingly, the Queensland MP quoting Trotsky is Charles Porter, Grandfather of Australia’s former Attorney General, Christian Porter.

“Make no mistake” he told the House.

“When members opposite attack … a competitive, free-enterprise economy, they are attacking political freedom as well.

WE ON THIS SIDE BELIEVE IN THE FREEDOM OF THE MANY FROM RIGID CONTROL BY THE FEW ON TOP.

We believe in competition and free enterprise.

We believe in due rewards for energy, imagination and risk-taking.

We agree with the author Harry Emerson Fosdick, who said~ “Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.”

To me, that is the basis of true democracy.

NOT THE NOTION THAT THE GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE ARE STUPID, FOOLISH AND CHILDLIKE, AND MUST BE CONTROLLED BY THE SUPER-EXPERTS UP ON TOP.”

Great stuff!