Review of the Book

Out of Step
By Frank Chodorov

Oscar B. Johannsen

[Reprinted from The Gargoyle, February 1963]

Georgists are out of step so it is not particularly surprising that Frank Chodorov, a former Director of tile Henry George School of New York, should emphasize that point by calling his latest book, Out Of Step.

This is an autobiography of an individualist in the manner which Albert Jay Nock, the premier literary stylist of his day, originated. Nock felt the only worthwhile purpose of an autobiography was to put on paper whatever philosophy the author had garnered through life. Any personal experiences he might have had which would emphasize the concept he was stressing would be pertinent, but other personal data was worse than unnecessary; it was vulgar. Nock wrote such an autobiography, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, which probably will become the standard for that autobiographical approach.

Chodorov, taking his cue from Nock, has attempted the same. Out of the distillation of his meanderings through life, has come a series of essays by a nonconformist who cares not a whit for a regimented society; who has spent a lifetime questioning the growing power of the State; defending the individual; and who has, time and again, paid the price of the heretic to maintain his beliefs.

In his ten page chapter, "The Single Taxer", he successfully puts George's idea into a capsule which will be a delight to any Georgist. He says George's idea is "a simple proposition, economic ally irrefutable and fiscally sound, and moreover appeals to our sense of historic justice."

One point bothers him, however. George believed that the rent collected by the government would be used to pay the so-called necessary "social services". Chodorov wonders what would happen if the politicians used the rent fund to enhance their power. Men are attracted to politics, he believes, not so much because of cupidity as because of a lust for power. (Is there a better explanation why so many rich men's sons are in politics today?) And what is political power, if it is not the legal right to order people about, making them do what they do not want to do and forcing them to refrain from doing what they want to do. But political power is primarily determined by the amount of money at the politician's disposal. The more money, the more power. If the politicals have access to the rent fund, will it be used merely to pay for the household-community services, such as roads, sewerage disposal, fire and police protection, and the like? "Social services" is an elastic term. It can be expanded to encompass almost every conceivable function, as is taking place today. Whether it is economic rent or taxes which the politicians get is a matter of indifference to them. The money is the key to power.

This writer feels Chodorov has a valid point. Although Chodorov has not resolved the problem to his satisfaction, it has long been this writer's contention that the rent fund should be apportioned on a per capita basis each year. Each individual can then purchase with his share of the rent any of the "social services" he desires. This puts these services to the marketplace where the individual controls and not the politicians. Whether the resourceful politicians would find a way to circumvent this solution it is impossible to say. Only "trial and error" can determine that.

While Chodorov cannot help expounding on George's ideas any more than any Georgist can, he is not provincial. Such diverse subjects as socialism, Thoreau, Russia, and watching Westerns are touched on by him.

Thoreau lovers will like particularly his 8 page analysis of that famous "ne'er-do-well". Thoreau probably summed up Chodorov's ideas on government when he said "That Government is best which governs not at all; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have."

The book is short, too short. One closes it with regret that there is no more, Chodorov claims it is his valedictory. Time will not stop.

Possibly he is one of a passing breed. He would deny that. He claims that in every generation, mavericks are always present and somehow their presence is felt, if not in their lifetime, later on.