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Scientifictionist, v. 1, issue 2, whole no. 2, 1945

Page 10

Now we come to the question of how to prevent future wars. Norm Wegemer and Joe Kennedy seem to feel that wars are bound to occur regardless of what we do, and that we can only hope for the best. I am inclined to agree with ye Ed, who says that "nations are really run by economic forces, not the political administrator" and that the elimination of the profit motive would be a great step in the prevention of wars. That profit motive is darn important. How to eliminate it? The answer to that problem was provided years ago by scientifiction but nobody realized it then, and very few people realize it today. Atomic Power! There's your answer. That may be a little hard to comprehend, but look at it this way. At a cost of only two billion dollars, with a working force of only a few thousand persons, with two B-29's and their crews the war was brought to a close. With that type of fighting equipment your profit element goes right out the window. Private industry can only make a profit out of a war when it is called upon to feed, clothe, house and supply material of war to ten or fifteen million men. Future wars, if they do occur, are not going to be fought by millions of men and guns, hundreds of thousands of planes, tanks, shells and bombs, and millions of tons of shipping -- they're going to be conducted by a few thousand men, operating a few hundred planes carrying atomic bombs, or what is even more probable, radio controlled rocket bombs using atomic energy. Who's going to make any money out of small scale production like that? Those two bombs only used 1 lb. of atomic explosive apiece, and at the present time the US is producing about 6.5 lbs. of the stuff every day. Your profit motive for war is kaput -- and forever.

Of course at the present time there are certain elements of our population, the reactionary press, certain congressmen, and a great many other intellectual fascists, who are feverishly trying to condition the American people that war with Russia is inevitable. Why should Russia fight us? For our natural rescources? Because she has to expand? Or because she has to build up and operate a gigantic army to keep her unemployed from roaming the streets. Certainly not. Her rescources and land area are equal if not superior to ours and Russia will not have to face the specter of unemployment for many years to come, if ever. We have nothing to worry about as far as Russia is concerned, but we should do a little thinking about certain Americans who would like to see us involved in a war with Russia.

In summing up I would like to say that there is a was that is worth while fighting. And that is the war against poverty, disease, malnutrition and social chaos into which America is galloping full tilt, and also against our own home grown variety of fascist. And it's a battle worth fighting. Not only that, it's up to the members of fandom to participate in this battle. You know what the score is, or you should; you read about the future and you know what can be done in the way of building a better world, a scientific world. So get busy. Don't just sit around and read about the future. Get off your duff and do something about it.

RAMBLINGS continued from page 4

printed, monthly fanzine titled MAXIN 92 --- Present discussion on Atomic Bomb control reminds me of Leiber's DESTINY TIMES THREE in ASF. This story, neglected by fans in their atom bomb discussions, presents exactly the same solutions as are now being put before the world's leaders --- HG Wells predicted Atomic Bomb and 2nd World War before 1st World War had begun says newspaper clipping. Wm. Sloane's scientifantasy EDGE OF RUNNING WATER is out in Tower Books 50¢ edition, as is Bellamy's LOOKING BACKWARD -- 2000-1887 (Sociological Stf) --- Grant-Hadley publishers of reprint SKYLARK stories may start pro-mag when capital increases. --- My favorite quotation on Lemuria: "AMAZING STORIES shows promise of becoming a haven for lost Rosicrucianists." -- Richard Witter in FANTASY COMMENTATOR # 8.
The bitter end.

page 10

Saving...

Now we come to the question of how to prevent future wars. Norm Wegemer and Joe Kennedy seem to feel that wars are bound to occur regardless of what we do, and that we can only hope for the best. I am inclined to agree with ye Ed, who says that "nations are really run by economic forces, not the political administrator" and that the elimination of the profit motive would be a great step in the prevention of wars. That profit motive is darn important. How to eliminate it? The answer to that problem was provided years ago by scientifiction but nobody realized it then, and very few people realize it today. Atomic Power! There's your answer. That may be a little hard to comprehend, but look at it this way. At a cost of only two billion dollars, with a working force of only a few thousand persons, with two B-29's and their crews the war was brought to a close. With that type of fighting equipment your profit element goes right out the window. Private industry can only make a profit out of a war when it is called upon to feed, clothe, house and supply material of war to ten or fifteen million men. Future wars, if they do occur, are not going to be fought by millions of men and guns, hundreds of thousands of planes, tanks, shells and bombs, and millions of tons of shipping -- they're going to be conducted by a few thousand men, operating a few hundred planes carrying atomic bombs, or what is even more probable, radio controlled rocket bombs using atomic energy. Who's going to make any money out of small scale production like that? Those two bombs only used 1 lb. of atomic explosive apiece, and at the present time the US is producing about 6.5 lbs. of the stuff every day. Your profit motive for war is kaput -- and forever. Of course at the present time there are certain elements of our population, the reactionary press, certain congressmen, and a great many other intellectual fascists, who are feverishly trying to condition the American people that war with Russia is inevitable. Why should Russia fight us? For our natural rescources? Because she has to expand? Or because she has to build up and operate a gigantic army to keep her unemployed from roaming the streets. Certainly not. Her rescources and land area are equal if not superior to ours and Russia will not have to face the specter of unemployment for many years to come, if ever. We have nothing to worry about as far as Russia is concerned, but we should do a little thinking about certain Americans who would like to see us involved in a war with Russia. In summing up I would like to say that there is a was that is worth while fighting. And that is the war against poverty, disease, malnutrition and social chaos into which America is galloping full tilt, and also against our own home grown variety of fascist. And it's a battle worth fighting. Not only that, it's up to the members of fandom to participate in this battle. You know what the score is, or you should; you read about the future and you know what can be done in the way of building a better world, a scientific world. So get busy. Don't just sit around and read about the future. Get off your duff and do something about it. RAMBLINGS continued from page 4 printed, monthly fanzine titled MAXIN 92 --- Present discussion on Atomic Bomb control reminds me of Leiber's DESTINY TIMES THREE in ASF. This story, neglected by fans in their atom bomb discussions, presents exactly the same solutions as are now being put before the world's leaders --- HG Wells predicted Atomic Bomb and 2nd World War before 1st World War had begun says newspaper clipping. Wm. Sloane's scientifantasy EDGE OF RUNNING WATER is out in Tower Books 50¢ edition, as is Bellamy's LOOKING BACKWARD -- 2000-1887 (Sociological Stf) --- Grant-Hadley publishers of reprint SKYLARK stories may start pro-mag when capital increases. --- My favorite quotation on Lemuria: "AMAZING STORIES shows promise of becoming a haven for lost Rosicrucianists." -- Richard Witter in FANTASY COMMENTATOR # 8. The bitter end. page 10