240 Economic Theory: An Introductionnities structured according to some behavioralist plan. The
Webbs made the case that a socialist society need not come about
through violence, and need not solve every problem facing
mankind. Sidney, in his famous Xx&ctFacts for Socialists, stressed
that education, propaganda, and persuasion, were the best means
to convert people to socialism. Also, he believed that such
persuasion should be accomplished on an issue-by-issue ap
proach rather than by a comprehensive ideological stand.
The Webbs sought to solve many of society’s problems, not
only by addressing those obvious failings of big business, but
also by seeking to bring about change in all institutions which
affect people’s lives. While contemporary capitalism seemed to
ignore the human factor in the production of wealth, concern for
the human factor in all institutions seemed to the Webbs to be
lost, or at least lacking. Churches, unions, even families must be
concerned less with the functioning of the institution, and more
with the concern for the people that form it. The end result of this
concern for the people would be a political, social, and economic
equality that was among the main goals of the Webbs’ socialist
philosophy.
Beatrice’s main concern was with unions. She felt that demo
cratic labor unions were the best means to improve the condition
of the working man. Sidney looked to collective ownership of
property, democratically controlled, as the best means to help the
common man. Both agreed that education was the best means to
convince the public of the need for socialistic measures. And
both agreed that a certain minimum standard of living for every
person was necessary to achieve the end that they believed was
contained in the maxim, “The greatest happiness for the greatest
number.”
For each problem they confronted, they proposed a solution
in accordance with the basic premise of socialism— state control
or ownership. For the problem of maintaining the elderly they
proposed a state pension system. The problem of medical
expense and quality was to be solved by instituting socialized
medicine. For those who were unemployed they suggested
national and local public-works projects. A minimum wage law
was their answer to help the working poor.
The single most comprehensive statement of the Webbs’
economic philosophy is contained in thq Fabian Essays, written