Social Insurance and Economic Security

Social legislation is the popular topic of the day. If he realizes it the Forgotten Man must be mildly annoyed by being so well remembered. While the noisy protagonists of the various styles of social insurance are making their stirring pleas it is only right that the opponents have their day in court. Dr. Ochsner ably presents the case. His long and active career as a student in the Health Insurance Clinics in Germany and as a practicing physician and member of Welfare Commissions in America eminently qualifies him to form opinions of his own and to comment authoritatively upon the opinions of others. The book is written in a vigorous, rather dogmatic style. It is unfortunate that the author relies so frequently on the fable and anecdote method of proof which is not always convincing, but in spite of that there is never any uncertainty in the reader's mind as to where Dr. Ochsner stands; each page brings out a sound denial of some favorite assertion of the Social Insurance enthusiasts. In passing he takes unerring potshots at the earnest reformer who has one starry eye on the payroll , the ever-busy executive secretary of the uplifters, and the professional survey-maker who obligingly unearths the wrongs that his philanthropic sponsor surmised. It is regretted that he overlooked the beaming target presented by the politico who appreciates the powerful vote-getting mechanism of social legislation. One after another are wise observations concerning the cost of social insurance, the inadequacy of the service rendered, the undermining of Independence, Industry, and Integrity, and finally he quite wrecks the prevalent opinion that there is some mystical hocus-pocus in government that can fix up anything. The most telling conclusion that the author develops is in one of the early chapters where he establishes that Unemployment and Sickness Insurance are not only misnamed, but are so-called with a deliberate motive of deception to make the people think they are getting insurance when in reality they are receiving alms. He supports this conclusion with such important technical evidence that denial is difficult. Dr. Ochsner is especially concerned with compulsory Health Insurance, and rightly so. He is convinced that no such system can solve the problem of poverty for which these schemes are originated, nor will it supply adequate and efficient medical services for the citizens of any nation. Moreover, he believes that physicians under Compulsory Insurance will …