In Our Hands, Part 3: How to Lose What We Have

About

Part 3 of 4 of "In Our Hands". From the How We Live in America Series.

Anti-communist, pro-capitalist film. Drama of an authoritarian (probably Communist-type) coup in the U.S., assisted by apathy, an indifference to federal intervention in community affairs, and lack of economic incentive.

"We can lose what we have in America by a lack of interest in our government, a lack of training needed to recognize false promises and false leaders, an indifference to federal subsidy and control of community activities, and a lack of incentive for greater progress."

Contains stock footage from a number of other Wilding productions and several Encyclopaedia Britannica films. For more information on the business community's offensive against New Deal liberalism and organized labor, see Elizabeth A. Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

Synopsis from study guide in film can:

It is the eve of an election. Tom, Midge and guests are watching a television debate. One speaker urges the viewers to vote for the Master Plan run by a Master State.

The other speaker urges them to continue their present government — one that preserves political and economic freedom. The advocate of the Master Plan insists that we have solved our production problems but that we have not yet solved our problems of distribution. He indicates that the Master Plan would solve our problems of distribution by applying the principle "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." He promises socialization of property, full employment and full security.

His opponent insists that full security and full employment are available now in a penitentiary; that with ten million work places in America we are now free to make ten million plans. Some of these will succeed, others fail. He insists that enough of these plans have succeeded so that we double our production of goods and services every generation. "If the one Master Plan were to fail it would be a national catastrophe."

All four agree that they will vote for the Master Plan. One guest asks, "Why shouldn't the government take care of us?"

Big headlines in newspapers announce:

MASTER PLANS WIN BANK ACCOUNTS FROZEN MARKETS SUSPENDED INSURANCE COMPANIES TAKEN OVER LABOR FORCE TO BE REDISTRIBUTED

The family is forced to move as the government plans to give Tom a job in another part of the country and their house is to be taken over by two families.

Archive

Internet Archive, in Prelinger Archives

Licence or status

The Internet Archive states none for this item.

Rights statement

"Copyright MCML Wilding Picture Productions, Inc."

Credit

Wilding Picture Productions, Inc., Jack Tilles, James Prindle

Language

English

Subtitles

English (automatic)

Who can watch

The archive gives no rating. Invisible Network shows it to Tweens profiles and older, judged from its collection and subjects. How films are placed