Current Social and Economic Issues
GA 332b — 28 December 1920, Dornach
Orientation Lecture on Threefolding and “Futurum” Propaganda II
For the threefold order, one must first create understanding, which is only possible by introducing people to the threefold order in a concise way. In some places, an understanding of an independent economic life separate from the state is beginning to emerge; however, people are still afraid of an independent spiritual life and it must be made clear to them that one cannot exist without the other. For example, you cannot educate practical people in state schools, you can only educate civil servants there. Preparatory schools for practical life (commercial schools, technical schools, etc.) only make sense if you have teachers there who only teach there for a while and then go out into practical life again, to be replaced by other practitioners. So there must be a constant exchange. Today, the calamity has broken out primarily in the economic sphere, and the sore point is that for about 150 years people have got into the habit of thinking only about economic life. Those who will now be working for “Futurum AG” are concerned with simply discussing the things that are contained in the key issues. If you look at the parliamentary reports, there is a lot of talk in the individual states about the introduction of the gold standard. A great deal of clever and ingenious thinking has been done for the introduction of the gold standard. In all these speeches in favor of the gold standard, there is one common thread: all the speakers were of the opinion that free trade would be significantly promoted by the introduction of the gold standard. The opposite was then the case later on. Those who spoke in favor of the introduction of the gold standard were all so-called practitioners, but in reality they were not involved in practical life at all. We have increasingly withdrawn from economic life. Once economic life is independent, national borders do not hinder anything. There were economic experts at Versailles, but their voice was not important because they had nothing to say.
Hans Haas asks how people will satisfy their greed for profit in the new economic life.
Rudolf Steiner: It is already very often the case that people only want money in order to have power. It is therefore important to make it clear to them that - if they have economic insight - none of their power escapes them. The only difficulty is that people collect money for their children and do not want this money to go to others. It must be made clear to them that the money will certainly be completely taxed away over the next ten years.
In Rudolf Steiner's view, the question Hans Haas has posed
At the Goetheanum, the threefold social order is fully implemented except in the legal sphere, which is of course missing. In the construction industry, everything that can be achieved has been achieved, if only we could still manage to get the workers to leave the trade unions. The aim must be to get people out of the trade unions, although this must be approached very carefully.
v Arnold Ith asks whether it could also be said in answer to this question that in the threefold social organism, people's selfishness is also restrained by the fact that everyone controls and is controlled by everyone else.
Rudolf Steiner replies that this can certainly be said; he notes that, for example, one should not get too involved in ethical questions during discussions. It is not about promising people a paradise, but making it clear to them that everything can only continue with the help of threefolding. Rudolf Steiner says that everything you need to know about how to propagate the threefold social order is contained in the key points. The hardest part is teaching today's proletarians these things.
In response to a question from Ernst Gimmi as to whether it would be beneficial to propagate among the proletarians today, Rudolf Steiner replies,
that everything is arranged for everyone. It is very important for 'Futurum AG' to make it clear to industrialists that they now have to communicate with the proletarians. What people are experiencing today in terms of social issues and Bolshevism stems simply from the fact that people have been disregarded everywhere; there is no longer any trust anywhere.
Question from Eduard Wirz: Which circles should be approached primarily for the issue?
Rudolf Steiner replies that now, those who have been recommended should be used more to reach others in Switzerland. In Holland, it will be necessary to initially approach people who can further pave the way; Mr. de Haan, in particular, comes into consideration here. In England, it is a matter of initially approaching Mr. Kaufmann for certain circles, and for other circles one must work with the help of certain members - Drury-Lavin, Collison. It is important that one speaks only for “Futurum AG” and does not say anything more about the Goetheanum - this applies to all gentlemen present, except Mr. Gimmi. The brochure is the main tool for propaganda. You will approach people with the brochure by explaining to them: It is important that you not only receive large sums of money, but also small ones.
Arnold Ith asks whether Rudolf Steiner thinks it is a good idea to work in only two or three countries for the time being, to which Rudolf Steiner replies,
that only five countries can be considered.
Arnold Ith says that the gentleman going to England might as well spend eight days in Paris.
Rudolf Steiner also believes that it might be possible to make preparations in Paris.
Ernst Schaller wonders what would happen if an Englishman came here and was worked with for about a fortnight, and then travelled back to England with one of the gentlemen present to work there. Eduard Wirz asks whether this could then be extended if each country were organized within itself. It is replied that this is already the case, to the extent that it is necessary, in that the threefolding groups and anthroposophical groups are there.
Rudolf Steiner remarks that Futurum AG should not be decentralized too much; it would be quite wrong to found anything other than at most branches abroad.
Eduard Wirz notes that the new issue of other companies is always very well organized, and that the question now is how best to carry out the issue of “Futurum AG”.
Rudolf Steiner says that we have to expect that the banks will not accommodate us. But we also have to organize the prospectus. One could find the most incredible ways to do this. Rudolf Steiner says that, for example, someone can be found in all Swiss cities who could do something for the prospectus.
Arnold Ith believes that the gentlemen present must be the main driving force, and that they must motivate people to take action.
Rudolf Steiner believes that the threefolding office is the basis for “Futurum AG”; for example, all the address material is stored there.
Arnold Ith asks whether the gentlemen present would be best distributed among the different countries.
Rudolf Steiner replies that this would depend on the wishes of the gentlemen concerned, but that Switzerland, England, Holland and America are important for the time being.
Ernst Gimmi notes that Mr. Dürler in St. Gallen could possibly be considered.
Rudolf Steiner says that initially all attention must be focused on the issue.
Eduard Wirz remarks that he would have liked to take on England personally, but believes that he is not yet sufficiently established there and will not be able to familiarize himself quickly enough because he has no connections there.
Rudolf Steiner thinks that Mr. Gimmi is definitely a candidate for England, but he still needs a companion. He notes that he does think something can be done in England, and that it would have gone better in August and September, but it also needs to be done now.