Society has through taxation already done something in the way of equalizing distribution. The poorest child in New York has as many privileges in the city parks as has the largest taxpayer. Nor are distinctions made in the matter of schools, of police protection, of fire protection, of sanitary regulations, or of garbage collection. Such public activities as these, which are supported by public taxation, relieve the lower income groups of a heavy burden, thereby securing for them indirectly a larger portion of the social income than they would otherwise get. Still another method of lessening inequalities in distribution by taxation is shown by the inheritance, excess-profit, and income taxes. In each case, those who have much are compelled by force of law to give, indirectly to be sure, to those who have little.

The socialists, about whom we shall have more to say farther on, propose that the state itself assume all the functions of the capitalist and the enterpriser, thereby securing for the workers the entire amount of interest and profits that now goes to these two classes. For that reason socialism is a distributive problem. It is significant to note in this connection that many of the enterprises recently undertaken by the government, such as the construction of irrigation dams and ditches, are, despite the opposition that has developed against anything socialistic advocated by socialists.