Атлант расправил плечи
Miracle metal
Youdon’thavetoworryabouttheintellectuals,Wesley.JustputafewofthemonthegovernmentpayrollandsendthemouttopreachpreciselythesortofthingMr.Kinnanmentioned:thattheblamerestsonthevictims.Givethemmoderatelycomfortablesalariesandextremelyloudtitles—andthey’llforgettheircopyrightsanddoabetterjobforyouthanwholesquadsofenforcementofficers."
"Yes,"saidMouch."Iknow."
"ThedangerthatI’mworriedaboutwillcomefromadifferentquarter,"saidDr.Ferristhoughtfully."Youmightrunintoquiteabitoftroubleonthat‘voluntaryGiftCertificate’business,Wesley."
"Iknow,"saidMouchglumly."That’sthepointIwantedThompsontohelpusouton.ButIguesshecan’t.Wedon’tactuallyhavethelegalpowertoseizethepatents.Oh,there’splentyofclausesindozensoflawsthatcanbestretchedtocoverit—almost,butnotquite.Anytycoonwho’dwanttomakeatestcasewouldhaveaverygoodchancetobeatus.Andwehavetopreserveasemblanceoflegality—orthepopulacewon’ttakeit."
"Precisely,"saidDr.Ferris."It’sextremelyimportanttogetthosepatentsturnedovertousvoluntarily.Evenifwehadalawpermittingoutrightnationalization,itwouldbemuchbettertogetthemasagift.Wewanttoleavetopeopletheillusionthatthey’restillpreservingtheirprivatepropertyrights.Andmostofthemwillplayalong.They’llsigntheGiftCertificates.
