Атлант расправил плечи
The Moratorium on Brains
"WhatIactuallyam,Mr.Rearden,isapoliceman.Itisapoliceman’sdutytoprotectmenfromcriminals—criminalsbeingthosewhoseizewealthbyforce.Itisapoliceman’sdutytoretrievestolenpropertyandreturnittoitsowners.Butwhenrobberybecomesthepurposeofthelaw,andthepoliceman’sdutybecomes,nottheprotection,buttheplunderofproperty—thenitisanoutlawwhohastobecomeapoliceman.IhavebeensellingthecargoesIretrievedtosomespecialcustomersofmineinthiscountry,whopaymeingold.Also,Ihavebeensellingmycargoestothesmugglersandtheblack-markettradersofthePeople’sStatesofEurope.DoyouknowtheconditionsofexistenceinthosePeople’sStates?Sinceproductionandtrade—notviolence—weredecreedtobecrimes,thebestmenofEuropehadnochoicebuttobecomecriminals.Theslave-driversofthoseStatesarekeptinpowerbythehandoutsfromtheirfellowlootersincountriesnotyetfullydrained,suchasthiscountry.Idonotletthehandoutsreachthem.IsellthegoodstoEurope’slaw-breakers,atthehighestpricesIcanget,andImakethempaymeingold.Goldistheobjectivevalue,themeansofpreservingone’swealthandone’sfuture.NobodyispermittedtohavegoldinEurope,exceptthewhip-wieldingfriendsofhumanity,whoclaimthattheyspenditforthewelfareoftheirvictims.Thatisthegoldwhichmysmuggler-customersobtaintopayme.
How?BythesamemethodIusetoobtainthegoods.
