Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
Youcan’texpectustoditchthemachineryofState.We’vegottopreservethesystem.Butwe’rewillingtoamendit.We’llmodifyitanywayyouwish.We’renotstubborn,theoreticaldogmatists—we’reflexible.We’lldoanythingyousay.We’llgiveyouafreehand.We’llco-operate.We’llcompromise.We’llsplitfifty-fifty.We’llkeepthesphereofpoliticsandgiveyoutotalpoweroverthesphereofeconomics.We’llturntheproduction,ofthecountryovertoyou,we’llmakeyouapresentoftheentireeconomy.You’llrunitanywayyouwish,you’llgivetheorders,you’llissuethedirectives—andyou’llhavetheorganizedpoweroftheStateatyourcommandtoenforceyourdecisions.We’llstandreadytoobeyyou,allofus,frommeondown.Inthefieldofproduction,we’lldowhateveryousay.You’llbe—you’llbetheEconomicDictatorofthenation!"
Galtburstoutlaughing.
ItwasthesimpleamusementofthelaughterthatshockedMr.Thompson."What’sthematterwithyou?"
"Sothat’syourideaofacompromise,isit?"
"What’sthe...?Don’tsittheregrinninglikethat!...Idon’tthinkyouunderstoodme.I’mofferingyouWesleyMouch’sjob—andthere’snothingbiggerthatanyonecouldofferyou!...You’llbefreetodoanythingyouwish.Ifyoudon’tlikecontrols—repealthem.Ifyouwanthigherprofitsandlowerwages—decreethem.Ifyouwantspecialprivilegesforthebigtycoons—grantthem.
