Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
Inamoralsociety,thesearethecriminals,andthestatutesarewrittentoprotectyouagainstthem.Butwhenasocietyestablishescriminals-by-rightandlooters-by-law—menwhouseforcetoseizethewealthofdisarmedvictims—thenmoneybecomesitscreators’avenger.
Suchlootersbelieveitsafetorobdefenselessmen,oncethey’vepassedalawtodisarmthem.Buttheirlootbecomesthemagnetforotherlooters,whogetitfromthemastheygotit.Thentheracegoes,nottotheablestatproduction,buttothosemostruthlessatbrutality.Whenforceisthestandard,themurdererwinsoverthepickpocket.Andthenthatsocietyvanishes,inaspreadofruinsandslaughter.
"Doyouwishtoknowwhetherthatdayiscoming?Watchmoney.
Moneyisthebarometerofasociety’svirtue.Whenyouseethattradingisdone,notbyconsent,butbycompulsion—whenyouseethatinordertoproduce,youneedtoobtainpermissionfrommenwhoproducenothing—whenyouseethatmoneyisflowingtothosewhodeal,notingoods,butinfavors—whenyouseethatmengetricherbygraftandbypullthanbywork,andyourlawsdon’tprotectyouagainstthem,butprotectthemagainstyou—whenyouseecorruptionbeingrewardedandhonestybecomingaself-sacrifice—youmayknowthatyoursocietyisdoomed.Moneyissonobleamediumthatitdoesnotcompetewithgunsanditdoesnotmaketermswithbrutality.
Itwillnotpermitacountrytosurviveashalf-property,half-loot.
