Atlas Shrugged [346]
"Point Five. Every establishment, concern, corporation or person engaged in production of any nature whatsoever shall henceforth produce the same amount of goods per year as it, they or he produced during the Basic Year, no more and no less. The year to be known as the Basic or Yardstick Year is to be the year ending on the date of this directive. Over or under production shall be fined, such fines to be determined by the Unification Board.
"Point Six. Every person of any age, sex, class or income, shall henceforth spend the same amount of money on the purchase of goods per year as he or she spent during the Basic Year, no more and no less.
Over or under purchasing shall be fined, such fines to be determined by the Unification Board.
"Point Seven. All wages, prices, salaries, dividends, profits, interest rates and forms of income of any nature whatsoever, shall be frozen at their present figures, as of the date of this directive.
"Point Eight. All cases arising from and rules not specifically provided for in this directive, shall be settled and determined by the Unification Board, whose decisions will be final."
There was, even within the four men who had listened, a remnant of human dignity, which made them sit still and feel sick for the length of one minute.
James Taggart spoke first. His voice was low, but it had the trembling intensity of an involuntary scream: "Well, why not? Why should they have it, if we don't? Why should they stand above us? If we are to perish, let's make sure that we all perish together. Let's make sure that we leave them no chance to survive!"
"That's a damn funny thing to say about a very practical plan that will benefit everybody," said Orren Boyle shrilly, looking at Taggart in frightened astonishment.
Dr. Ferris chuckled.
Taggart's eyes seemed to focus, and he said, his voice louder, "Yes, of course. It's a very practical plan. It's necessary, practical and just.
It will solve everybody's problems. It will give everybody a chance to feel safe. A chance to rest."
"It will give security to the people," said Eugene Lawson, his mouth slithering into a smile. "Security-that's what the people want. If they want it, why shouldn't they have it? Just because a handful of rich will object?"
"It's not the rich who'll object," said Dr. Ferris lazily. "The rich drool for security more than any other sort of animal-haven't you discovered that yet?"
"Well, who'll object?" snapped Lawson.
Dr. Ferris smiled pointedly, and did not answer.
Lawson looked away. "To hell with them! Why should we worry about them? We've got to run the world for the sake of the little people. It's intelligence that's caused all the troubles of humanity. Man's mind is the root of all evil. This is the day of the heart. It's the weak, the meek, the sick and the humble that must be the only objects of our concern," His lower Up was twisting in soft, lecherous motions.
"Those who're big are here to serve those who aren't. If they refuse to do their moral duty, we've got to force them. There once was an Age of Reason, but we've progressed beyond it. This is the Age of Love."
"Shut up!" screamed James Taggart.
They all stared at him. "For Christ's sake, Jim, what's the matter?"
said Orren Boyle, shaking.
"Nothing," said Taggart, "nothing . . . Wesley, keep him still, will you?"
Mouch said uncomfortably, "But I fail to see-"
"Just keep him still. We don't have to listen to him, do we?"
"Why, no, but-"
"Then let's go on."
"What is this?" demanded Lawson, "I resent it. I most emphatically-" But he saw no support in the faces around him and stopped, his mouth sagging into an expression of pouting hatred.
"Let's go on," said Taggart feverishly.
"What's the matter with you?" asked Orren Boyle, trying not to know what was the matter with himself and why he felt frightened.
"Genius is a superstition, Jim," said Dr. Ferris slowly, with an odd kind of emphasis,