They could "buy and sell" the "plutocrats" of another
day and another world.
The theory that one good turn deserves another was an insufficient
foundation upon which to construct a substantial system of exchange.
It is all very well to talk about brotherly love, said Percival. The
trouble is that certain brothers are for ever imposing upon other
brothers, and the good turn does not always find its recompense.
Socialism, he argued, is a fine thing until you discover that you
are not alone in the world. Brotherly love began with Cain and Abel,
and socialism is best exemplified by a parlour aquarium. Nothing
happens to disturb the serene existence of the goldfish until somebody
forgets to feed them, and then they begin nibbling at each other.
"You mend my fence, I'll mend yours," is an ideal arrangement until
you find it is "our fence" and doesn't need mending.
To Landover, Block and other financial experts was delegated the
power and authority to perfect a fair, impartial monetary system.
First of all, they arbitrarily declared the dollar, the peso and
the shilling to be without value. "Time" script was to be issued
by the governing board, and as this substitute would automatically
become useless on the day the castaways, were discovered and taken
off the island, no citizen was to be allowed to reduce or dissipate
his hoard of real money.
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