human
And as for our compulsory education --he snapped his fingers contemptuously--
gpt
Maybe you're right, conceded Reblong.
human
As for myself, I don't care a rap what the commission's reasons were. I'm satisfied!
gpt
Satisfied! Just because you're guaranteed your dollar an hour, and your pension at sixty! Satisfied, when half the company's profits go to the owners, not one of whom ever did a bit of work in his life! A bunch of people who do nothing but blow in the money we earn, and spend more in a day than we do in a month!
human
They're welcome, commented Reblong with much indifference.
gpt
If I got all that you have told me is coming to me, I'd probably ruin myself with high living anyhow.
human
You don't mean to say that you've swallowed that old piffle!
gpt
I don't see any piffle about it. As I look at the matter, the owners are doing us a genuine favor. Not only do they take the burden of our surplus earnings off our shoulders, but they run our government for us without charge.
human
Well, I'll be utterly damned! The other fellow looked as though the words were not half strong enough.
gpt
I never thought a full-grown man could continue to believe the stuff we were taught when we were kids! Don't you ever think for yourself, Reblong? Why, look here!
human
The commission, instead of assuring us that increased wages would be our ruin, could just as well be educating us to spend wisely! Just as well, Reblong! And as for child labor--man, children ought to be kept out of industry until they're twenty, instead of sixteen! Every last one of us ought to be given a college education, instead of merely the children of the rich! And all this could be done, too. There's no earthly reason why we should permit that bunch of parasites in Hafen to graft off us any longer! Put 'em to work, like you and me, and make life easier for us all!
gpt
But, objected Reblong, a little upset,
human
But their servants could. Do you know that there's ten servants, on an average, to every family of the rich? Servants who do nothing but make life still easier for people who already hog it all!
gpt
Well, suppose they did all go to work; who would run our government for us, my friend?
human
Who! Why--if we can do the work, I guess we can certainly do the governing, Reblong.
gpt
It doesn't look right to me, old man. I'd rather let things stand as they are, so far as I'm concerned.