Veral billion dollars that these companies are worth is spread out over
the nation, not just centered with a few wealthy men. In addition, a
great many shares are held by insurance companies and banks. Literally
millions of people would lose money--just as surely as if it had been
stolen from them--if this device went on the market." Bending frowned.
He hadn't thought of it in exactly that way. "Still," he said
tentatively, "didn't blacksmiths and buggy-whip manufacturers and
horse-breeders lose money after World War I?" "Not to this extent,"
Olcott said, shaking his head. "This is not 1918, Mr. Bending. Sixty
years ago, our economy was based on gold, not, as it is today on
production and manpower, centered in the vast interlocking web of A
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