Page:World Without Men (HT osu.32435053364535).pdf/41

"But supposing a citizen is unproductive and opposed to service."

"The same rules apply, Aubry. Antisocial types have the same tax assessment as normal citizens, but they suffer in a number of obvious ways. In the first place the salary they are permitted to draw from the State depends entirely upon their service or productivity factor. Those who work hard can draw more money so that they enjoy a higher standard of living. The shirkers draw less, and their standard of living is obviously lower.

"I see. It's a sort of self-balancing arrangement. But I still can't understand how the tax operates."

Valinia stroked her legs idly. "It's quite simple, Aubry. Everyone has an assessment. If they fail to produce or serve to the value of the assessment then they are in debt to the State. The figures are computed by electronic brains for every individual. If I were idle, for example, the State might assume that I was unproductive to the extent of, say, twenty thousand dollars."

Aubretia tried to understand, but the concept eluded her probing mind. "How could you possibly repay that amount?" she asked.

"By working harder."

"But suppose you didn't want to work harder; suppose you preferred to exist as a parasite."

"In that case the State would readjust the only other variable in order to balance the mortic revenue assessment. Life itself."

Aubretia stared at her friend a little aghast, not fully understanding.

"You mean that the State would destroy the nonproductive individuals?"

"Not the State, darling, the Department of Mortic Revenue. Every individual must fulfill her mortic assessment on a pro rata basis. The productive types live long and draw high