The Unified Power of the Public

Whenever a new economic investment is becoming a reality, no matter how much evidence stands to prove its success, there will always be the strength of the public opinion against it. All it takes is one editor from the news paper to publish a negative article about the investment, such as the John Galt line and its bridge made out of Rearden Metal, or a common citizen spreading the word that he des not trust the investment that the entire society now goes against it without a real reason for it.

            The interviews from Orren Boyle and the chief metallurgist serve as examples of the public who do not believe on the John Galt line, and due to the interview, have inadvertently made other people not believe on it either, without real reason to follow their footsteps. Bertram Scudder is another one that does not support the line, and by her interviews, she makes society not support it either. Most importantly, it is the details presented within the interviews that appeal to the public that make them go along with their beliefs. The interview with the chief metallurgist for example, touches upon the topic of children, “I wouldn’t let my children ride on the first train over the Rearden Metal Bridge”. That quote will make most listeners of that interview who have children skeptical about the bridge and refuse to ride on it until further credible evidence has shown otherwise.  

            The “collective mind” as Claude Slagenhop mentions, is powerful entity in the world. No matter how powerful an enterprise is, the public and its collective mind will always have the upper hand. Once the public does not trust your business, you will have to fight hard to revert their decision. However, once the public trusts your business, you should be content. I expect Dagny and Rearden to be content by the end of the book.