The Congressman then replied, "First, from what I have observed of your ways of life, it looks to me as if you Martians live a regimented existence; we earth people have liberty, and are free. I want to be frank with you. I am somewhat confused. Do you use no money at all on your planet? How do you measure value and what medium of exchange have you? That same butler, or your cook, how does he measure the value of his labor and service? And how do you measure it and what do you give them in exchange? You Martians must have some medium of exchange to give your people, a strong incentive to do good, honest work and service, to excel, to improve, to research, and to invent so that they can benefit and better their conditions of life.
"They must need enough money to insure their future independence and to protect them and their families in their old age. With what do you purchase necessities and luxuries? We on Earth get the intensive desire to earn, and accumulate money or capital. This desire is a strong driving power which incites us to do good work or service, to invent new and necessary improvements, and to make scientific discoveries. We do all this for gain and profit in moneys and capital, which we save, invest on interest, in property, or in other profitable or risky enterprises, and even speculate with on the future development or increase in value of our investment. We even gamble on chances to win. Most of us try to gain honestly and legitimately, but a great many of us attain gains otherwise. We are like squirrels with their animal instinct for putting away for a rainy day.
"I am also curious to know, what kind of a life system you people had in the remote past, and by what process was it developed to its present standard?"
Sun-Rank Banard answered, "After I get through giving, and showing you an account of our life now, I will answer your last question. Let's look at this question of money first. The squirrels and other animals have the right instinct, and we here have copied them. They, in time of plenty, reserve and store away food. But this is food necessary for their body consumption, not gold, silver, copper, or paper money for which they have no use. They cannot eat or cover themselves with it. Neither do they defy the laws of nature, like the few of you on Earth, who control and monopolize your natural resources and productions to the exclusion of the rest of you.
"Not all people on earth get benefits from hard work. Not always does the inventor gain from his invention. Many of those that have reached affluence, got there through inheritance, influence, politics, or dishonesty. Their ambition seems to be to acquire wealth with which to exploit and enslave their fellow men, by selfishly planning and controlling, in rigid forced patterns, your managed economy.
"Humanity, and even certain animals on our planet, and on your earth have more or less a development of emotional urges to surpass, outdo, and excel each other.
"On your earth a great many of you use these impulses, and sagacity to gamble on your money chances to win it away by fair or foul means from each other. Whereas on Mars this impelling instinct is spent in athletic games, studies, employment, endeavors, creative faculty, inventions and researches solely for our mutual benefits.
"But that is not answering your question. You will be surprised at the intensive driving force and zeal our citizens have for work which will improve living for all of us. They are our guiding principles and spirits.
"Our people respect themselves and respect others. Our workers feel they are part and have a share of something big. They are filled with the idea of making their part of this planet the most progressive anywhere. Each person depends on the best efforts of the other fellow in order to do the best himself.
"Our chief altruistic desires are for achievements and conveniences, to serve, to create universal justice and equality, to better the lives of all our humanity on Mars and to make their lives happier, contented, and more independent.