"That's ridiculous. I've never heard such nonsense." The young idiot, he thought, anyone with sense knew that to be true, but no one made a fuss about it for fear of upsetting a system that worked so well.
It was an accepted fact of life, certainly preferable to actual war, and never mentioned in polite society.
Stringer continued, speaking slowly, as if explaining to a very small child. He clasped his long fingers over his left knee hugging it almost to his chest, and rocked himself slightly. "Don't you see? If there was a real war millions of consumers would be taken out of the market for the duration, and many permanently. But this way governments can spend as much as they need to on war goods, to balance the economy, without disturbing the consumers at all.
"The politicians love it, too. It supplies them with political issues, not easily come by these days," Stringer concluded. He seemed pleased with himself.
J.L.'s glass was again empty. He rose to fill it saying, "That is a very interesting theory. Have you told it to many people?"
Stringer did not answer.
J.L. turned to see what had caused this sudden reticence. The young man sat with wide-eyed stare and loosely hanging jaw; obviously incapable of speech.
Glory had made her strategic entrance.
"Ah, there you are, Dear," J.L. said. "Mr. Stringer, here, has just been explaining international politics to me."
"Doesn't he have a fine mind, Daddy?" she said, catching the young man's hand and favoring him with a smile that set his adam's apple to dancing.