What does it mean?

Here's 2 conclusions I've got.

Rejecting the "looters" - Galt's response suggests that while the meal may seem very costly in terms of the workers' individual worth, it is actually "cheap" because non of the value is lost to the parasitic class-the government and bureaucrats who exploit productive individuals in the outside world.

Rand's Philosophy (Objectivism) - The conversation reflects Rand's belief that a free market, where individuals keep the full value of their work without being forced to support the inefficient system, is superior to a society where wealth is redistributed to those who do not earn it.

#bookstr