Martin knew that The Event was coming. The fact was the world just didn't need all those people anymore, and the market had revealed that fact, squeezing them into tinier, more uncomfortable places. He wouldn't tolerate it if he was in their shoes. He'd be the first one to build a guillotine [...]
I like the way this is written in free indirect style from the POV of a character whose political views/morals are the complete opposite of Doctorow's, but who recognises the same facts. basically a right-wing marxist. clever narrative tool!