Posted on 02/22/2012 8:07:14 PM PST by Tweeker
I ask this because since I saw the documentary Ayn Rand & the Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged I can't stop envisioning John Galt whistle Maggie's Farm as he leaves the Twentieth Century Motor Company. In the documentary the following passage is read aloud:
Dr Ferris to Hank Rearden in Atlas Shrugged Chapter III White Blackmail
"The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor even objectively interpreted --and you create a nation of law-breakers-- and then you cash in on guilt. Now, that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
When I heard this I thought to myself - Hey - that is Bob Dylan. Upon returning home I pulled out the script to Bob Dylan's 2003 film Masked & Anonymous. The film depicts an United States that has degenerated into a third world multi-national, multi-ethnic police state ruled by 1 tyrant and then followed by a more despicable bloody tyrant. Throughout the movie there is a radio preacher warning about America and its loss of values. At one point he quotes the above passage. I guess even Bob Dylan knew he could not best Ayn Rand when it comes defending individual liberty.
The radio preacher cries out: The only power the government has is to crack down on criminals. When there aren't enough criminals, you make them. You make so many things a crime that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? You pass laws that can't be observed or enforced or even objectively interpreted. You create a nation of lawbreakers and then you cash in on the guilt. That's the system, that's the game. Once you understand that you’ll sleep a lot easier….
I ain't gonna work on Twentieth Century Motors no more.. works for me.
My connecting Maggie’s Farm to Atlas is just some whimsical license on my part. But It is a great song about working for people who want to control you and sap every bit of life out of you and you getting up and leaving to go to Galt’s Gulch or anywhere else.
Your perception of Dylan is correct and I can’t wait till it gets to be out in the media that Dylan quoted Ayn Rand. They will either bury it or just attack Dylan for using 10 sentences out of an 1162 page manuscript as plagarism. Like they never used a Dylan quote to get a point across.
Has anyone asked Bob Dylan?
Been a Dylan fan for awhile. I’m gonna give Mask & Anonymous a watch. Hadn’t heard about it till now. Thanks.
Get ready for the show.
After viewing Masked & Anonymous - I can send you an interesting review that was published in ISIS magazine on the film - in case your head is spinning. Tis a Dylan movie after all.
With Dylan - you can always ask - not sure you will get a reply.
I was just happy to see a Dylan-Rand connection. Two people that have meant a lot to me over the years.
I loved that video clip. Imagine how startled that lefty reporter was when Bobby told him “I don’t think there are enough guns”. That had to rock his world. I’m sure he was expecting the canned liberal answer. Then asking such a stupid question, where do kids get these toy guns. When Bob answered the toy store, he should have also said, duh!!
Yeah, just watched it. Definitely a Bob Dylan script, hah. :)
The movie’s setting was like a portrait of a dystopian future post-Obama America.
Sure, I’d be glad to see the ISIS review.
After viewing Masked & Anonymous - I can send you an interesting review that was published in ISIS magazine on the film - in case your head is spinning. Tis a Dylan movie after all.
Isn’t “Isis” one of Dylan’s songs?
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