And Atlas continues to shrug

American Thinker ^ | 13 Jan, 2022 | Mark C. Ross

[MtnClimber]

For most of my adult life I’ve been told about Ayn Rand’s famous novel…but had no idea what it was about. It was particularly popular among my Libertarian buddies. So, I finally ordered a copy…and when it came, I had to update the prescription for my reading glasses, because it’s over a thousand pages in nine-point type.

Early on I was able to kind of get a handle on what it was about. There are basically two kinds of people: problem solvers or innovators who are constantly trying to make things work better…and cronies, who have an overwhelming sense of entitlement and who ferociously cling to the status quo.

Not much later, the story began to creep me out. Not because of some quirky aspect of the story…but, due to our current pandemic. I was seeing Rand’s vision of authoritarian cronyism taking place right before my eyes. In the story, first published in 1957, crony bureaucrats assume control of businesses via some kind of vague government policy…and, guess what(?)…shortages of just about everything started happening. We now call these “supply chain” problems. The story mentioned black marketeers that snuck around under the radar in order to fill in some of the gaps.

Rand was born Alisa Rosenbaum in 1905, in St. Petersburg, Russia. When she was twelve, Lenin got off a train in her city…and zealous cronies took over her world. At the age of 21 she came to America. Eventually to become a Hollywood screen writer. By 1957, she was already an established novelist…and, now it seems, that she was also exceptionally prescient. Had I read this book more than two years ago, this may not have occurred to me.

Various concepts are presented in the story. The “Equalization of Opportunity Bill” and “The State Science Institute” are eerily...

[ArtDodger]

As of the 70’s, I recall, it was the 2nd most read book in the USA. Behind only The Bible.

[telescope115]

I’ll have to pick it up.

[kjam22]

The book I think highlights a simple statement in our country’s founding documents that is wrong. The founding document is wrong. “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal”…… that just isn’t true. I agree there is not a royalty as such. God LOVES everyone equally….. but we are not all created equal. Not by any stretch. Atlas Shrugged reminds me of that truth.

[norwaypinesavage]

"In our world there is also a growing sense of desperation among the forces of the Left. They could possibly become ever more dangerous as a result…but they are also running out of ammunition and time."

I tend to agree with this, but I sure hope that's right. IF this is true, the Democrats won't be able to pass the Build Back Broke law, they won't pass the Voters Cheating Laws, and they won't pass any more Catastrophic Climate Change fantasies. We're hanging in here by a thin thread.

That certainly is a big 'if'. The Biden Pelosi and Schumer troika is desperate and will do most anything to retain their power. We have a few months of hanging on the edge ahead of us.

[Sarcazmo]

It’s a long slog. But I did enjoy it, and it definitely has many similarities to today.

[shoff]

At one point it was required reading in high school or college. Can you guess why it no longer is.

[The Louiswu]

From Atlas Shrugged
“There's no way to rule innocent men. 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.”

[Sans-Culotte]

That version pictured is the one I read. I thought the type was very clear and easy to read even though I can only see well out of one eye.

[marktwain]

The book I think highlights a simple statement in our country’s founding documents that is wrong. The founding document is wrong. “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal”…… that just isn’t true.

The Declaration of Independence assumed people knew the principles behind the statement, which was that some men are not born to rule over others, simply by their birth status.

It was calling for equality under the law, as we are equal at birth in God's eyes.

The founders were well aware of the inequality that exists in every society, and cannot be eliminated.

[Sarcazmo]

And “Animal Farm”.

I see a lot of “Squealers” out on the various forums.

Would love to know what’s really going on there and the scope of it.

[AuntB]

I was in highschool. Had a job in an insurance office that was really more education. They gave me Atlas Shrugged, Emerson, so much! Every 16 year old should read Rand.

[eyeamok]

Looters, Moochers and Producers. It was almost a required book to read when I was in school in the 70’s. You can watch all 3 movies on IMDB for free, and they did a pretty good job following the book.

Who is John Galt

[newfreep]

At one point they were issuing orders I did not like (telling me to stay away from my hot girlfriend) and I said (in classic Ayn Rand style): “You chose to have me as your child. I did not choose to have you as my parents.” Ayn Rand is about declaring your independence as a human being—and telling the tyrants to go f&^% off..... They were stunned and speechless.

I gotta ask, what happened next?

I can relate...my hot girlfriend was the petite, blue-eye blonde who lived next door.

We hopped a greyhound and took a "vacation" to Florida. When "johnny law" returned us, we officially became juvenile delinquents with probation officers.

I continued to get straight As and even became the substitute teacher of my high school physics class when the alcoholic teacher wasn't able to stagger into the classroom.

All the while as a juvenile delinquent...

[hecticskeptic]

I have a question...If you were going to an island to relax for a week and you only had room take along Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead, which would you take? I’ve read The Fountainhead (twice) and about 1/3 of Atlas Shrugged... somehow got distracted and never got back to it. What Rand concepts does one learn in Atlas Shrugged that aren’t in The Fountainhead?

[rlmorel]

I think most of us agree (including those of us who are fans of her works) that Ayn Rand has her shortcomings (her atheism, extreme wordiness, etc) but I don't see the issue with her overall message that she tries to convey about human nature.

When you see things coming to light today like the "For The People" act and see the conduct of the NIH, CDC, FDA, and NIAID and compare those to legislation and government organs Rand wrote about such as The 'Equalization of Opportunity Bill", the "Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog Bill" and "The State Science Institute", it is difficult to define her as anything but prescient. She has been nauseatingly spot on. And as time goes on, even more so. Alas, if there were only somewhere like Galt's Gulch...(I guess Texas and Florida are the closest things we have)

I had written a post back in July of 2020 on a Atlas Shrugged thread about the movies and who I would cast in the various parts, and wanted to convey that to someone on a thread the other day LINK TO POST HERE and if you are familiar with the book, look at who I pegged for Dr. Floyd Ferris:

Funny thing was, in July 2020, at that time I had not come all the way around to who Fauci really was (the abject snake he really is) and the fact that I had him cast as the character Dr. Floyd Ferris in Atlas Shrugged, especially what many of us have woken up to about this man.

I recall at the time telling someone there was something about that man (who I knew very little about back then) that rubbed me the wrong way. Something fake. Something deceitful. Something bad. Now we know.

Atlas Shrugged was one of the most influential political books I have read in my life, and I rate it in one of my top books, which my wife painted for me some years ago when she was just learning how to paint and needed a subject to practice on:

It grieves me to see it coming true. Didn't think I would see it in my life.

[jimfr]

it also does not mean that we all have equal abilities or skills. We are of equal value and loved by God.

[Radix]

Equality is regarding ‘Rights.’ Certainly Howard Roark would not be considered as ‘equaled’ by even his peers who actually graduated from his Class. He far outclassed him in virtually every fashion, but that was an intrinsic aspect of his personality.

He was born different from others. That did not mean that he got to vote more or live longer. He was simply more intelligent and more driven.

[The Louiswu]

“ You can watch all 3 movies on IMDB for free, and they did a pretty good job following the book.”

I have to respectfully disagree here. The movies are AWFUL, they were poorly done, low budget bombs. A film of Atlas Shrugged should never be set in modern times, it’s a set piece for the 30’s and 40’s, it would have to be like an HBO game of thrones mini series ten episodes long. The 3 films didn’t do the book any justice.

[The Louiswu]

Between just the two, Fountain head but Rand is not exactly what I’d call vacation reading.

[magyars4]

Great question... following