Posted on 01/07/2009 11:39:36 AM PST by This Just In
Next Person Who Asks ‘Who Is John Galt?’ Gets a Smack
Posted by Anthony Sacramone on January 7, 2009
The more appropriate question is, Where is John Galt? And the answer may be “prison.”
I remember my Randian days, late-70s/early 80s, when libertarianism and the virtue of selfishness and the integrity of the individual were high on my list of values. I had read The Fountainhead and, yes, all of Atlas Shrugged, as well as several of Rand’s smaller philosophical works. I found her vision compelling, especially during the late Carter years, when collectivism was not only fashionable on campuses but heralded as the unified field theory of economic and social life by many on the Stupid Left. (I also had little use for religion back then — for any form of authority, for that matter.)
Here we are again, with free markets and deregulation in tatters, at least in the thinking of those who now wield political power. Big Government is not only back but deified. And Republicans have played their fair share in that turn of events. But what goes around, comes around. Big Government will become Big Brother and there will be a revolt, although unclenching the adamantine grip of the bureaucracies from the lives of citizens will take decades.
And then the free-market/entrepreneurial right will go nuts again, and people will be left homeless and jobless, and the wheel will turn another 180, and so on and so on …
I think I will take up Anthony Burgess’ prescient The Wanting Seed once again, what with its Augustinian and Pelagian antinomies.
Bingo!
;>)
Rational self-interest
Good way to put it, I like to say it is the admission that altruism doesn’t exist and the honesty that you take actions for your own benefit, even if you freely choose to help someone else.
Agree with that as well.......women like those two are incredibly rare......
Careful, Wesley Mooch and Tinky Holloway are monitoring this thread and the rough draft of Directive 10-289 is nearing completion.
Add “Anthem” by Ayn Rand as #4 where candles will be considered ‘a revolutionary invention.’
Dittos on that, I had my copy for about a month before my spot on the waiting list came up.
“Who is John Galt” was an internet meme before there was an internet.
‘Who Is John Galt?’
Now, where is my snack?
who who...
That's easy.
You're an owl!
I am Sparticus.
“...Still need to add Hope to my collection.”
And how!
In my mind, “HOPE” is the change WE can believe in.
Ah... the Martyns! need to reread all, it has been too long.
Cheers
That’s exactly what I was saying - thanks! (Except I would have said “puerile” - relax - I know it was just a typo. ;-)
Who is this John Galt?
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