Posted on 01/09/2009 8:33:57 AM PST by reaganaut1
[T]he moral of ["Atlas Shrugged"] is simply this: Politicians invariably respond to crises -- that in most cases they themselves created -- by spawning new government programs, laws and regulations. These, in turn, generate more havoc and poverty, which inspires the politicians to create more programs . . . and the downward spiral repeats itself until the productive sectors of the economy collapse under the collective weight of taxes and other burdens imposed in the name of fairness, equality and do-goodism.
In the book, these relentless wealth redistributionists and their programs are disparaged as "the looters and their laws." Every new act of government futility and stupidity carries with it a benevolent-sounding title. These include the "Anti-Greed Act" to redistribute income (sounds like Charlie Rangel's promises soak-the-rich tax bill) and the "Equalization of Opportunity Act" to prevent people from starting more than one business (to give other people a chance). My personal favorite, the "Anti Dog-Eat-Dog Act," aims to restrict cut-throat competition between firms and thus slow the wave of business bankruptcies. Why didn't Hank Paulson think of that?
These acts and edicts sound farcical, yes, but no more so than the actual events in Washington, circa 2008. We already have been served up the $700 billion "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act" and the "Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act." Now that Barack Obama is in town, he will soon sign into law with great urgency the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." This latest Hail Mary pass will increase the federal budget (which has already expanded by $1.5 trillion in eight years under George Bush) by an additional $1 trillion -- in roughly his first 100 days in office.
The current economic strategy is right out of "Atlas Shrugged": The more incompetent you are in business, the more handouts [you get].
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I’ve had Atlas Shrugged on my bookshelf for several years now, and I still haven’t gotten around to reading it. But, I first read about Ayn Rand probably 25 years ago (wow, am I feeling old now) in an economics class, and I’ve listened to her interviews. In a post somewhere above, she’s quoted as saying the LP plagiarized her ideas, but limited government and free market capitalism weren’t exactly original ideas. I don’t see how her philosophy on the proper role of government differs much from, say, John Locke’s, for example.
If you have started the AS book club then please add me to the ping list. If not, git R dunn!
;-)
That poem is awesome. Thanks for posting it.
I recently mentioned to a friend that, if you pull in all the unfunded liabilities, the national debt under the current bail-outs HAS to be in the neighborhood of 30 trillion or more.
Just read a piece by, of all things, the Federal Reserve Bank (beneficiary of the current collapsing fiat paper “money” scam) saying that THEIR estimate of that debt is 66 trillion, multiples of the current annual gross domestic product of the United States.
The late Senator Everett Dirksen was fond of saying “A million here, a million there and pretty soon you’re talking about REAL money.”
Everett would be VERY impressed with the economic illiterates and clowns currently infesting Washington.
...
>>>Could Bernie Madoff, via his scandal, have unwittingly created the same effect (catastrophic losses to the evil and guilty) as Francisco D’Anconia created quite intentionally?
LOL! I wondered the same thing! And did you notice we’ve got pirates at work? Maybe they’re working for Ragnar Danneskjold!
Would love to continue discussing if someone can set it up. I’m just at the part where Dagny finds where everyone has been going.
“In short: libertarianism is the fastest road to atheist fascism.”
What a ridiculous statement.
Where have your conservatives gotten us? Where are the great self-proclaimed defenders of our constitution?
There at Obama’s Inausiation Party apologizing for being half-assed conservatives - let alone die-hard constitutionalists.
You obviously didn’t read Ayn Rand, or suffer comprehension problems, because she never overlooked its “shortcomings”.
As far as I’m concerned what you call “conservative” is indeed one of those American “shortcomings”.
Conservatives argue alongside Democrats.
They argue and whine seeking the same socialistic platform. But just like the Democrats they think they can “manage” this socialism-lite — it cannot be managed — you are witnessing this right now.
Conservatives and Democrats differ by degree ONLY.
The dumbed-down populace gets to choose between who offers the most “free” stuff.
“..the right-wing variant of communism...”
Ignorance is the root of all evil. No wonder our country is falling apart.
I’m beginning to think a tax revolt is the only way to stop the insanity.
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