FReeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged, The Chain

A Publius Essay | 24 January 2009 | Publius

[CottonBall]

From the incident with the trainman whistling the concerto, it is obvious that the people who know about Galt’s Gulch are still out in the world. They must be the source of “Who is John Galt?” However, it has always puzzled me that this particular meme is ubiquitous in the society and is a synonym for “Who knows” or “What's the use.” Perhaps it is just a tortured device Rand is using to establish the unifying theme and pique interest in Galt. As far as we know in the universe of the novel, Galt is unknown and his resistance is still underground. How would his name come to be a common expression? The only answer I can come to is that the members of the Gulch who are still in the world have been spreading the expression. There is fertile ground for cynicism and irony in a failing society where some can still sense that the problems are all manufactured. There is an obvious resonance of the phrase among even the most depressed.

good questions -- I was wondering myself. But I do know that I want at least a bumper sticker and a T-shirt.

[CottonBall]

(The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)

excellent tagline, by the way. And I think we are there already. ;(

[CottonBall]

The heros seem to be described more a statues, tall, cold, with out visible emotion. Hank's happiness is not visible to anyone else, though that could just be because they are s wrapped up in themselves.

I wonder if this will be recurring. Dagney talked a lot about not bothering to have feelings or pushing them aside. I wonder what the point of this will be?

[GeronL]

I’ve had the flu for the past few days. Haven’t been online. This reminds me that the left hates those who are succesful. So a Girls Basketball team beats another team 100-0. You don’t condemn the winners, their league had no mercy rule, they were only playing by the rules that were set up.

Its the same in everything. The successful are scorned. They often attacked Bill Gates and he’s one of them, just successful in business.

They want failure. They want to subsidize failure, like with the never-ending bailouts.

[Indy Pendance]

Please add me to you ping list. I just re-read Atlas a couple months ago. It’s ‘creepy’ how accurate a 60 year old story is relative to present day. I’ll finish reading the thread, and make any comments as appro......

Thanks, Indy

[Indy Pendance]

If your ping list is getting to big, perhaps halve it and do two pings.

[Indy Pendance]

I have had the bumper sticker "Who is John Galt" on my SUV for a LONG time. On a positive note, not many know what it's about, and the risk of being keyed is slim. As compared to my McCain/Palin bumper sticker, with, of course, McCain cut out.

[Indy Pendance]

Hence the encroaching ‘royalty’ mentality emerging in America today.

[Indy Pendance]

Johngaltgifts.com

[Indy Pendance]

I tried the federalist papers years ago here, it was a big dud. We all are here because we understand conservatism, and didn't need to discuss it in depth.

With the success of this thread, how about "Rules for Radicals"? We need to know the enemy, and digging into their playbook might be wildly successful.

[Indy Pendance]

Read your profile, what do/did you play? I’m a retired cellist.

[TASMANIANRED]

Definitely the truth..

Some of them think they are in the house of Lords.

[Indy Pendance]

Did you hear, they're trying to make Mrs. Obama into the next Princess Diana.

[Indy Pendance]

OOPS, Try this.

[NJJ]

>There are plenty of children of the motivated and successful who could not be less interested in emulating their parents or grandparents...

I recall hearing somewhere that children of great people rarely achieve similar greatness, however, grandchildren are more likely to carry over those traits. I've wondered if the children are too close to the original and subject to comparisons that are intimidating.

[Tired of Taxes]

has anyone else noticed that all the Heros are lean, angular, tall and fit and all the Looters are soft, fat and slouch?

Yes, and I also noticed Rand has a penchant for characters with blue or bluish eyes, especially blue-eyed blonds... Not that there's anything wrong with blue eyes. (I have 'em.) But, so many characters in her story have them. I find myself thinking, You know, brown eyes are interesting, too, Ayn...

[MtnClimber]

Mrs Obama looks like an angry militant to me.

[Indy Pendance]

She is an angry militant, ‘first time I’m proud of my country’ says it all.

[WV Mountain Mama]

I just finished this book. I read it in college and thought I would dust it off. I loved it, again.

[EBH]

Would you add me to your ping list?

Thanks!