FReeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged, The Top and the Bottom

A Publius Essay | 31 January 2009 | Publius

[Iron Munro]

This quote is suspect

It does appear as if the source is undocumented but it is a worthy observation!

Here is some interesting information related to searches for the source:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=389308

As to the length of the quote, here are some very short Franklinisms in Bartleby:

http://www.bartleby.com/100/245.html

[Iron Munro]

The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos.
Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it.
And even if he is not romantic personally he is very apt to spread discontent among those who are. . . .

GREAT!

Thanks for the post.

[Publius]

Brings to mind news reports the other day about "stealth wealth". Wealthy people dressing "down" or sneaking new luxury purchases out of shops on Rodeo Drive in plain unlabeled bags so as not to look ostentatious in a time of recession.

This is a critical observation.

During the Great Depression, those who still had some money left and lived among ordinary Americans observed the same rule. It was unwise to show signs of wealth when your neighbors were scraping just to get by. You'd lose friends that way. People might look the other way if something bad happened to you. It was an era when kidnapping became commonplace.

Look at this as a defense mechanism.

[Publius]

Unfortunatly, I could never get past thinking that Paul Newman would have made a great Hank.

Up until the late 1960's, that might have been a good casting choice. But God (apologies to Rand) help us had they made the movie back then.

[CottonBall]

I may be way off base, but I believed that Rand makes the statement that when one uses logic one can’t use feelings.

I was wondering why Dagne (I know I am missing a letter or two...) has such problems when she starts to feel anything. She and Hank both seem to supress their emotions often (even though we're only in chap 2).

If this is the case throughout the book, it's too bad. It's not that conservatives do not have feelings, but are smart enough to know when to chose to let logic lead their actions. Liberals, however, likely have no logic - at least the ones I know.

[Publius]

In later chapters, you’ll see what happens when people base all their decisions on feelings. The farther into the book you go, the more perverse it becomes.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

“Jim got to the top by winning life’s lottery - he was born into it.”

This reminds me of a snide comment someone (I don’t remember who) made about George W. Bush: “He was born on third base, yet he thinks he hit a triple.” I think this fits Jim Taggart perfectly.

[Canedawg]

“YOU need to give, whilst I sit back and direct how your money should be spent. Sound familiar?”

Paying more taxes is patriotic.- V.P. Plugs

[nufsed]

It was after a state of the union speech, IIRC, that BJ Clinton gave a speech in Buffalo and said "We can't trust the people to spend the money where it needs to be spent."

Maybe someone can post the actual quote.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Yo Boss. We still here. We is contemplatin'.

[CottonBall]

The farther into the book you go, the more perverse it becomes.

Wow, I thought it was pretty bad already. But then, I also thought things were crazy a few years ago politically, and look what we have now.

[MtnClimber]

I am re-reading for the second time. I am reading each chapter and then re-reading slowly. It is amazing how many forshadowing comments Ann uses!

[GeronL]

when we get government medicine, there will be shortages. It will be the same in other industries. The economy is hurting and thier answer is to bankrupt the country through massive spending.

bTW- I would pronounce it moosh

[ExGeeEye]

“Balphie, you’ll boot your bye out!”

/too-early-rising-induced insanity

[ExGeeEye]

Paul Newman as he was in 1986 (when he made The Color of Money with Tom Cruise).

Joseph Cotten, in his prime.

Today? How about Ewan McGregor?

[patj]

The farther into the book you go, the more perverse it becomes.

I'm a little ahead of this chapter, but I am finding the truth in that statement.

While we have the "grasshoppers" pretending to be caring about the "people" and we have the "ants" actually doing something, we are leaving out all those people in the middle. There doesn't seem to be any great clamor from the people for government interference, it only comes from the hangers-on (the group in the bar). Boyle has so many excuses for his worthlessness as does Jim and yet they see themselves as saviors of the world. While reading this I can see Chris Dodd as Boyle and Bill Clinton as Jim. I know Clinton wasn't born into money, yet he doesn't really make hard decisions, he lets someone else do the work and takes the credit.

[hoosier hick]

Orren Boyle started his company with $100 thousand of his own money – plus a $200 million government loan. Contrast this with how Hank Rearden started and what that implies, both in terms of personal character and government policy. This looks familiar. Substitute "Air America" for "Orren Boyle" and "Rush Limbaugh" for "Hank Rearden." Liberals always think you can start at the top. No need to work your way up! The same applies to those that boycott foreign goods because of child labor. While it may be distasteful, we went through that phase. You cannot skip steps. It is a step that must be taken as countries and families rise out of abject poverty. Another example might be low wages paid in other countries. By buying those goods are we rewarding evil or helping to lift up these societies? After all, if higher paying jobs were available, don't you think the workers would change jobs? hh

[hoosier hick]

I forgot to include that Rush spent 18 years creating what he has, and the libs want to either start at the top or have government mandate “equality.” My response to Air America is: get back to me in 18 years and we’ll talk....

hh

[hoosier hick]

Another omission: I always read it as “mooch.”

hh

[WV Mountain Mama]

Well, think of it like this. I’ve seen government housing. I do not want government medicine. Not to mention that half of my husband’s family lives in Canada. We hear the bad stories about waiting lists, protocols, etc all the time.