This comes close to one of the sub-themes and a key underlying thread in the book. Reflect that Ayn Rand nearly died of starvation in what has previously been a bread basket of the new Soviet Union. Ayn Rand, for all her faults, hated communism and hated Marxism. Therefore, this comment can be tied into her disgust for all things Communist.
No one needs a justification to own anything. I own what I own by the sweat of my brow, not because I plan on using it for the good of anyone. This insiduously creeping Socialism spreads its first tendrils here - with everyone at the table nodding in agreement - why? Because no one at this table is proud of their work. They have no belief in themselves and obviously need the affirmation of others to have 'permission' to own wealth.
However.....and this is where things get tricky and come to today..... it is for thee and not for me! YOU must give, I should not be expected to lose anything - but YOU, YOU are greedy, and vile, and a hoarder, so YOU need to give, whilst I sit back and direct how your money should be spent. Sound familiar? Yeah, you know it does!
Excellent! And how did Orren Boyle build his empire? And Jim get to the top? Let's connect that to rent seeking.
I own what I own by the sweat of my brow, not because I plan on using it for the good of anyone
And, I was born with nothing - and I still have most of it left
I may be way off base, but I believed that Rand makes the statement that when one uses logic one can’t use feelings. That’s why I thought she makes the heroes characterized as unfeeling or “ruthless” and the jagoffs so into the feelings and guilt. It just seems illogical that people could continually tick off the producers for the sake of the looters and not expect them to take their businesses and go home, eventually. When doing business and making decisions, the feelings should not be the determining factor.
It is impossible to make everyone happy, but in business you can do what is right for the company. Buying a new machine may replace a couple of guys, but it could also make it more efficient so that the business could take on more work which could pay different benefits, give raises or buy more machines which could lead to more hires.
Totally off topic, I read that Atlas Shrugged was the only great novel that wasn’t made into a movie. As I read it again, I was wondering who could play the characters. John Lithgow was who I pictured as Jim Taggert. Unfortunatly, I could never get past thinking that Paul Newman would have made a great Hank.
“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
“Ayn Rand, for all her faults, hated communism and hated Marxism”
And because of her life experience, and obvious trauma from that - I can forgive her the faults.
For me, her faults do not detract from her brilliantly keen eye to the liberal/socialist message, and it’s futility.