Posted on 03/05/2009 10:11:35 AM PST by jessduntno
"Francisco's Money Speech" by Ayn Rand (August 30, 2002)
"So you think that money is the root of all evil?" said Francisco d'Anconia. "Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?
"When you accept money in payment for your effort, you do so only on the conviction that you will exchange it for the product of the effort of others. It is not the moochers or the looters who give value to money. Not an ocean of tears not all the guns in the world can transform those pieces of paper in your wallet into the bread you will need to survive tomorrow. Those pieces of paper, which should have been gold, are a token of honor--your claim upon the energy of the men who produce. Your wallet is your statement of hope that somewhere in the world around you there are men who will not default on that moral principle which is the root of money, Is this what you consider evil?
"Have you ever looked for the root of production? Take a look at an electric generator and dare tell yourself that it was created by the muscular effort of unthinking brutes.
Money is...money, just a tool an instrument to get things done in a consistent and efficient manner.
Just like the nut-bags on the left enshrine Diversity as the solution to all of our problems, so does Rand go a little nutty with the "money is the root of all good" line.
I don't expect Rand the Objectivist to know or care about the Bible and as for "moral?" Please...Libertarians and Objectivists are amoral at best.
All the being said, I like money a lot. I could use more if it.
I know that statement will generate ire, so let me give an example. You own an apartment and your renter is a day late. You contact them and say, "Your late, Get out!" He says, "I can pay tommorrow". Do you throw them out and wait for another renter, or wait to see if they pay"? There has to be some rational mercy to make capitalism work, otherwise it will be overthrown by another system, socialism. You may have the right to enforce the contract, but is that the best business sense? I think Jesus makes us slower to anger and more reasonable beings. Ayn Rand makes us into cold robotic type beings with no compassion.
Her principles are explained in he writings and show an "in your face" type of capitalism that is needed for some to understand the differences from other systems. Many today think food stamps and welfare programs are part of the capitalist system. Others seem to think Jesus would want this. Jesus taught that the CHURCH was responsible for the poor, not government. Telling someone where the welfare office is, is not what Jesus was looking for. Jesus didn't teach this and Ayn Rand certainly didn't teach this. Lennin, Stalin, and Mao, did, however.
Within a secular context, one generally must choose bewtween seeing Collectivism as the best path, or Individualism as the best path. Rand makes a strong case for the morality of respect for Individuals and the work that they accomplish.
The religious context is the best context of all -- but for those millions of people who have a secular worldview, Rand makes a worthwhile guide.
“There has to be some rational mercy to make capitalism work.”
No, there doesn’t. Capitalism is self-correcting, with or without mercy.
Christianity is the reason why socialism cannot die in the West; it gives the people the false impression that self-abnegation, particularly self-sacrifice, is noble in itself.
Can't argue with that.
I agree, collectivism is poison. Rand's world is preferable. The problem is nobody lives in a world without moral rules or guidance, well not for very long.
I saw a movie last evening:”The Passion of Ayn Rand”.
Made her look like cheating wife except her husband approved.
Kinda put the damper on my love for AS.
Actually she was fairly nutty in her personal life but compared to most politicians she was a saint.
Asking 10 people if they have heard the money is the root of all evil quote would quickly reveal that the person neither is religious, nor well versed in the Bible. Much like the characters this speech is directed at. Rand is starting at the base of where her readers most likely are. She is not starting at where she is, nor most Freepers for that matter.
Keeping in mind this is a story about producers and looters. Producers who see money as a tool to get what they need to be and remain productive vs. the looters who view people like Reardon, Fransciso, and Dagney as evil money rich people.
Oddly it is the looters whose envy, jealousy, greed have created this world of Atlas Shrugged. Yet it is their class envy etc., the oil company executive of Wyatt's Oil, etc. owe them. Owe them jobs, welfare, even their very minds genius.
Ugh? Sounds real familiar...
I think you mean "the misuse of Christianity"
Otherwise that would mean you don't know what the words Christianity or Socialism actually mean.
How about this one........”judge not lest you be judged”
In your defense, it is a long book! :-)
Rand can be ponderous at times in her prose, but It's still worth reading and thinking about.
BFL
Young people really do need to be given more books that affirm the principles of capitalism. But, imho, ten would be too young for reading “Atlas Shrugged”. There are some graphic descriptions of sex in the novel, and the story suggests sleeping with one partner after another is OK. That’s the main reason why I won’t even let our 13yo read it.
What book would be appropriate, though, I wonder? Some of us are giving our children books like, “What Ever Happened to Penny Candy?” which explains economics in an easy-to-understand way. But, what kind of novels out there for young people celebrate capitalism...? Just wondering if anyone knows.
The “Love of” always gets left out.
"The Virtue of Selfishness" is a great read as is "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal"
She wrote nearly as much non-fiction as she did fiction and it's almost all worth a read.
Best,
L
Did the fact that Hemingway was a womanizing drunkard kill the demand for his books? Did the fact that Van Gogh was a certifiable nutjob change the fact that he was a brilliant artist?
'Ear 'ear!
sorry...
No and No but, my perception of the lady is different now.
She’s still absolutly a fine writer.
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