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To: ADemocratNoMore; Aggie Mama; alarm rider; alexander_busek; AlligatorEyes; AmericanGirlRising; ...

2 posted on 06/13/2009 7:48:51 AM PDT by Publius (Gresham's Law: Bad victims drive good victims out of the market.)

3 posted on 06/13/2009 8:23:44 AM PDT by Sundog (The government is spending two dollars for every one taken in. Why isn't that illegal?)

I’m so enjoying this, even tho I never comment, and am gleaning more from these weekly lessons than just reading the book alone.

This is one of my favorite chapters because we finally get the mystery solved and get a tour of the secret capitalist commune (which, now that I think about it, that is a serious oxymoron, right? At best, a feeble joke on my part.)

Also because, for me anyway, you get a glimpse of what makes Dagny tick, what her true passion is. I could sense her excitement and was right alongside her as she hastily tried to figure out the logistics of building a light rail system for the mine on the fly. I actually felt joy. Yes! Do it, girl! This is what you love. Stay!!!
And then when her concept of reality, with it’s duties and obligations to others kicked in, and she “chickened out”, I nearly threw the book across the room! I felt utter disgust and disappointment with her.

4 posted on 06/13/2009 8:26:37 AM PDT by ozark hilljilly (Does this tagline make me look like a domestic terrorist?)

I think this could have easily been the final chapter, having Dagny decide to stay and hear on the radio the final collapses of the nation intervals intertwined with the winders of the valley. The contrast would have been even more stark that way.

But Ayn Rand wasn’t going to let readers off that easily.

8 posted on 06/13/2009 9:07:15 AM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com <----go there now,----> tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)

Morning Pub.

I am struck by John's position of authority among this group. Everyone is an individual firmly in control of their own actions and destiny... as long as John gives his “ok” first. John even has veto powers.

I am fairly certain (from having read a nonfiction book about Rand many years ago) that Rand ran her group of intellectuals the same way... they were all free to think anything they wanted... as long as it met her approval.

I find that hypocritical in Galt’s Gulch as well as in Ayn's living room in Palm Springs. But John's dominance explains why Dagney can so easily dump Francisco and Hank. It also gives insight into Rand's ego.

I joke about my ego with my liberal friends... often saying something like “Things would be a lot better if everyone just did what *I* tell them too.” I'm usually making fun of their all too serious attempts to force their thinking on everyone else. I argue that the attempt to “force” one’s thinking on another is the base of the problems with our society today. Too many people trying to force their views on everyone else.

Last week we talked about the need for rules in the Gulch and perhaps John's dominance is Rand's way of providing that structure, but it seems flawed to me.

10 posted on 06/13/2009 9:53:40 AM PDT by r-q-tek86 (The U.S. Constitution may be flawed, but it's a whole lot better than what we have now)

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