‘I’m just quitting’: A scene right out of ‘Atlas Shrugged’ in Birmingham

David McElroy ^ | July 20th, 2011 | David McElroy

[FreedomPoster]

If it had been a scene in “Atlas Shrugged,” the guy would have disappeared into the secrecy of Colorado with a shadowy figure who we would later learn to be John Galt. In real life, the story will probably be more complex. But I wonder how long it’s going to be before businesspeople really do start walking away and deciding it’s not worth doing business in America today. Or it it already happening and we just don’t know it?

The man you see in the picture at the right is named Ronnie Bryant. He operates coal mines in Alabama. I’d never heard of him until this morning, but after what I saw and heard from him, I’d say he’s a bit like a southern version of Ellis Wyatt from Ayn Rand’s novel. What I saw made an impression on me.

[ponygirl]

And what will those people do when they get their wish and most of their town is unemployed?

They will blame it on Republicans generally...and George W. Bush in particular. It's all part of their scheme.

[GeronL]

true. too true.

[SaraJohnson]

It would be better all around if conservative small business owners would just lie low and stop hiring and do their best to hang on until we KO Obammy and his tribe of czars.

Libertarians, on the other hand, relish in the opportunity of misery. Laid off workers and failed businesses in the name of “going galt” is the fairy tale dream.

Mind you, Galt is a fairy tale character in a fiction novel written by an anti-religious freedom materialist zealot from the Soviet Union. It’s destruction and ancharcy for the West to be cheered on. Freakin’ Freaks!

[Betis70]

bookmark for later reading.

[maine-iac7]

I remember reading about the monastery last year - the building plans are fascination - love the individual hermitages - I want one with south window ;o) - except, of course, no women allowed. Frat.

However, up around that Beartooth range would certainly make for an interesting ‘community.’

My thinking, though, is that if/when the SHIF, might be too many that will head for Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming - thinking that's where to go.

I have another place picked out - certainly not ‘majestic’ as to landscape - but FAR away from cities, plenty of woods, water, wildlife, good growing ground, etc - and a place where none the city escapees would even think to run to. Also, not prone to natural disasters and, if need be, not a long hop (hike) to Canada.

A nice community of like souls could make a good, sustainable, self protecting community that wouldn't be a blip on anyone’s radar - especially the goons.

As an Indian friend of mine wrote (song):

Apocollapse

....
So store lots of food
& move far from town
Move close to some wood.
Put seed in the ground
& gather your fiends
& live close and quiet....

And he wrote this 2 decades ago - he “sees” way ahead...and he has done the above and teaching others to -

[thesearethetimes...]

Interesting indeed. The following quote from blam’s thread, “Broke! 10 Facts About The Financial Condition Of American Families....”, from yesterday goes into considerable detail, and it is none too hopeful : |

“”The federal government bureaucracy has become so oppressive that it is amazing that anyone is still willing to hire workers in this day and age.

Hiring workers has become so complicated and so expensive that many small business owners want to avoid it at all cost.

For example, a small business owner identified as “007” recently left the following comment on one of my recent articles....

“”Speaking as a small employer, I would rather have a root canal than another employee. Let’s see. You first have to hire someone you trust without some labor lawyer suing you for some type of discrimination. Then you have OSHA to make sure your work place is safe. Then you have workmans compensation insurance, unemployment taxes, health insurance, liability insurance, now Obamacare. Oh be careful not to be deemed to have a “hostile work environment”. Then you have to negotiate the labor laws. The Department of Labor is constantly cranking out regulation.

Then you get the pleasure of paying payroll taxes both state and federal along with the required filing of a multitude of payroll forms. Miss filing or paying these taxes and you will be crushed with interest and penalties.

Of course, you are competing with businesses that can hire at a fraction of the cost of American Labor and with very little regulations. In this economy, no one in their right mind is hiring into this unstable and declining economy.

If business turns down all you have to worry about is laying off workers. Of course your unemployment insurance tax will go up 200% for years. Then you only have to then worry about a wrongful termination law suit.

If you happen to navigate all of these hurdles and make a profit, watch out for greedy unions waiting to suck the life out of your business. Then you face Obama and the socialist democrats at the end of the day wanting to redistribute your wealth demanding crushing taxes that strip away your working capital. He wants to redistribute it to people who don’t work or pay tax at all.

My view, let someone else be the crazy hero to put their life savings at risk to hire employees in this hostile employer environment. I think I will just get a computer to answer my phones, computerize every function of the office, I even have robot floor cleaners to avoid cleaning crews.

Truth is this country has made having employees a tremendous, beuracratic, expensive, legal risk. I am trying to keep the employees I have. However, this golden goose is on strike and will not be hiring further until it makes economic sense to do so.””

May God give us the strength, and the leaders to right the course of events : /

Tatt

[Paladin2]

"up around that Beartooth range would certainly make for an interesting ‘community.’"

Winter 9 mo. a year. Gardening would have to be indoors (And it's cloudy). Plenty-o-bears though.

[del4hope]

Ping to post #42

[Anima Mundi]

I really like that and completely agree. I have vast respect for every job and for those people in the jobs who realize that, no matter what the job, it is important. for example, a waiter can make or break a dining experience and it is a difficult job that takes intelligence and stamina.

This shows up particularly on that reality show where the boss goes out and does the jobs of various people in the company. Invariable the boss is completely blown away at the complexity of the jobs and the dedication of those doing them.

Thanks for the story.

[MarkL]

And the administration wonders why

They're not "wondering." Remember Obama's statement: "If you open a coal fired power plant, we're going to bankrupt you."

That statement says everything about how this administration looks at energy suppliers that aren't "green."

Mark

[maine-iac7]

ahaha - where I'm thinking of is far away from Wyoming - and long winters - but still good growing season - plenty of veggies/fruits to dry/can...plenty of wood for cooking and toe warming. Great ice fishing, snow shoeing...and still lots of bear - but not Grizzes, thank you all the same! ;o)

[higgmeister]

Miner bump.

I had Coal miners in both my paternal and maternal sides of the family. My Grandfather and Great Grandfather were both Alabama Coal miners. My Grandfather retired as a Bureau of Mines - Bureau Chief for MESA (Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration) in Birmingham.

---

---

This is a cousin from a couple of generations back.

Photo caption: December 1910. "Shorpy Higginbotham, an oiler on the tipple at Bessie Mine" -- near Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine.

© 2011 Shorpy.com

[LadyPilgrim]

Wow!!! sad, sad, sad.....

[FreedomPoster]

That’s a tough looking group of teenagers! Maybe some pre-teen.

[JDoutrider]

We will welcome him at the Gulch...

[Paladin2]

Well, there's all sorts of places along the border from WA to da UP and NYS through Me. Lower altitudes --> less winter.

Canada seems to be getting it's act together and shines much brighter than it did over many of the last decades.

[higgmeister]

He was 14 when the photo was taken.

He served as a Private in the armed forces during World War I. On Nov. 19, 1927, he married Flora Belle Quinton. On Jan. 25 of the following year he died in a mine accident at the age of 31, crushed by a rock, and was buried in Jefferson County. He became a father, posthumously, when his widow bore his child in the summer of 1928. His older brother Jack had already been killed in a mine accident in 1920.

People lived hard lives back then.

[Sundog]

I went Galt Five years ago. Tired of dealing with the government.

http://www.insidechips.com/public/4499print.cfm

Never looked back. Sometimes I look for people to help.

[waterhill]

I’m just here because I won a bid on a contract. Yeah, 21 hours drive from TX, but the money is GOOD and the high was
76 today.

Texas ain’t as sweet as some folks say it is, jobwise.

My contract included grilled Wapiti, as well.

[novemberslady]

Thanks for posting

Bttt