Posted on 10/16/2008 7:15:26 PM PDT by NewJerseyJoe
Atlas Shrugged has been on my mind a great deal these past few weeks. I don't hold with Ayn Rand on everything -- her view of what constitutes "morality," for example, is in complete opposition to my closely held religious faith. And she could have used a good editor; the damn book could have been half its size but just as effective. However, Rand did have incredible foresight into the political and socioeconomic ills that were occurring around her and that abound, nearly unchecked, in our world of 2008.
Apparently, I'm not the only person who has been thinking along these lines -- for example, see Ask Dr. Helen's article "Is It Time to 'Go John Galt'?". This is very much the question that has been plaguing me: what will I be doing in response to the presidential election?
Regardless of the outcome of next month's election, a great deal of pain lies ahead for most Americans. The American financial market and business environment are currently in big trouble -- either in complete meltdown or overdue correction, depending on your viewpoint -- and the heavily burdened American taxpayers have been handed the tab for the "fix" instituted by politicians.
Senator McCain, I've never been a big supporter of you -- I don't like your past and/or present positions on illegal aliens, the First Amendment, oil drilling, etc. However, I'm supporting you in this election for two reasons: your excellent (and surprising) choice of a vice presidential candidate, and your recent apparent modifications of your positions on some issues.
However, be very clear about one fact: you are this country's last RINO politician. Should you carry the day, I am going to stay on top of your policies and positions. If I may channel Steinbeck for a moment… When you propose opening America's doors to illegal aliens, I'll be there. When you start to discuss limiting the freedom of speech, I'll be there. When you start waxing rhapsodic about the phony science of "man-made global warming," I'll be there, too. To paraphrase a line from your acceptance speech: "I will make you famous, and others will know your name." Betray me -- as I have been betrayed in the past, time and time again, by Republican politicians too numerous to count -- and I will be at the front of the pack, demanding your ouster.
Governor Palin… what can I say? "You had me at 'Hello'." I was a proponent of you running for president at the beginning of 2008, at a time when most Americans (outside of Free Republic) had no idea who you were. You have my encouragement, my support, and my admiration. The only warning I will give to you is to stay on McCain's tail in those areas where he is deficient: energy policy, "immigration" (i.e., dealing with illegal aliens), constitutional rights, and -- heaven help us -- "crossing the aisle" to work with the enemies of this country (viz., Democrats). Steer him in the right directions, with your wit, your charm, and your plainspoken manner, and we'll have him turned around in no time.
The economic situation is very bad. I'm counting on the two of you to help move this country back to a pro-growth, pro-capitalism, pro-America world view.
If this scenario occurs, it will be catastrophic, as it will likely be accompanied by a Democrat takeover of both houses of Congress. American voters (including Deceased Americans and those allowed to vote more than once) will have elected their first openly Communist president.
For years, we have heard liberals throw around (incorrectly) the word fascist in supposed reference to conservatives. If the Obama ticket prevails, bona fide, literal fascism will soon be coming to a street corner near you. Should this nightmare come to pass, I -- and many tens of millions of others, I suspect -- will be implementing any of a number of possible actions, including the following:
There could be many, many more points made (I haven't even touched on energy policy and "global warming"), but these should suffice for now. Be warned, Mr. Hussein Obama: This country holds many Spartacuses. For every one you and your jackbooted thugs cut down, two more will rise to take his place.
Speaks for me. Just outstanding. Thanks.
$
For later.
I promise you, Mr. Hussein Obama, my income will disappear from the books, to the greatest extent that I am able to carry it out. This may involve setting up foreign trusts, working under the table, putting money in tax-free investments, participating in barter systems in my local area (perhaps even with a homemade local currency), shopping in tax-free zones, etc. But I will never allow you to get your hands on my hard-earned money to “share the wealth” according to your godless, communistic worldview. When you try to implement your trillions of dollars of liberal spending and bad debt, let your well-heeled Hollywood supporters foot the bill — because my dollars won’t be there anymore.
I can imagine a quiet tax revolt anonymous graffiti like the “V” of occupied France, with some simple symbol that means “I’m doing my best to starve Obama’s Socialist system into submission.”
But then again, I’m thinking it won’t come to that.
Yeah, those pesky capitalists. The ones that made this the wealthiest, most advanced country in the world at one time. The onest that create all the jobs, the ones that finance the productive Americans that actually produce useful products. Evil, I tell you.
What about the greedy welfare recipients and redistributionists? They produce nothing, and yet feel as though they have a right to someone else's income. Should we make heros out of them?
Nailed it.
Any Freeper with enough technical ability to read the Internet can learn to reload ammunition in a day or two. I have been reloading for years with my modest set of tools which would total perhaps $150 for the essential stuff. Digital scales and progressive presses are mostly luxuries or designed for mass production of reloads.
Powder and primers will keep for years, brass cases and bullets have infinite life. All of this can be purchased today online from half a dozen or more sources; powder can be shipped at slight hazardous material premium.
I remember going out in 2000 on election eve to stock up "in case the election went wrong". Time to replenish my stuff!
Long enough to confiscate some more from our adversaries.
I don’t think welfare recips are any more greedy than anyone else, probably less greedy. Are far as the income redistributionists, some aren;t as bad as you may think. Redistributing the income in US could be done in small ways that would benefit the whole nation, such as raising minimum wages until they become livable wages.
Capitalism isn’t a bad system, and is in fact the best one out there. But it needs regulation. If not, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Our country has avoided the worst of class resentment the last few centuries becuase of mobility between classes. However, IMHO, we are stratifying into upper and lower class society.
Look up Solon and The Great Shaking Out.
parsy, who thinks about such things.
I have read all of Ayn’s works. Even have a signed copy of the New Intellectual. She had some good points and was brilliant.BUT, she lacked some common sense. Humans exist in a community and you eschew that at your own peril.
Like a lot of geniuses, she was too darn dogmatic and missed things going on right in front of her.
She should have gone to law school and got out int he real world for a while. Would have rounded her out.
parsy, who named his first kid after Ayn.
So basically, you’re a liberal that supports the theft of ones’ earnings to carry the lazy deadwood that won’t lift a finger to help themselves (which constitutes about 90% of those on public assistance).
lemme guess.... SARCHASM ?
Thanks for the ping from another thread. We are fortunate that we can still vote the collectivists/socialists out of our lives. Legislatively reversing the economic chaos/time-bombs they have put in place is another matter. For that, they should be read their Miranda rights.
Good post NewJerseyJoe. Thanks.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could put together a shopping list for me to take to the next gun show.
Of course, there are things you can do. You just have to change the way you are thinking. That’s the John Galt way.
Stan up for truth and do what we can to change things in 2012.
Time to shrug, Atlas. Bigtime. Start a ranch or a farm and work at a subsistence level. Barter. Buy used from trusted others. Learn to write letters again. Learn Morse Code and how to operate a ham radio. Buy a shortwave.
nina, you have Freepmail. I will be glad to send information to anyone who sends me an FRmail inquiry. I suspect that the gun grabbers do not yet realize the possibility of millions of us arming ourselves off the books, but I bet it is coming.
Thanking you publicly for the great information!
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