I tend to agree with the Randites, but it's all a little too L. Ron Hubbard for me.
It's a great novel demonstrating the evils of collectivism.
It celebrates rugged individualism while disparaging the mediocrity of "group think" and consensus.
Posted on 04/05/2009 6:38:11 AM PDT by nysuperdoodle
All readers of Ayn Rand's masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged, know its central question, "Who is John Galt?"
Written over half a century ago, it is clearly the greatest and most influential novel of the 20th century. Over six million copies have been sold, averaging 77,000 copies per year in the 1980s, 90,000 in the 1990s, 137,000 in the 00s - until recently.
200,000 copies were sold in 2008, and sales so far this year are at triple those of last year. This is because, according to the Ayn Rand Institute, "there are uncanny similarities between the plot-line of the book and the events of our day."
(Excerpt) Read more at evilconservativeonline.com ...
Bingo! Well said. Some of her ideas may or may not be flawed, but some are unique (as in Objectivism's epistemology).
Her integration of it all with in a broad philosophy is revolutionary. And like all revolutionary ideas, it's easily misunderstood, especially by those who don't like what they hear and choose to misunderstand it.
Almost all the people who might have been John Galt have gone through 12+ years of our schooling system. They’re no longer a threat to Obama and his minions.
John Galt is dead.
411.com has 68 listings for John Galt.
But I take your point.
And that is the problem, there are plenty of leaders out there but they are not perfect either. They have their own strong points and weak points like any other human.
The key is to put their talents to use where they shine and discretely overlook the areas where they do not. John Adams would have been a lousy general, Washington was not much of a lawyer, Pat Henry was not a good fund raiser.
The point of John Galt is not for us to sit on our asses and wait to be rescued. The point is to show us that, ultimately, we, the people, are responsible for our own outcome. He was an example...he showed just how far we'd have to roll up our sleeves to "git 'er done". My sleeves are up to my elbows, pretty soon I'll be sleeveless! But, I will roll up my own sleeves, and I'll get 'er done myself.
Waiting to be rescued by the gov is like waiting to be rescued from the Titanic....the only ones who survived were the ones who took to the lifeboats and rowed like hell!
It's a great novel demonstrating the evils of collectivism.
It celebrates rugged individualism while disparaging the mediocrity of "group think" and consensus.
He used retaliatory force against the looters.
I wouldn't agree. He wasn't retaliating so much as he was recovering.
Wait, I'm thinking about that, maybe you're right. Not all his actions resulted in the recovery of wealth. Some were just punitive.
So, instead of organizing a resistance and engaging his collectivist enemies in battle he just walks away? This smacks of “catacomb capitalism.”
I don’t think our Founding Fathers would have approved. After reading about Galt in _AS_, perhaps they would have thought: “a great and powerful character, but where is his sense of duty for and fellowship with his fellow countrymen?” Or am I missing Rand’s point?
I haven’t read _Atlas Shrugged_, but the more I read about it here on FR the more I think that it is more of a tool for analyzing and criticising the evils of collectivism and less of a program for political action (although it may be a CALL to political action). Or have I got it all wrong.
The point of John Galt is not for us to sit on our asses and wait to be rescued. The point is to show us that, ultimately, we, the people, are responsible for our own outcome. He was an example...he showed just how far we’d have to roll up our sleeves to “git ‘er done”. My sleeves are up to my elbows, pretty soon I’ll be sleeveless! But, I will roll up my own sleeves, and I’ll get ‘er done myself.
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BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, you have it all wrong. I'd tell you to read the book, but it's looooong! From the macro view, it's a commentary on government run amok. From the micro view, it's a nudge for us to re-examine our values, our truths, and our way of life. See? Told you it was long!
In other words, it needs to be taken personally, as we all need to be our own John Galt.
"...clearly the greatest and most influential novel of the 20th century"
Orwell's 1984 has sold over 10 million, Tolkein's The Hobbit: 100 million, Tolkein's Lord of the Rings: 150 million, The Da Vinci Code: (unfortunately) 55 million.
Atlas Shrugged is not the most influential book written in the 20th century, based on common benchmarks like popular references and number of copies sold. It may be a wonderful book, but the propaganda stated here is over the top.
If you're gonna say it, be prepared to defend it. The collectivist libs play the popular media like Satan's pipe organ.
Well, at least check this out, FWIW:
http://web.archive.org/web/20020213044246/http://lcweb.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/bklists.html
Yes, I know that..but can’t comment on it. But, some of his actions were just plain destructive (the South American mines..I don’t recall any point to that other than to make sure no one could mine them).
It is also useful to note that the founders said things like "We should all hang together or we'll all hang separately" and "Join or die."
The whole "rugged individualism" thing, like anything good, can be taken too far. And it's often spouted by people who rely on gas stations to get them to their air conditioned office where they take an electricity-powered elevator...
You see my point. We are interconnected whether we like it or not. I am vehemently opposed to Obama's social-collectivism, but it's time to drop the fantasies and reconnect with reality. A sober assessment of where we are followed by evaluating our circumstances against founding principles is a good start. If you have time to read a novel as well, great.
Bravo. Well done, you.
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