Posted on 01/31/2009 11:38:31 AM PST by Publius
Ping! The thread has been posted.
Earlier threads:
Our First Freeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged
FReeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged, The Theme
FReeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged, The Chain
Our vote on posting frequency is:
I think it’s a landslide.
Can anyone say "Global Warming is real: we have a consensus"?
This comes close to one of the sub-themes and a key underlying thread in the book. Reflect that Ayn Rand nearly died of starvation in what has previously been a bread basket of the new Soviet Union. Ayn Rand, for all her faults, hated communism and hated Marxism. Therefore, this comment can be tied into her disgust for all things Communist.
No one needs a justification to own anything. I own what I own by the sweat of my brow, not because I plan on using it for the good of anyone. This insiduously creeping Socialism spreads its first tendrils here - with everyone at the table nodding in agreement - why? Because no one at this table is proud of their work. They have no belief in themselves and obviously need the affirmation of others to have 'permission' to own wealth.
However.....and this is where things get tricky and come to today..... it is for thee and not for me! YOU must give, I should not be expected to lose anything - but YOU, YOU are greedy, and vile, and a hoarder, so YOU need to give, whilst I sit back and direct how your money should be spent. Sound familiar? Yeah, you know it does!
This is the world begotten by procrustean socialism, and a misplaced sense of human empathy.
It is hypocrisy, but it is also willful self-delusion. Modern parallel: Al Gore is telling us how to "live green", yet has an energy-munching mansion, flies in private planes, etc.
Another parallel: that stupid Ashton Kuchner "I pledge" video. Those people are living a much more extravagant, selfish life than I am, yet deem it necessary to preach to me on how to live a good life in service of "the greater good".
I really think all of these people who are truly greedy (Al Gore making money on his crusade) have to convince themselves that they are working for good.
It isn't just self-delusion, it is rationalization.
Check on Obama’s missing birth certificate?
“We cannot thwart the will of the people.”
James Madison (essay #10 of the Federalist Papers):
“Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention, have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
Thomas Jefferson:
“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.”
Benjamin Franklin:
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.”
Alexander Hamilton:
“We are a republican government. Real liberty is never found in despotism or in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.”
John Adams:
“Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself.”
Excellent! And how did Orren Boyle build his empire? And Jim get to the top? Let's connect that to rent seeking.
Good. Rand is fond of symbols and metaphors. Connect this to the rotted out tree in the first chapter.
Read the entire book. Let 3 months pass, then read it AGAIN. Read slowly, digest the words of principal characters and then sicken as you recognize the insipid words of many of today’s political big-wigs. Study the pronouncements of certain “teacher’s associations” and be upset..be very upset at the words coming from those who are charged today with the education of America’s children. Turn another page and watch as “those who cannot” work the angles to gain control over “those who can and do”. Does it appear familiar? It should, it is happening. Those in our society who commit the crime of SUCCESS are to be scorned as greedy..those who proudly proclaim their “failure” are to be cherished and held as proud examples.
You think that ATLAS would NOT shrug? He already has. Atlas is the doctor who practices medicine with both eyes on legal ramifications of any decisions. Atlas is the manufacturer who ceases production of a given product because its blatant MISUSE will leave him financially responsible for some else’s stupidity. Atlas is the business man who refuses to allow his business to grow, because one additional employee makes him a target for government operatives, armed with .45 caliber regulations. Atlas is the teacher who if AFRAID to give extra help to the young student who MAY accuse him of mis-deeds.
No, Atlas IS indeed shrugging, look around, you may see him lift a shoulder.
On the money. There are different laws for them than there are for us. They are the truly enlightened, far beyond the concerns of mere mortals like us.
Thank you. The goal of this effort is to read the book slowly and understand just what Rand accomplished. This book is thickly textured, and once you get the issue of her prose style, it’s highly rewarding.
This quote is suspect because it doesn't sound like Franklin. It's a bit too short and direct for the old master.
And the word "lunch" didn't come into common use until the 1920's. The word was always "luncheon" until then. Franklin, in his era, wold have used the word "supper".
Orren Boyle built his empire with help from the gov’t. Jim got to the top by winning life’s lottery - he was born into it. Jim especially has done nothing to earn his wealth, and is clueless how to maintain his wealth. Without the help of his sister Dagny, Taggett Transcontinental would have already been out of business.
Don’t you love how Rand creates characters you love to hate?
OK, I’m cheating. I read the book twice before, and then, the day after the election, started listening to it on CD. It took me until nearly Christmas to get through 47 CDs. I’m not actually reading along again. The Catholic in me had to admit it.
By the way, listening to it, you get different layers of meaning, as well.
I own what I own by the sweat of my brow, not because I plan on using it for the good of anyone
And, I was born with nothing - and I still have most of it left
Man, she came up with some weird character names.
Oh Jim earns his wealth all right! He peddles influence. He schmoozes. He "seeks rent", as Madison would have put it. He sits down at expensive bars and engages in deals that will destroy good people.
Jim knows on which side his bread is buttered.
Bless you, my son. For your penance, say 20 Our Fathers, 47 Hail Marys, read John Galt’s speech again, and make a good Act of Contrition.
Nothing but a play on reputation.
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