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>> Now the planners are asking their people not to blame the government, but to blame the depravity of the rich...” Are there already echoes of this in today’s headlines?

As usual, I am late to the party! I just have to tell you all how much I have been enjoying this, even though I don't get to post as much as I would like. I've been reading this book for over a month now and I see echoes of it everywhere lately, but have no opportunities to discuss it with friends or family. So thank you so much for doing this!

Even though I fear for the country and the direction in which it is headed, I really am taking pleasure in reading this book. Does anyone else feel the same way? I think I'm cheering for Atlas to Shrug because it needs to happen, even though I worry about how that will affect my family - especially my children. Maybe it's easier to deal with in fictional form than in reality.

In any case, we haven't yet discussed the aspect of the book that I find most interesting - that is the parallel to what is going on in today's headlines. The “economic crisis” that happened right before the election certainly seemed to have been caused by the irresponsibility and entitlement of the poor, who took out mortgages they couldn't pay, and the government, who forced the banks to give those loans and promised to back them up. But who is being blamed over and over for the mess? Rich, greedy capitalists. Wall Street. And people just believe that to be the case. It's easy to vilify the rich. Instead of admiring people who have worked hard to get to their position in life and want to emulate them, it seems like the average person today resents anyone who has more than he does and complains that it isn't fair.

Is it because of the way we raise our kids these days? The “Everyone has to get a trophy, even if he came in last” mentality?

Now that “Directive 10-289” has passed - (of course, we don't really know what just passed, seeing as how no one had the chance to READ it first...) I wonder what we'll be in for.

Re: kids and trophies. My kids have a bunch of those stupid trophies from participating in sports. They are on a table in the basement family room......the room where the children are allowed to play dodgeball. Those trophies have been broken to bits, and the kids don’t care. They know that they did nothing to earn them, so the trophies have no value.

We are emphasizing that self-esteem has to be earned through hard work. It is ok if they work really hard at something and fail. We still praise the effort. That is life. Sometimes you work really hard at work, and you don’t get the promotion, you still need to take pride in the fact that you did your best. But I can be pretty cutting when I know they did a half-a$$ed job to begin with. No points for showing up. I’m wondering if my children are going to need therapy when they grow up......

Well, they’ll be in therapy, but at least they’ll be self-sufficient!

I am loving this book also. Much like you, I also see parallels to real life. But rather than fear this..it has caused me to open my eyes to those that “RULe” us. I laugh out loud at their arrogance and hubris. This current crisis is surreal. You know it is a false society when Chris Dodd can write a book about how he saved the economy...and people never get to question him about that “FACT”??

The “economic crisis” that happened right before the election certainly seemed to have been caused by the irresponsibility and entitlement of the poor, who took out mortgages they couldn't pay, and the government, who forced the banks to give those loans and promised to back them up.

And I will be exploring that in an essay when we reach the chapter where we meet Lee Hunsacker. I'll be tying Hunsacker to Dennis Kucinich and others as we explore what the courts did to Michael "Midas" Mulligan.