FReeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged, The Man Who Belonged on Earth

A Publius Essay | 28 March 2009 | Publius

[Explorer89]

I’m a comp sci major with a minor in chemistry. Never used the chemistry in my professional career, just wanted to take P-Chem for giggles.

[Publius]

I put aside chemistry for a living when I saw how little chemists made. I junped into programming and stayed for 31 less than happy years.

This is more fun.

[Explorer89]

I’m starting to suspect that you may actually be Hugh Akston undercover. (Not sure who Billthedrill is, yet.)

This chapter is the start of what I believe makes AS so beautiful. Rand starts to guide us through The Effects of jiggering with the steady-state of the free market. What happens when you tell industry what they must produce? You get the Chevy Volt, which nobody wants. So the the Big Three are telling Washington that they should artificially inflate gas prices so people will want their stupid car.

[Publius]

Actually, Billthedrill is Hugh Akston. I’m just Eddie Willers trying to keep a railroad running.

[whodathunkit]

Hank is visited by a paramilitary...

...Hank won’t provide that answer and refuses to sell anything to the Institute for any purpose. The paramilitary explains that Hank must obey the law; Hank tells him to arrest him and steal whatever he wants...

So we finally have someone challenging powers that be. Contrast this with the scene where Hank stood up to his mother and her demand to provide employment to his brother.

Hank tells the paramilitary-

"Don't try to send me payment- I won't accept it... ... you have the guns to seize it, go ahead."

At this point I find it important to understand what 'police power' is (it may not be what you assume) and how it is being applied to Rearden. He seems to understand that he can't stop what is happening as he did with his mothers demands.

[Publius]

Much of what you're seeking is contained in Post #34 without spoilers.

Stadler and Akston competed for the attention of 3 great students at Patrick Henry U.: Francisco d'Anconia, Ragnar Danneskjøld and a third unnamed man. Check Post #34 to see why Stadler fears that John Galt is still alive. It's all about guilt.

A soul should have a high sales price, and Dr. Robert Stadler may have sold his short.

[Publius]

The police power arrayed against Rearden is pretty much absolute due to the constant state of emergency. But the government fears a negative reaction from the public and seeks the sanction of the victim before making its move. The victim must agree that he deserves to be punished.

It's as much about morality as it is about power. That's Rand's genius.

[patton]

Philosophy is Greek for Math, and music is an extension of same.

[sneakin]

Now that’s an impressive line up of ammo.

Too bad that the Federalist Papers are such a difficult read.

Didn’t someone translate them to modern english recently?

Keep up the good work!

[woodnboats]

Why is there the profession of Grant Writer? Isn't that just a Defreezer by a different name? My first job after college was working as a research technician for the head of the Endocrinology Dept. at the University of Rochester. He did good research, nothing groundbreaking, but he was in demand throughout the U. for his grant-proposal writing skills. Ya gotta know how to get the Federal dollar to survive in education or government. PS: I can't figure out how to get a line feeds, now.

[woodnboats]

...Hank won’t provide that answer and refuses to sell anything to the Institute for any purpose. The paramilitary explains that Hank must obey the law; Hank tells him to arrest him and steal whatever he wants... Reminds me of Mary Richards' job inteview with Lou Grant: she tells him he's not permitted to ask her age, and he replies, "Wanna call a cop?" Funny, but poignant, especially in the mouth of ultra-lib Ed Asner.

[villagerjoel]

“...maybe I just wanted to survive and save my ass.”

That’s why Ann Rand wrote this book. You should be thriving. You should have multiple buildings doing what you do, and hundreds of employees. Of course you wanted to save your ass just as you wanted to make money. Why shouldn’t you? The shame lies in the looters, not you.

[Billthedrill]

Billthedrill is Hugh Akston. I’m just Eddie Willers trying to keep a railroad running.

LOL! Naw, I'm the bum in the first chapter. "Will check premises for $$$." BTT.

[r-q-tek86]

Also note that when you use any of these tags, a "return" no longer works to break a paragraph. You have to use a <p> or a </br> to get a new paragraph

[r-q-tek86]

PS: I can't figure out how to get a line feeds, now.

See my post 114

[whodathunkit]

I would like to ask for a clarification about the chapter name "The man who belonged on earth."

Quoting your post...

The chapter title is “The Man Who Belonged On Earth,” an invocation of an individual yet nameless but whose identity we finally learn in this chapter

and...

...He picked up the book and let it drop into the wastebasket. …And thinks of the Man Who Belonged On Earth:...

And this Man Who Belongs, Stadler’s and Akston’s ex-student, who Stadler found himself hoping to be dead? It is John Galt, of course.

Now quoting AS...

(Stadler)"Why did he want to waste his mind on practical appliances?" (Dagny)"Perhaps because he liked living on this earth"

So I see why you think the reference is to John Galt but...

...later in the chapter Dagnys thoughts about Rearden...

Again quoting AS "...He belonged in the countryside, she thought-he belonged everywhere-he was a man who belonged on earth-..."

I hate to appear obtuse but what was Rand trying to convey? Are both of them 'The man who belonged on earth?'

Your insight into the parallel of Objectivism and the motor was intriguing. Thanks!

[Billthedrill]

Yes.

LOL! Sorry. That's outstanding, and you are probably right on both accounts. Well done, very well done indeed. Without getting too far ahead of the book (and boy, is that ever a temptation with this one!) I think it is Rand's thesis that those people who recognize the moral laws driving human progress belong on earth - the people of life - and those who deny their existence do not, the people of death if you like.

But I confess I missed that clear reference to Rearden. That's just nicely done. Thank you!

[stylin_geek]

“You know, Mr. Rearden, there are no absolute standards. We can’t go by rigid principles…we’ve got to…act on the expediency of the moment.”

Bill, the above can also be applied to laws that are currently used against people, based on a completely subjective interpretation.

We can’t go by rigid principles as it were.

For example: as it now stands, as long as someone “feels” they’re working in a hostile environment, they have the ability to sue for compensation.

A lot of sexual harassment is subjective. It’s amazing how much trouble one can get in based on the opinion of the person claiming harassment.

Sadly, if one presses forward with a claim in either of the above, more than likely, they will be offered a settlement, known as “cost of defense.” (My ladyfriend is a legal secretary, she probably has lost count of the number of cases she’s seen settled in just such a manner)

Hank Rearden is in a “cost of defense” position. He could have allowed the government to “buy” his metal and government would let him alone. Instead of paying, though, Hank chose to fight.

So, since there is always a price to be paid when one doesn’t play the game by the rules set by government, what price is Hank going to pay down the road? What price will government exact for his non-cooperation?

[Still Thinking]

And hate crimes (a really really stupid idea in the first place). The laws are written neutral and supposedly criminalize crimes motivated by “gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, etc.” But you notice they almost never (I think I’ve heard of it being done once) charge as a hate crime if the vic is a white straight male Christian, and the perp is a black Muslim lesbian, only the other way around. Interpreting the law on the spot to fit the desired outcome, much as you’ve described.

[CottonBall]

Yeah, so far at least I see Stadler as kind of a wussified Galt. He knows what’s right, but is too willing to compromise due to some belief in the futility of fighting what’s going on.

I suppose a lot of us are in those same shoes right now, so I shouldn't judge him too harshly ;)