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'Atlas Shrugged': The CliffsNotes Today
IBD Editorials ^
| August 17, 2010
| SCOTT S. POWELL
Posted on 08/17/2010 6:20:30 PM PDT by Kaslin
'Atlas Shrugged" — Ayn Rand's fourth and last novel, published in 1957 — may be second to the Bible as the most influential book read in America, according to a Library of Congress survey. It is required reading in management training at BB&T, the 12th-largest bank in the U.S. and one that resisted taking TARP bailout funds.
Since the Obama administration took office, "Atlas Shrugged" has been enjoying a renaissance with rising sales and library waiting lists, partly because it explains our current economic woes more straightforwardly than most of what we hear from today's experts.
What happened in Rand's narrative is coming to pass today, with an anti-business administration reviling private industry and capitalizing on crisis to expand and redirect investment within and between sectors of the economy — setting quotas, prices and compensation.
Businesses responded by retrenching — ceasing to invest, innovate and expand. Whole industries contracted, closed down or moved offshore, much like the U.S. gas and oil drilling industry is doing today. Then, just as now, management became frustrated, discouraged and reluctant to create jobs in an environment of excessive government meddling.
A record $2 trillion now sits on corporate balance sheets waiting to be invested amid reasonably cheap asset prices. What holds back investment is uncertainty and fear stemming from an overbearing and free-spending government. Businessmen and investors would never attempt spending and borrowing their way back to prosperity.
The debt-financed Obama stimulus plan is not only failing to create jobs. It ratchets up systemic risk, inviting a currency crisis and bond-market collapse — from which recovery might be impossible.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
TOPICS: Editorial
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To: B-Chan
Out of fairness, I couldn’t have put up with her personality for two seconds.
But I think some of her writings have a place on my bookshelf, along with those of some of her detractors, like Chambers.
To: headsonpikes
You’ll have to try harder than that, FRiend.
22
posted on
08/17/2010 7:43:30 PM PDT
by
B-Chan
(Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
To: Kaslin
This book should be required reading for all college graduates. Once you read it you’ll never look at government power and authority and free enterprise the same way again. It is long but its message and impact is accumulative.
23
posted on
08/17/2010 7:44:15 PM PDT
by
parisa
To: snowrip
24
posted on
08/17/2010 7:45:08 PM PDT
by
B-Chan
(Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
To: Pan_Yan
25
posted on
08/17/2010 7:45:14 PM PDT
by
Ben Chad
To: Larry Lucido
Fair enough. I love you all as well.
26
posted on
08/17/2010 7:45:56 PM PDT
by
B-Chan
(Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
To: Ben Chad
On a related note 1984 is #9 in both the 'Political' and 'Classics' genres.
27
posted on
08/17/2010 7:51:33 PM PDT
by
Pan_Yan
To: B-Chan
28
posted on
08/17/2010 7:55:33 PM PDT
by
Erasmus
(Personal goal: Have a bigger carbon footprint than Tony Robbins.)
To: B-Chan
Yes there is something more obnoxious.
It's an overbearing Government followed closely by idiot Monarchists who never read a word the woman wrote.
L
29
posted on
08/17/2010 7:57:25 PM PDT
by
Lurker
(The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
To: Kaslin
I’m well into the book right now.
It took a while to get going but I forced myself.
Glad I did because there are gems of wisdom in the book.
A lot of fluff and then a passage hits you. Wow, change the name of the gov agency to EPA or some other and it fits today.
Fountainhead? I got to around page 3 and called it quits. Seem to remember a naked man standing on the edge of a ravine.
30
posted on
08/17/2010 8:21:42 PM PDT
by
Vinnie
(You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Jihads You)
To: B-Chan
Proving my point yet again.
31
posted on
08/17/2010 8:25:30 PM PDT
by
snowrip
(Liberal? You are a socialist idiot with no rational argument.)
To: snowrip
Your only point is the one on top of your head.
32
posted on
08/17/2010 8:35:29 PM PDT
by
B-Chan
(Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
To: B-Chan
33
posted on
08/17/2010 8:39:24 PM PDT
by
snowrip
(Liberal? You are a socialist idiot with no rational argument.)
To: Made In The USA
I really enjoyed it until near the end, where there is a 62 or 63 page rant/speech, directed against (in a nutshell) religion...left a bad taste. Most of the book was so appropriate for today. Loved most of it.
34
posted on
08/17/2010 9:35:36 PM PDT
by
Imnidiot
(THIS SPACE FOR RENT)
To: Publius
35
posted on
08/17/2010 9:39:13 PM PDT
by
r-q-tek86
(It isn't settled because it isn't science)
To: Vinnie
FReeper Book Club: Introduction to Atlas ShruggedPart I, Chapter I: The ThemePart I, Chapter II: The ChainPart I, Chapter III: The Top and the BottomPart I, Chapter IV: The Immovable MoversPart I, Chapter V: The Climax of the d’AnconiasPart I, Chapter VI: The Non-CommercialPart I, Chapter VII: The Exploiters and the ExploitedPart I, Chapter VIII: The John Galt LinePart I, Chapter IX: The Sacred and the ProfanePart I, Chapter X: Wyatt’s TorchPart II, Chapter I: The Man Who Belonged on EarthPart II, Chapter II: The Aristocracy of PullPart II, Chapter III: White BlackmailPart II, Chapter IV: The Sanction of the VictimPart II, Chapter V: Account OverdrawnPart II, Chapter VI: Miracle MetalPart II, Chapter VII: The Moratorium on BrainsPart II, Chapter VIII: By Our LovePart II, Chapter IX: The Face Without Pain or Fear or GuiltPart II, Chapter X: The Sign of the DollarPart III, Chapter I: AtlantisPart III, Chapter II: The Utopia of GreedPart III, Chapter III: Anti-GreedPart III, Chapter IV: Anti-LifePart III, Chapter V: Their Brothers’ KeepersPart III, Chapter VI: The Concerto of DeliverancePart III, Chapter VII: “This is John Galt Speaking”Part III, Chapter VIII: The EgoistPart III, Chapter IX: The GeneratorPart III, Chapter X: In the Name of the Best Within UsCoda: Ten Years AfterAfterword and Suggested Reading
36
posted on
08/17/2010 9:42:09 PM PDT
by
Publius
(Unless the Constitution is followed, it is simply a piece of paper.)
To: theymakemesick
Based on my favorite Rand novel “Anthem”. At only just over 100 pages, it is an inspiring read.
37
posted on
08/17/2010 9:45:29 PM PDT
by
r-q-tek86
(It isn't settled because it isn't science)
To: netmilsmom
Check out Publius and Billthedrill’s book club series on AS. I haven’t figured out how to post a link from my phone, but you should be able to find it by searching “FReeper Bookclub”
38
posted on
08/17/2010 9:49:29 PM PDT
by
r-q-tek86
(It isn't settled because it isn't science)
To: Publius
Thanks, Pub. You saved me from having to find all the links.
39
posted on
08/17/2010 9:56:13 PM PDT
by
r-q-tek86
(It isn't settled because it isn't science)
To: Made In The USA
40
posted on
08/17/2010 9:59:23 PM PDT
by
r-q-tek86
(It isn't settled because it isn't science)
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