‘I’m just quitting’: A scene right out of ‘Atlas Shrugged’ in Birmingham

David McElroy ^ | July 20th, 2011 | David McElroy

[FreedomPoster]

If it had been a scene in “Atlas Shrugged,” the guy would have disappeared into the secrecy of Colorado with a shadowy figure who we would later learn to be John Galt. In real life, the story will probably be more complex. But I wonder how long it’s going to be before businesspeople really do start walking away and deciding it’s not worth doing business in America today. Or it it already happening and we just don’t know it?

The man you see in the picture at the right is named Ronnie Bryant. He operates coal mines in Alabama. I’d never heard of him until this morning, but after what I saw and heard from him, I’d say he’s a bit like a southern version of Ellis Wyatt from Ayn Rand’s novel. What I saw made an impression on me.

[Night Hides Not]

Mr. Bryant can't be an Ayn Rand hero. He shows too much concern for ordinary people.

You obviously haven't read the book.

[zeugma]

The ironic bit about his statement, is that the result is exactly what the enviro-nutjobs want. They don't care one whit about the people who need jobs. The neo-luddites are winning. My youngest sister is one of these, and I just don't understand it. Talking to her is like talking to someone who lives on a different planet, or in a different universe.

[zeugma]

He was no doubt born with a silver spoon in his mouth AND a corporate jet!!

Sounds painful. Especially the corporate jet part. I hear they are hard to digest.

[TheConservativeParty]

How many?

I did.

I shutdown half my production year, starting this year in June. I don’t plan to ever do the full year again. Life is too short. After 40 years of hard work, I’m going to start having time for other things.

Less tax money for The Beast, too.

[READINABLUESTATE]

This is my favorite comment...

“The environmental movement switched from environmentalism to socialism a while back
They are all watermelons now… green on the outside but red all the way to the core”

[mad_as_he$$]

In my circle of business acquaintances I know absolutely of of four guys that have closed their businesses after 0care was implemented. Threw over 1,000 people out of work. In addition, three have moved ALL of their substantial wealth out of the country and will be following it this year.

[2001convSVT]

Very true, as soon as possible I am closing my business and going Galt. I am closing on some private land away from everything and will build a nice lodge. Thanks you to all the Marxist who have destroyed this great country.

[Constitution Day]

This man will be attacked, investigated and vilified, just like Joe the Plumber was.

Mark my words.

[blam]

"And exactly what is that supposed to mean?"

Look back at some of the smart-alec comments you made to me yesterday.

Good manners passed you by.
(And, you sound like a do-nothing whiner)

[listenhillary]

““The environmental movement switched from environmentalism to socialism a while back”

The old Soviet Union was as happy to encourage environmental feces stirring in America as they were stoking the USA’s anti-war movement. Imagine if our domestic nuclear energy program survived the environmental massacre in the late 1970’s and early 80’s.

[chris_bdba]

Crew foremen are. I have many coal miners in the family all now reitred.

[mjp]

talk about “environmental justice” and make it clear that their intent is to make it harder for businesses to operate, well, I can see why a businessman would decide to quit.

Thanks to environmentalist assault on economic progress, there is already a decline in and decay of productivity. They are leading us along the road to a chronic hellhole or economic collapse.

[Pan_Yan]

Ping.

[Pan_Yan]

I’ve got a bunch of empty 30 gallon plastic drums for non potable if you need some. I’ll bring ‘em next time we have a get together.

[Paladin2]

If one wants things done one's way, it's best to do oneself.

Me? I've gone as virtual Galt as I can 'till national leadership has turned direction. (But I'm old...)

[catnipman]

“But I wonder how long it’s going to be before businesspeople really do start walking away and deciding it’s not worth doing business in America today. Or it it already happening and we just don’t know it?”

It’s going on right now and we do in fact know all about it.

I have a good friend from high school, drafted in Vietnam era, got his civil engineering BS degree afterward, started his own construction company and has run it ever since, directly employing dozens of people and spending millions annually on equipment and materials (thereby employing countless others).

Until now. Since Obama was elected. The bottom fell out of the economy under Obammunist economic policies and then Obamacare de-exempted small construction companies from the 50-employee exemption as demanded by the unions so they could kill all non-union construction companies.

Well it worked. My friend said he was finally fed up and decided he had enough money and it was time to enjoy it. He fired all his employees, gave away all his equipment (which was fundamentally worthless anyway since everyone else was dumping their equipment too) and retired.

Like many who enjoy the work they do, he probably would otherwise have died with his boots on, contributing to society right until the end. But Obammunism forced his hand, and for him personally it was a good thing because he has health problems and in the not too distant future would not be able to enjoy his hard-earned savings.

And the benefit to society of my friend retiring? Not so much. Yet another productive individual removed from the productivity pool by Obammunism. Another employer prematurely removed from the employer pool by Obammunism. Another producer who “Went Galt” without even knowing what the phrase means.

[GnuHere]

Plus he probably still had to pay taxes on it afterwards...

[Publius]

This is an interesting read.

[camerongood210]

The comments after the article make it clear that a lot of people have either already gone Galt, or intend to do so in the near future. I would ask how could this administration and its supporters be so blind, but I think we all know the answer to that questions.

[Publius]

Pick up the book again and check the threads from the FReeper Book Club of 2009.

FReeper Book Club: Introduction to Atlas Shrugged
Part I, Chapter I: The Theme
Part I, Chapter II: The Chain
Part I, Chapter III: The Top and the Bottom
Part I, Chapter IV: The Immovable Movers
Part I, Chapter V: The Climax of the d’Anconias
Part I, Chapter VI: The Non-Commercial
Part I, Chapter VII: The Exploiters and the Exploited
Part I, Chapter VIII: The John Galt Line
Part I, Chapter IX: The Sacred and the Profane
Part I, Chapter X: Wyatt’s Torch
Part II, Chapter I: The Man Who Belonged on Earth
Part II, Chapter II: The Aristocracy of Pull
Part II, Chapter III: White Blackmail
Part II, Chapter IV: The Sanction of the Victim
Part II, Chapter V: Account Overdrawn
Part II, Chapter VI: Miracle Metal
Part II, Chapter VII: The Moratorium on Brains
Part II, Chapter VIII: By Our Love
Part II, Chapter IX: The Face Without Pain or Fear or Guilt
Part II, Chapter X: The Sign of the Dollar
Part III, Chapter I: Atlantis
Part III, Chapter II: The Utopia of Greed
Part III, Chapter III: Anti-Greed
Part III, Chapter IV: Anti-Life
Part III, Chapter V: Their Brothers’ Keepers
Part III, Chapter VI: The Concerto of Deliverance
Part III, Chapter VII: “This is John Galt Speaking”
Part III, Chapter VIII: The Egoist
Part III, Chapter IX: The Generator
Part III, Chapter X: In the Name of the Best Within Us
Coda: Ten Years After
Afterword and Suggested Reading