by David Safier
Ayn Rand is back! The sales of "Atlas Shrugged" are soaring. Blame Obama and his socialist agenda for bringing her back to life. Who knows, maybe the spike in book sales will help revive the economy.
I've never read "Atlas Shrugged" or much else by Rand other than "Anthem." So if I get this some of this wrong, my excuse is, I'm getting it second hand.
Somewhere at the core of the book is a revolt of the "wealth producers" as a reaction to the socialistic ideology taking over the world, led by a guy named John Galt. They figured if they robbed the world of their expertise, they could bring it to its knees, or back to its senses, or something like that.
Michelle Malkin thinks it's an idea whose time has come. She calls it "Going Galt."
Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) apparently gives his interns copies of "Atlas Shrugged" when they leave, and he's finding the book increasingly relevant.
“People are starting to feel like we’re living through the scenario that happened in ‘Atlas Shrugged,’” said Campbell. “The achievers, the people who create all the things that benefit the rest of us, are going on strike. I’m seeing, at a small level, a kind of protest from the people who create jobs, the people who create wealth, who are pulling back from their ambitions because they see how they’ll be punished for them.”
I wish he'd point out the "achievers" who are voluntarily closing up shop to punish all these commies who have taken over Washington. Looks to me like lots of them are hanging on by their fingernails these days, hoping someone will throw them some of that socialist bailout money.
Our own Goldwater Institute has adopted the banner as well. In yesterday's email titled, "Obamanomics sending America reeling," is the line, "This is truly America's Atlas Shrugged moment — but it is no time for productive Americans to go on strike." Good for G.I. We need to get all those investment bankers off the picket line and back behind their computers where they can help America get back on its feet again. (Though I'm afraid Ayn Rand would scorn their altruism. I sense a contradiction here.)
Next time you hear an Ayn Rand reference from an economic conservative or libertarian, you'll understand the context. No, please, don't thank me. That's what I'm here for.
I read a lot of Ayn Rand in college and appreciated her concepts of Individualism and Objectivism, but not sure what this “Going Galt” resurgence is all about.
The most ridiculous part of this concept of “Going Galt” is that our current situation was brought about by astonishing levels of INcompetence, starting at the top with Bush. If the last eight years is what’s meant by “achievement,” somebody call Merriam-Webster and get them to change the definition.
Wow, the Republicans are getting all book-y and stuff. Poor things. It’s like watching toddlers trying to launch the space shuttle.
Does Malkin think she is so indispensable that the world could not function without her? What, like no other bigoted windbag would step up to take her place in the wingnuttosphere?
I’ve seen a lot of chatter from these creeps about “going Galt” but not a lot of action. they were cowards when they didn’t sign up to fight in Iraq and they are cowards now. I’m really hoping Michelle Malkin will take her own advice and move to the tax free state of Somalia and punish us all, but I’m not holding my breath that these yellow Republicans will go through with it.
At the link “Going Galt”-I find it ironic that the “achiever” example given is a lawyer–I thought many conservatives viewed lawyers as bloodsuckers on the “achievers”?
Also, the quote–“Why kill yourself working if you’re going to give it all away to people who aren’t working as hard?” This quote mistakenly assumes that those needing assitance aren’t busting their buns trying to survive.
I’ve read the book many times and know it very well. The notion that the current situation has any correspondence to the events in that book is beyond ludicrous.
Properly understood, Rand’s work has a lot to offer. I have met more than a few Wesley Mouche’s and Bertram Scudder’s in the course of my career.
We’re in the mess we’re in because of unbridled greed, grotesque incompetence, and a fair amount of stupidity. Reagan/Bush etc. said those finance guys would do what’s best for all of us if we just let them do whatever they want. They sure did.
Nothing taking place in reality ties to the organized withdrawal of competence depicted in Atlas Shrugged.
NOTHING.
Mr. Safier, thank you for the accurate synopsis.