Atlas Shrugged (page 4)

BurnTheShips

Maybe it is time for the productive members of society to start thinking of going "John Galt"?

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/ask-dr-helen-is-it-time-to-go-john-galt/

BTS

purplesofa

BTS,

Great link, thanks! I thought how timely it is that I was reading Atlas Shrugged as todays events unfolded.

purps

I recently wrote a post on my blog asking readers to react to the creeping socialism and expectation in our society that those who are productive must pay for the cost of our society:

Do you ever wonder after dealing with all that is going on with the economy and the upcoming election if it’s getting to be time to “go John Galt”? For those of you who have never read Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, the basic theme is that John Galt and his allies take actions that include withdrawing their talents, “stopping the motor of the world,” and leading the “strikers” (those who refuse to be exploited) against the “looters” (the exploiters, backed by the government).
Perhaps the partisan politics we are dealing with now is really just a struggle between those of us who believe in productivity, personal responsibility, and keeping government interference to a minimum, and those who believe in the socialistic policies of taking from others, using the government as a watchdog, and rewarding those who overspend, underwork, or are just plain unproductive.
Obama talks about taking from those who are productive and redistributing to those who are not — or who are not as successful. If success and productivity is to be punished, why bother? Perhaps it is time for those of us who make the money and pay the taxes to take it easy, live on less, and let the looters of the world find their own way.
My question to readers is, what are some ways to “go John Galt” (legally, of course) — that is, should productive people cut back on what they need, make less money, and take it easy so that the government is starved for funds, or is there some other way of making a statement?

The comments to the question posed ranged from “It’s not time to ‘go John Galt’ yet” to “Cut off the money!” to everything in between. Here are some examples:

BurnTheShips

I really must read this book. I am already starting to go "John Galt" in a way. Congress created a big tax loophole in the economic area hit by Katrina.

Until the end of the 2008 tax period, a special Katrina GO Zone depreciation allowance lets you depreciate half of your rental property acquisition costs in the first year. This provides enormous tax savings. Upon sale or transfer, this depreciation allowance can be applied to income taxes paid in the previous five years, allowing many investors to reclaim much of the taxes they have paid during that period.

Congress passed the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 to reward investors who assist in the creation of housing in the coastal states that suffered so much destruction due to Hurricane Katrina. Many consider it to be the most remarkable tax incentive in modern history. Later, the legislation's benefits were extended to victims of hurricanes Rita and Wilma.

I am getting all my money back that I paid the Feds for the last 5 years. How sweet it is.

BTS

After reading the blog you posted, It looks as though alot of people are silently going John Galt already. I suppose in a way, I did my own Strike. After quitting work for a Radiology group, feeling like I was breaking my back to make them money, watch them mismanage, then going on a huge downsize. Leaving many jobless.

Where is Galt's Gulch, as many asked in the blog. People are making their own little paradises, and that's a good thing.

purps

Dagney

scuse me, scuse me, sorry...hi-jack post

Bizzybee,

I most highly recommend "The Poisonwood Bible." I read it while I was still "in," and the similarities of the fundamentalist upbringing, and the fanaticism of the missionaries struck a deep chord. I was a "need-greater" in a third world country as a teen.

My JW g/f's and I all saw the connection with the WBTS. She is a wonderful writer.

BizzyBee

Bizzybee,
I most highly recommend "The Poisonwood Bible."

Thanks for the recommendation, dagney. I'll bump it nearer the top of my reading list..............

Seeker4

I read The Poisonwood Bible years ago, and Lori is reading it right now.

Highly recommended by both of us.

S4

Galileo

I agree with the others about "The Poisonwood Bible". One of the best novels I've ever read, especially from a technical aspect. Barbara Kingsolver's writing ability is almost unfathomable. It also has much that any ex-JW can relate to.

I also agree that "Atlas Shrugged" is a must read. Ayn Rand was not a great writer, as seems to be the consensus here. But she does espouse some amazing and rather unique ideas. It's true that "Objectivism" evolved into an atheistic cult (for a pretty informative discussion on this, I highly recommend Michael Shermer's fantastic primer on critical thinking, "Why People Believe Weird Things", specifically the chapter about "the unlikeliest cult"). Clearly she had an insane ego and some bizarre ideas about human perfection and how everything was black or white. I'm not saying she was right on everything. But her ideas will certainly make you think, and think in perhaps new directions, even if it's just to think about why she was wrong.

Dagney

http://www.kingsolver.com/bookshelf/poisonwood_bible.asp

Artfully written.

I'm not saying she was right on everything. But her ideas will certainly make you think, and think in perhaps new directions, even if it's just to think about why she was wrong.

Precisely.

BurnTheShips

I picked up the book yesterday, read 100 pages at the beach....

This book is awesome.

Atlas Shrugged

Share this