Atlas Shrugged... OMG!

[bomelia]

Someone mentioned this heavy tome in another thread. I finally decided to read it. I got my chance on a plane flight to Denver (family skiing trip).

Sitting here in Breckingridge (10,000 ft) sucking air at 25% of what I am used to... so, I might ramble... come to think of it, I already am...

Why was this not "offered" in college? Yeah, right. I get it now.

Page 74, halfway down to the top of page 75 (where the RR dudes vote for the Anti-dog-eat-dog measure. Holy crap! This was written over 60 years ago and I'd swear if I did not know better that this was a contemporary author!!!!!!!!! How relevant! How amazingly similar to what is happening right now, today. (the only difference is trains and banks)

I'd quote it, but then you would not do your homework.

Mike

[Tom Wells]

AMEN, Ayn

[Bobcat]

Mike ... that was me that mentioned Atlas Shrugged ... all 1100 pages .There is an Ayn Rand Institute in CA , I think . You can Goggle it ... it lists a lot that I think you will find interesting . The reason ( I think) that she is so dead on, is that she actually lived it during the massive changes in Russia as they went down that path .
College course ... agreed , but don`t hold your breath .
You are correct ... we should be scared as hell . But she also shows a way out of the coming madness ( who is John Galt ? ) .

Bob

[VRM]

I read that one probably 15-20 years ago, so it is a bit of a dim memory. I should still have it in a box of books in the basement. Probably time to dig it out again - thanks for the reminder.

BTW Mike, how were you with the anti-religious aspect of it?

Steve

[bomelia]

Originally Posted by VRM

I read that one probably 15-20 years ago, so it is a bit of a dim memory. I should still have it in a box of books in the basement. Probably time to dig it out again - thanks for the reminder.

BTW Mike, how were you with the anti-religious aspect of it?



Steve

I dunno, have not seen that yet. Why?

[VRM]

Originally Posted by bomelia

I dunno, have not seen that yet. Why?

Just curious. I know you are a lot more religious than I am, and I wanted to know what your reaction was.

You've also mentioned in previous posts (well, maybe a year or three ago) that if you (and others) paid less taxes that there would be more charitable contributions to help out the needy, instead of that charity coming form the welfare programs. Do you still think that is true?

[bomelia]

Originally Posted by VRM

Just curious. I know you are a lot more religious than I am, and I wanted to know what your reaction was.

You've also mentioned in previous posts (well, maybe a year or three ago) that if you (and others) paid less taxes that there would be more charitable contributions to help out the needy, instead of that charity coming form the welfare programs. Do you still think that is true?

Not sure how I said that... but what I mean is if there was a culture of giving, then yes. Instead, there has been an abdication of that role and the public now expects the govenment to do it. Over time, yes, I would expect the public to give more if the the government took less. Today, Mandatory spending is almost twice that of discretionary spending. ALL of the mandatory spending in unconstitutional. (nearly 2 trillion per year)

2 trillion is a lot of money.

Mike

[bomelia]

Hmmm, for sure thought somebody would challenge me on that.

Sign of the times. Thanks for the tip on the Ayn Rand Institute (not to be confused with the Rand Institute.) I Joined and plan to support it.

Mike