The Return Of John Galt

I’ve just finished reading “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand for the first time.  At 1068 pages, it was a weeks-long trip, one that I enjoyed immensely, and one that gave me characters I will never forget.  Now that it’s done, I must say: everyone should read this book.

Many of you already have, as evidenced by the references to “going Galt” back during the Teaparty events around the country.  If you haven’t, don’t hesitate.  Pick up a copy and start reading today.  I learned at IMDB that there are plans to finally make a movie of the book, with Randall Wallace, (Braveheart, We Were Soldiers) writing the screenplay and interested in also directing.

This book didn’t change my thinking, but reinforced it, and articulated a core belief of mine through words of the characters.  It was a pure pleasure to read, and I miss Dagny, Hank, and John now that I don’t spend some time with them each day.

I can’t begin to synopsize the book, and there isn’t really any need to.  Those of you who have read it, know what it says.  Those of you who haven’t and intend to, you’re in for a treat and I wouldn’t wish to spoil it for you.  And those of you who haven’t and have no intention of reading it, you’re missing out on a masterpiece of fiction with a solid core of truth of how the world works, and how it doesn’t work.

For a more in-depth discussion of the book and how much more timely it has become in recent years, please go here to read a great article entitled “Atlas Shrugged:  From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years.”

A few weeks back, while I was in the midst of the book, I stumbled one night upon a liberal’s blog, in which he was denouncing the Teaparties and making particular fun at those talking about “going Galt.”  This blogger was most indignant at the thought of producers going “on strike” while at the same time bloviating about how that wouldn’t make any differences at all.  I broke one of my rules for myself, and commented on his post, ending by asking him if he had read the book, as it didn’t sound as if he had.

He huffily responded by telling me that he hadn’t read it and moreover, he didn’t need to read it.  Yet, he had written at least two other posts critiquing and criticizing the book and its themes.  I found it humorous that in his comments back-and-forth with me and other visitors who were Rand fans, that primarily it seemed as if this blogger had an obsession with how “they fed themselves in Galt’s Gulch.”  He made comments about how the ones who went on strike wouldn’t know how to do anything, as they had been the “bosses,” so therefore, where would their food come from.

This person completely makes the point of “Atlas” without even knowing.  He desperately wanted us to tell him how they survived, yet didn’t want to read the book to find out.  He wanted something and in his mind, it was our responsibility to provide that to him.

I haven’t been back to that blog, nor would I recommend it to anyone.  It turned out to be a waste of time for me, and nothing productive was accomplished.  That blogger is just one example of who we are up against.  They have their minds made up, even though they don’t know, nor are willing to learn, the facts.  He had not read the book, but his mind was made up about it.  Not only was he completely inaccurate in his “guesswork” about the book, he also made himself look very foolish and immature to those of us commenting with him.

I encourage all of you to read “Atlas Shrugged.”  It is a frightening picture of an America totally given over to governmental control of business and enterprise, “for the good of the people.”  Timely and timeless, it should be required reading in all senior high school English classes.

It should also be required reading for all elected officials at all levels in this country.

Tagged as: Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, John Galt