Atlas Shrugged

Discussion in 'Political Discussions' started by AV8R, Feb 16, 2009.

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  1. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    In 1957 Ayn Rand published Atlas Shrugged, a book about the economic carnage that can result due to big government. This fascinating article discusses the similarities between Rand's great work of fiction and what we are now experiencing today with bailout after bailout...

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123146363567166677.html

    "For the uninitiated, the moral of the story is simply this: Politicians invariably respond to crises -- that in most cases they themselves created -- by spawning new government programs, laws and regulations. These, in turn, generate more havoc and poverty, which inspires the politicians to create more programs . . . and the downward spiral repeats itself until the productive sectors of the economy collapse under the collective weight of taxes and other burdens imposed in the name of fairness, equality and do-goodism."
     
  2. Gin Ichimaru

    Gin Ichimaru New Member

  3. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    I couldn't disagree more.
     
  4. naios

    naios New Member

    You see what happens when you don' t have enough government intervention.
     
  5. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    And what would that be?

    The housing bubble was caused largely by the government forcing lenders to make loans to those who would not normally qualify for a loan. This trend was started during the Carter administration and continued through the Bush, Clinton and Bush administrations. This is how we got "subprime" mortgages. The government used social engineering to try to put more people in homes of their own. Too much government intervention got us this big mess.
     
  6. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Carter (1977-1981), Bush(1989-1993), Clinton (1993-2001), and Bush (2001-2009)? What about Reagan (1981-1989)? Was the trend temporarily discontinued then?
     
  7. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member


    Oops. Missed one.
     
  8. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    We haven't seen that in North America in my lifetime, but we have seen it in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai.

    -=Steve=-
     
  9. Angie1313

    Angie1313 New Member

    I've always wanted to read this but I don't have the time to sit down and read all 1100 or so pages.
     
  10. Definitely a good read, although John Galt's soliloquy (something like 50 pages worth) is too long for my taste. You might want to start with The Fountainhead if you haven't read Rand before, as it's more approachable.
     
  11. RobbCD

    RobbCD New Member

    I agree, The Fountainhead and We the Living are much more readable than Atlas Shrugged. They are also a lot less preachy.
     

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