Is Ayn Rand’s Future Possible?
Could this really happen in America?
I’ve been reading a book. One written over fifty years ago, which consists of more than 1000 pages (full of very, very small print, I might add). I share this with you not to toot my own literary horn, but to illustrate that even though the things I just said are true, this particular book has enjoyed a massive surge of profitability at bookstores nation-wide recently.
The book is titled Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand.
Okay, So Why did Atlas Shrug?
Long, deep story short; it’s about an America that has lost ambition, that attacks entrepreneurs, and demonizes anyone who thinks of their own benefit and profit over the general welfare of all society. More specifically, it follows the actions of various successful industrial CEOs that fight the good fight against big government, anti-business legislation, and society’s overall belief that hording wealth and success for yourself is the very definition of immorality.
Eerie Predictions?
The reason I bring this book up is that, aside from it simply being an entertaining book, many of its 52 year-old themes are becoming eerily relevant in today’s America. Socialized industries, distribution of wealth, financial help for those who don’t deserve it and do nothing to better their situation… all of these things were written about 52 years ago, and each one of them is happening today, in our society right now.
Rand’s Future America
Let me shed a little more light on the America Ms. Rand has created in her book; it’s dirty. It’s poor.
The feeling one receives from reading this book is of a country completely past its prime, its greatest glories and achievements lost to legend, many even choosing to believe they are legends, that nothing magnificent could ever actually happen anywhere on Earth.
The rhetoric of the common person focuses on the fact that circumstances are not their fault, that there could be no way for them to be personally blamed for any of their problems. It’s always someone else’s fault for the members of Rand’s fictitious, but potential, America.
Gone are the notions of personal responsibility, hard work, individual rights, and the entrepreneurial spirit that once made America so grand, replaced with progressive notions that have done nothing but slowly bring down American success and prosperity to the level of its lowest citizens, so that no one is possessing of an “unfair” amount of wealth or luxury.
The very spirits of Rand’s Americans are defeated, depressed, and simply pathetic.
Apathy is Deadly
The thing that makes this book compelling and oddly scary is this; a government, viewed as a single entity, can be brought down, can be rebelled against, but only if it’s people are willing… but what happens if what you’re fighting against is a society that has accepted its situation, that has lost all passion, convictions, and drive…a society that is willing to slip away into obscurity?
Ayn Rand has been right about things in the past, such as the decline of communism, which occurred after her death. She’s currently right about many of the social issues of our day, despite being dead for 27 years… will she one day be right about the state of the future America and the spirit of its citizens?
And I haven’t even finished the book quite yet.
http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=index
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=ar2de0RP4ebo
http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2009/04/the_economy_nee_1.html (a very short debate on the economical implications of Rand’s work)
I agree that we need a responsible media presence and that what we have now is not the ideal form of media.
How does anyone know whether what the media says is correct or not? what other source do we have to compare their reporting to, what objective benchmark can they be held up against?
Excellent article…you should also read THE FOUNTAINHEAD in which Rand does a variation on the theme we see in ATLAS SHRUGGED. Your comments on the FOX threads were, by the way, the reason I’ve read your article above and your appraisal of ATLAS SHRUGGED is quite good. Further, what you’ve written should be thought provoking for many whether a fan of Rand or not. The ending of your article, ‘Apathy Is Deadly’, is an astute evaluation of what we should avoid at all costs but what seems to be happening within our society. Your thesis is especially applicable to what should be any society’s insurance against tyrannical rule by idealogues, strong news reportage. It’s all well and good to assess and evaluate the influences around us, be it religion or personal views, but we need a strong press from which to make proper choices. It just isn’t there the way it should be. Television news has morphed into something completely politicized and one sided. Or worse, no sided. Some of the oversights are so glaring that you know someone is pulling the strings and directing what goes in to the bad dish we’re being served. Too lightweight and forgiving of dangerous attacks against our basic freedom’s and upon our Constitution. I don’t always agree with FOX, but it seems to be the most aggressive news source available when it comes to showing both sides of what is currently happening within our goverment. Here we are, being jerked around by a government that seems to want a society of subservient drones, slogging along, turning over our ambition and prosperity for completely insane ideals that clearly the majority of the people do not want and is suspicious of. And with good reason. Out of terror, many of us now know, through a new alertness and self education, that gargantuan policies and laws that will change our lives forever are not even originating in Congress, that those ”wisened leader’s or one person actually, Harry Reid, along with his posse are throwing these bills together and doing so in secret and in a totally non-partisan manner. Done in such a hasty manner our representives go on air and even admit they are not reading these monumental bills as they are being shoved through slathered up with generous servings of pork and arm twisting. If you are in opposition of this procedure, the thoughtful citizen is labled ”Astro Turf’. You don’t count. Reperesentatives of the White House frequently offer up confusing statements to the press which oppose one another so sharply that you wonder exactly who is in charge here??? I’m curious to what Rand’s observances would be were she alive and writing about these strange times. She might be provoked to title it: SHRUGGING OFF CHANGE.