A Truly Magnificent Acheivement
The New York City skyline. A shining example of the capacity of mankind's {humankind for the political correct}ability to achieve monumental greatness. Representative of what can be accomplished when man applies his mind to furthering his knowledge and ability to grasp the infinite possibilities that awaits him now and in the future.
However, given the deteriorating state of our nation politically, ethically, morally, and intellectually one must wonder if we can continue to sustain our place among nations must longer. The clock continues to tick forward, waiting for no one.
And sooner or later... Atlas Will Shrug.
That two trillion sitting on the sidelines that dems keep carping about is, I think, a mini-shrug.
ReplyDeleteCapitalists big and small make this country work, and in a Chavez-like orgy of regulatory uncertainty, they are sitting on their money.
Would you put your money in a rigged game?
As we've discussed Les, I'm not a big Ayn Rand fan, but I hope this movie takes libertarianism to the next level and opens the eyes of the blind. Rand's book did that for multiple generations, and I hope the movie brings her message to a whole new group of people.
I find it interesting that Rand was neither a fan of conservatism nor Libertarianism. Yet both seem to embrace her while liberals in large part seem to despise her.
ReplyDeleteRand, and her philosophy is more closely aligned with "classical" liberalism, something that in my judgement is dead {or dying} in the west today.
If Atlas survives it will be in the east, amongst the emerging 3 + billion new capitalists.
Just the opinion of one man of course.
And Atlas is waiting. American business is, as Rand often said in so many words, is acting against their own business interests and in concert with the pull peddlers, government goons, and those who in reality wish their demise.
Class warfare and the "proletariat" remain alive and well in America. There are many stoking them. Sooner or later the seems will burst.
Les: The picture is beautiful. Isn’t it GREAT what man can do when not impeded!
ReplyDeleteI haven’t had the chance to read Atlas Shrugged yet, however, I intend to, it’s in my “book pile”! Although I think I’d like to see this movie AND read the book! Thanks for sharing, I had no idea a movie was due out, and on April 15th no less!
Its a beautiful picture....there is a whole lot of government in that picture, a whole lot of union effort in that picture....
ReplyDeleteOh, and the mob had a hand in making some of it possible also...
Now, that picture would not have been possible if everyone ran around thinking "me, me, me..."
We are not risk takers anymore....we can no longer look up or think big....
We spend too much time tightly holding on to what is ours now....small people who dwell on only themselves cannot achieve greatness....
By the way Silverfiddle, you are a collectivist....
ReplyDeleteYour idea that "capitalists" hold you hostage and are dependent upon them to invest in your economy to create jobs....
Supply side economics is a collectivist sentiment...the idea that jobs are created by those who own the means of production is a collectivist mentality.
Without demand there is no supply....
Pam - The picture speaks volumes as to the capacity of man. Of the ability man possesses.
ReplyDeleteWhen he is guided by logic and reason and science he can accomplish great things.
He accomplishes building magnificent structures and advancing society through the thoughts of and the resulting efforts of many individuals, by their shared vision and by building on the strength of individual ideas man is able to create wonders.
And Pam, irrespective of what some may say, creativity, ingenuity, industriousness etc, is the result of INDIVIDUALS united in the effort to crate something of lasting value.
It does require the lack of impedance from bureaucrats that know little other than growing the government teat.
TAO - Glad you liked the PIC. If was shot by a individual photographer with a creative eye for capturing just the right moment.
ReplyDeleteThat picture was made possible by men of reason, men who possessed both the vision and the capacity to turn it into reality.
Individuals united in a common goal (which of course was in large share the pursuit of making money and earning a living) each building on the strengths of other individuals by adding their own individual strengths created this picture and reality.
Your reference to unions and the mob is for what purpose TAO? Other than as a backhanded lap at Rand. It's time you got over it. She, along with her philosophy and ethics will out live us both. The reason of course is truth has a way of surviving the millennium.
As you are well read and no doubt have plumed the depths of Ran's works perhaps you could point me to the specific criticism Rand had for trade unions. Of course if they became mobs with violent implications she would have problems with THOSE instances. But that requires an understanding of her total philosophy.
On the point we are not risk takers anymore I would agree. I also know Government has a hand and some responsibility for this.
First comes demand, then comes supply. Simple isn't it. The law of supply and demand. Reality and reason can only lead to this conclusion.
I am going to say this one last time since you tossed out another backhanded slap, this time at Reagan. Reagan should be admired for many things. First of which was his sincere love of country and his Patriotism.
Supply side economics was not one of his positive contributions. In fact, while it had short term positives it has much more pronounced long term negatives. Reality will always catch up and the price reality exacts can be harsh when it does.
And TAO, I might remind you that Rand was a harsh critic of Ronald Reagan.
To achieve greatness requires that individuals understand the moral purpose of their lives, extend that understanding and right to others, and believe mankind has the capacity to achieve greatness. BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A SOCIETY.
TAO, There is no such thing as a collective mind. Thought is individual and the ultimate expansion of thought is the synergy created through individual effort...