Who is John Galt and What Ails America...
by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny
As America continues its struggle to figure out just how to marry capitalism and the ever present social concerns of a modern advanced society I personally just sit back and chuckle.
The recent national melodrama, driven by the continuing debate over politically opposing views on the ACA (ObamaCare) as well as how to control the spiraling national debt highlights the above point nicely. And, it makes me chuckle all the more.
As I listened to the video I realized, more than ever, the proponents of the opposing political view(s) will never find that place were reason can ultimately result in effective, productive, and long term lasting results benefiting the individuals of this nation. This is largely because they willfully fail to recognize what is really in their rational self interest. I say this to the ideologically driven politicians and the elected officials of both parties that are only too willing to trade in dishonesty and eager to profit from their own position of influence and power.
Businesses that take advantage of, and wallow at the trough of government subsidies and are ready to accept money (taxpayer money) and other favors to keep their failing asses afloat are in the same boat as the politicians that manipulate us as they run the federal government..
Who is John Galt?
Click HERE for the article that accompanies the video
Via: Memeorandum
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny
As America continues its struggle to figure out just how to marry capitalism and the ever present social concerns of a modern advanced society I personally just sit back and chuckle.
The recent national melodrama, driven by the continuing debate over politically opposing views on the ACA (ObamaCare) as well as how to control the spiraling national debt highlights the above point nicely. And, it makes me chuckle all the more.
As I listened to the video I realized, more than ever, the proponents of the opposing political view(s) will never find that place were reason can ultimately result in effective, productive, and long term lasting results benefiting the individuals of this nation. This is largely because they willfully fail to recognize what is really in their rational self interest. I say this to the ideologically driven politicians and the elected officials of both parties that are only too willing to trade in dishonesty and eager to profit from their own position of influence and power.
Businesses that take advantage of, and wallow at the trough of government subsidies and are ready to accept money (taxpayer money) and other favors to keep their failing asses afloat are in the same boat as the politicians that manipulate us as they run the federal government..
Who is John Galt?
Click HERE for the article that accompanies the video
Via: Memeorandum
Response to post is as anticipated.
ReplyDeleteWho is John Galt?
Definitely not the democrats.
Definitely not the republoans.
Definitely not the libertarians.
Who Is John Galt?
There's always been kind of a "schism" in the Republican party but I frankly don't remember the one between Goldwater and Rockefeller or the one between Reagan and Ford being quite as wacky as the current one between these Karl Roves and Teddy Cruzes of the world.......Maybe I'm just being nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteIsn't John Galt the guy who designed a motor that runs on static electricity?
ReplyDeleteHe's the patron saint of a cult that worships a science fiction novel.
There's no such a thing as "Rational Self Interest." As for who was always John Galt? Rationalizing Selfishness. Really no different than everything wrong with society today.
ReplyDeleteJMJ
Indeed there is jmj, indeed there is.
DeleteYou would be correct if you were to say there are millions who do not understand what rational self interest really represents.
Rational self interest does not exist. Self interest is purely subjective. Humans are social animals anyway, so really the whole pursuit of rational self interest is kind of anti-human when you think about it.
DeleteJMJ
Believe as you like.
DeleteTo deny self intetest exists is false and foolish. To deny rational self intetest exists is equally as false and foolish.
To deny self interest exists is to deny the existence of the self. To deny rational self interest exists it to deny both self intetest and reason in one stroke.
Sure, there's self interest! Well duh! It's the "RATIONAL" that doesn't exist.
DeleteJMJ
Your right jmj, certainly in your individual case.
DeleteJohn Galt, hmm, amusing indeed.
ReplyDeleteThe patron saint of a novel about highly successful individual capitalists that refused to play by the rigged rules favoring mediocrity.
John Galt, representative of a economic and political philosophy that existed for only a brief period.
I guess this fictitious character stirs strong feelings of content, or fear still. After what, 50 plus years? Interesting.
John Galt, or rather what he represents is as reviled by progressives as Karl Marx and what he represents is by capitalists.
Galt is a fictitious character in a fictitious world. To have particularly strong feelings about that would be like having particularly strong feelings about Asimov's Laws of Robotics.
DeleteJMJ
So, what was John Galt's motivation..money? Power? (haven't read the book, don't do fiction)
DeleteHave you read Rand(s non fiction philosophical writings? They explain John Galt quite well.
DeleteOh, no! Not John Galt again! A fictional character raised to level of hero worship. Like many fictional characters, this one is not a character but a caricature, an exaggeration of a real person railing against an imagined enemies. Why the character of John Galt and the frame of the story do not resonate with me?
ReplyDeleteThe metaphor of architect - as hero against the evils of collectivism and lesser men - deconstructs quicker than a wink. Pure hubris. With an aura of unreality.
In the real world, an architectural rendering is merely one skill brought to bear; shall we discount and devalue the collection of skills and labor needed to construct an actual building!
In the real world, zoning ordinances protect the public - including other property owners. If a homeowner, case in point, turns his front yard into a repository for trash or wrecked cars, it would blight the neighborhood. Ordinances and regulations keep porn parlors and strip joints away from churches and residential neighborhoods.
In my view, John Galt is the antithesis of hero. Clown or villain, take your pick.
(O)CT(O)PUS… It is 0h Yes Once Again!
DeleteI shall not dispute your characterization of John Galt’s character as that of a real person. Of course that is so. Or perhaps framed another way Galt is the embodiment of Objectivism in a fictional character to bring alive the economic/political philosophy of that if a real person, Ayn Rand.
Whether one agrees with the philosophy of Objectivism or not is of course up to each individual. Having read Rand’s non fictional writings as well as her fictional have found the concept of rational self interest to be the most interesting and in my never humble opinion quite misunderstood.
Rational self interest above all else does not mean finding new and better ways to screw your neighbor, your customers, the people you work for, the people that depend on you for support etc. Rather it means quite the opposite.
It does in fact also mean being cognizant of those who are out to screw you and in fact fighting against those who would by plan and design act against your self interests in order to benefit themselves. Call that unethical and or selfish.
I get what you’re saying about zoning ordinances and standards of decency. I was not thinking along those lines when I published this post and I do not have issue with your statements or disagree.
In closing I must say the creator of ideas and the builders of industrial giants all recognize they CAN NOT do it alone. They know they need the skills and talents of others (the best of the best to coin a phrase), often hundreds if not thousands for THEM, if they are to have the best company and product.
That IS rational self interest.
I have always maintained the foundation of John Galt’s philosophy is sound. Who is to say it cannot or should not be applied to 21st century realities?
Perhaps one day we may have an opportunity to discuss this further. Now it is time to break for dinner with the beautiful and charming Mrs. Rational Nation.
It would seem everyone has self-interest. We assume some may even be rational.
DeleteYou know what is said about assuming. Of course this is more often than not true and certainly applies to all, not being discriminatory.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing about perceptions. Of which it had been said... a persons perception(s) is their reality. Whether or not it is so.
The beat goes on and Who is John Galt?