"I will stop the motor of the world."
With those words, a charismatic hero was born. John Galt, the mysterious character at the heart of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged," decided that he could not stand idly by as the nation put on chains and fetters as if they were party favors.
Today, more than 50 years after the novel was written, Galt is offering hope to many Americans who see the country on a slow but steady slide toward socialism. As we talk about the government takeover of General Motors, it is educational to remember that the fictional Galt rose up out of the ashes of another car company, the Twentieth Century Motor Company, which like GM, ended up in bankruptcy.
The allegoric lesson of Twentieth Century Motors is much more instructive for the country as a whole, however, than for another automaker, because it is about how "hope" and "change" can motivate people to make choices that lead inevitably to "despair" and 'stagnation."
A former worker at the plant, now a lonely tramp, tells the story years later of how the workers let themselves be inspired by the company's new owners to work for the common good. "They told us that this plan would achieve a noble ideal."
Yes, a noble ideal, a way to help each other, something no one could possibly oppose. But there were few details on the table when the company's workers were asked to vote on their future, just these vague promises and a few catchphrases on which to pin their hopes.
"None of us knew just how the plan would work, but every one of us thought that the next fellow knew it. And if anybody had doubts, he … kept his mouth shut - because they made it sound like anyone who'd oppose the plan was a child-killer at heart and less than a human being."
And so the workers voted overwhelmingly to follow the new plan, which would mean that no worker would fall through the cracks - everyone would take care of everyone else. "We thought it was good," the tramp says wearily. "No, that's not true, either. We thought that we were supposed to think it was good."
And so begins this experiment in "modified" capitalism. As the worker explains it, "The plan was that everybody in the factory would work according to his ability, but would be paid according to his need." Of course, in the long run, "modified capitalism" turns out to be socialism or worse, and as Rand points out with brutal logic, it leads inevitably to a system that encourages laziness and lying and punishes success.
The tale of Twentieth Century Motors is one small sliver of "Atlas Shrugged," but on virtually every page of the gargantuan novel, there is some bit of wit or wisdom that presages the mess of the current era.
The 'shrug" of the title tells it all. It is a symbol of indifference, but also a symbol of frustration, and a telling representation of the tremendous power wielded by the talented individual such as John Galt. Atlas, the great being on whose shoulders rests the world, finally gets tired of being taken for granted, and up-ends literally everything with the slightest of gestures.
Likewise, "Atlas Shrugged" tells the tale of a handful of innovators who struggle to survive in an era of big government and corporate greed, and seem doomed to fail, until one man - Galt - dares to change everything. Rand said the idea came to her during a phone conversation when she asked a friend, "What if all the creative minds of the world went on strike?"
Few prophetic novels get everything right, and "Atlas Shrugged" gets plenty wrong, but Rand's image of recession-weary America as a nation sputtering toward collectivism and running out of intellectual steam is so familiar to observers of the current scene that her excesses and errors are easily forgiven.
In particular, her ability to lampoon government intervention in business is deadly accurate. Time after time, Congress passes laws in the novel that are trumpeted as necessary for the common good, but which ultimately weaken society in unexpected ways and enrich only a few (those whom Rand characterizes as "looters"). It is almost scary how much of the villainous agenda of Rand's novel would fit perfectly well into the world as envisioned by readers of the Huffington Post.
The "Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog Rule" passed by the railroad industry gives the National Alliance of Railroads the authority to protect established railroads from new competition. The theory seems to be that the established company has only limited resources and shouldn't have to stretch itself thin by defending itself against fresh and innovative competition. This is great if you care about protecting established companies, but not if you care about providing the consumer with the best service and prices.
It has to remind you a little bit of the government's takeover of GM. Pity poor Ford Motor Co. which was the only one of the Big Three automakers in the United States that was healthy enough to pass up government bailout money last November. Now, instead of owing money to the government, they actually have to compete AGAINST the government (the new owner of GM) selling cars.
Supporters of government intervention, of course, say they are doing what is necessary to clean up after the horrid capitalists who mismanaged their companies into bankruptcy, but that fails to acknowledge the fact that the American economy is far from capitalism. It is instead what Rand called with unfeigned disgust a "mixed economy" - namely, a mix between freedom and regulation - and it is the government's own policies which lead inevitably to economic failure.
The latest real-life government intrusion being plotted by the "looters' in Congress is to force the health insurance industry to jettison the basic principles under which it operates in order to once again serve the "common good," or as Rand put it, "a noble ideal." This suggests a basic misunderstanding of the principles of liberty and equality. "Equality of opportunity" is the God-given right that our Constitution is supposed to protect, but instead our government has decided to ensure "equality of results' and is willing to bankrupt us all to do so. In its wrong-headedness, at least, it is reminiscent of the "Equalization of Opportunity Bill" from "Atlas Shrugged," which forbids any one person or corporation from owning more than one type of business concern.
One disastrous result of that bill in the novel is that companies which had planned on expanding must instead shut down their older, still viable, operations in order to be able to expand into much more prosperous new ventures. Thus, when companies, following the logic of the Equalization of Opportunity Bill, start closing their factories on the East Coast in order to move to the West (Colorado is the symbol of American resilience and energy), Congress is suddenly enlisted to try to correct yet another unintended consequence. This time, there is demand for a Public Stability Law that would forbid companies from abandoning their current territory for a new one. The argument is that people have a right to expect jobs that existed yesterday to continue to exist tomorrow. But no explanation how Colorado is going to get the equipment, factories and jobs it needs while the government is propping up foundering industrial dinosaurs elsewhere.
Rand's vision of the economic madness of government "do-good-ism" culminates in Directive 10-289, which mandates that everything must stop where it is. The order doesn't just freeze wages and prices; it also forbids workers from changing jobs without permission from a federal board. It halts new product development (too confusing) and makes the U.S. government the keeper of all intellectual property as a means of ensuring that no one takes advantage of anyone else. Needless to say, with the government in charge of everything, chaos ensues.
These are just a few of the touchstones of "Atlas Shrugged" which resonate as pure prophecy to an audience that has lived through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Perhaps that's why the book is more popular than ever, and why "Going Galt" has become a symbol for our time of resistance to over-regulation.
Critics were merciless in mocking Rand's magnus opus when it appeared in 1957, but 50 years later, as her worst fears are realized, it appears to be a bet certain that Ayn Rand will get the last laugh.
n Frank Miele is managing editor of the Daily Inter Lake and writes a weekly column. E-mail responses may be sent to edit@dailyinterlake.com
Woody
Frank is write. There are many possibilities to fear with the current trend in government. But, let's look at the reality, rather that the fiction result controlled by a single writer. In reality Capitalism has produced the current mortgage (financial crisis). It has produced the current negative cash flow for foreign oil, manufactured goods and the unemployment crisis. Meanwhile dreaded communism has cornered the worlds steel market, cornered the worlds manufacturing business, and holds the debt of the most powerful (we hope, still) nation on earth to the point that the mere threat of calling in the debt could very well bankrupt the USA. Ayn Rand was hardly right.
Rob123
"Alan Shrugged": Alan Greenspan sighs, as Money Supply fuels Bubbles that enrich a few while workers are replaced . Literature, and his beloved Ayn Rand, didn't account for Corporatism that would rival then buy Statism. 2nd and 3rd generation Corporations run by Directors without a clue and CEO's on quarterly bottom line hunts, while all ripped the cash out of the shell for personal gain. It wasn't supposed to do that! Ye old '1st generation makes it, 2nd generation enjoys it, 3rd generation pisses it away.' Over and over, around it goes.....all a footnote to Plato. And the ambitious pick up the pieces for a new 1st generation, so it can all happen again. So what's new? Nothing.....except the experiences of the individuals inside the latest incarnation of the daily grind to survive.
bimmermt
There was a moment, fleeting yet there, none-the- less, when the thought of McCain winning might not be a bad thing. Let him deal with this! Ah, then I awakened in a sweat. The Country has spoken! Obama is in, progressives have won, the times they r a changen! I am impressed with Frank and his abilities. Really Frank. You are one intelligent, creative, well- read dude. But "whatever will be will be, the futures not ours to see." So, glass half empty folks. gGod has chosen a black man to head em up and move um out! The train has left the station!! There is one last green pasture over them thar hills. Stand up young man stand up! Go forth and "Imagine all the people!" BUCK UP BIG SOLDIER and teach your children well. What the bleep was that all about!! Out late caring for the grandkids, must be delirious or sompin (:
SorrySOB
Couldn't we get something from Bush and Lord Jim next week? Even the right siders are probably starting to get a little bit tired of Obama and Democrat bashing. Try something new.
david e
Frank you protest too much about the wrong thing. The government did not insist on the bailouts of the banks, GM and the system as a whole. The corporate system demanded government intervention. It is not the government that will control GM it is the established corporate system that remains in control funded by the Tax-Payer as is the case in the banking system. David Brooks of the NY Times made this very clear the other night and said his major concern about the whole mess is that the government Is Not in control of GM or the Banks. The same corporations that got us here are still in control. When you refer to the government, do you mean âWe The Peopleâ or politicians and corporate lobbyâs? Atlas is today unemployed on his last UI extension without hope of being called back to work. The reason for the bailouts is that âWe The Enslavedâ wonât pay our bills and wonât buy anymore stuff. Then once the chains of credit and debt are off we may again become âWe The Peopleâ and put and end to the corporate greed and the hatred created by the illusion of divided interests. We may
david e
We may see that we all have fundamental needs and that we are dependent on each other to successfully fulfill those basic needs to maintain a prosperous society. Societies are collective enterprises; my success depends on the success of all members. The Constitution makes this very clear.
SorrySOB
Or is that "Lord of the Flies" - take your pick.
kimberprincess
I do not think for one minute Mr Miele has ever read Ayn Rand, let alone actually analysed the doctrine of selfishness. I am pretty sure he would not subscribe to it if he did understand it. As a moral justification for adam smith its pretty flat. Read Nozick instead who has a much MUCH more coherent philosophy of individual negative and positive rights, what "free choice" actually entails (not simply selfishness). we have just seen the magic of what apparently unfettered pursuit of greed looks like and to speak of individual achievements and values without a social context is really misguided.
Editor
Shonkin: Although Galt designed a revolutionary motor for Twentieth Century Motor Co., I do believe the company was an automobile company. I will refer back to the text when I have a chance. I believe it is identified as such when Dagny Taggart and Hank Reardon are riding around Wisconsin looking for the plant. In any case, thanks for your kind words. --Frank Miele, managing editor
Rob123
And so, as we dance around this Objectivist Reality full of Romantic emotion in celebration of Rational Self Interest ("The Fountainhead" captures 'it' better), maybe a little real time analysis would help us understand how Frank the Christian could possibly hold Objectivist Philosophy up as an inducement to be a better person? Last week, German Chancellor Merkel blasted the European Central Banks and the U.S. Fed Reserve for allowing the money supply to increase to the point of yet another Commodity Bubble. No one listened. As of last week, there are about 6 billion barrels of oil on inventory, representing $400 Billion of working capital (20% investor money, 80% borrowed money) tied up in places that do not translate as working capital for small business or distressed homeowners. Since March 1st, the price of crude oil has doubled, while supply has increased and demand has remained anemic. At what point does a government regulator step in and 'Make Rational' or amend the Naked Self Interest of these boys who are making a fortune? Even Ayn Rand used RATIONAL Self Interest as her flag of opportunity. When the bubble bursts and the prices crash, are we going to find out that
Rob123
(cont).....AIG insured all these Speculators operating on easy money? gag......
Editor
Rob: I would expect you to be a little more understanding of the Big Tent than some of the other posters. How can I accept Rand's analysis of capitalism althogh she is an atheist? Because I think she is right about capitalism and wrong about atheism. Believe me, she brings enough of value that I am not kicking her ouf of the tent over a philosophical dispute. Nuff said? --Frank Miele, Managing Editor
Editor
Rob: I would expect you to be a little more understanding of the Big Tent than some of the other posters. How can I accept Rand's analysis of capitalism although she is an atheist? Because I think she is right about capitalism and wrong about atheism. Believe me, she brings enough of value that I am not kicking her out of the tent over a philosophical dispute. Nuff said? --Frank Miele, Managing Editor