OT: Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged”

[sdgrrl]

So off topic, but anyone ever read “Atlas Shrugged”? I’m a little more than halfway done with it and I just think so many elements within the novel correspond with today.

I know on this site we are bonded by a mutual interest in real estate, but aside from that most of us couldn’t be more different, so I look forward to hearing both sides on the benefits and disadvantages of capitalism.

Today’s economy have many saying that the recession proves that capitalism does not work, but my question is: Can we look back on any one society that was a true capitalist/laissez faire economy/society? And if we can’t, then isn’t capitalism just an unproven philosophy?

Is this too deep?

[alarmclock]

Ayn Rand and objectivism are something like a crazy loner uncle (or aunt, I guess). The ideas are frankly very interesting, but it’s almost impossible to get past her complete inability to write about interpersonal relationships.

Neglecting the many stupid things I’ve written here, I “won” the brain raffle, as did everyone who places into the top quartile (probably everyone on this site, who uses a computer, etc). The key thing to understand is that I did not do a single thing to earn this brain; granted, I have honed my skills over the years, but I didn’t do anything to earn my brain, just as Shaq/%%WELL_KNOWN_ATHLETE%% didn’t do anything to earn his height, or his fast twitch to slow twitch muscle ratio [although he has obviously honed his physical skills].

In my personal “tribal” view of humanity, if you receive a windfall that you did nothing to earn, you are obligated to share it with your tribe. Period. That’s the rules of the game, for me. For this reason, I can’t really support Ayn Rand’s ideas.

[alarmclock]

Ayn Rand and objectivism are something like a crazy loner uncle (or aunt, I guess). The ideas are frankly very interesting, but it’s almost impossible to get past her complete inability to write about interpersonal relationships.

Neglecting the many stupid things I’ve written here, I “won” the brain raffle, as did everyone who places into the top quartile (probably everyone on this site, who uses a computer, etc). The key thing to understand is that I did not do a single thing to earn this brain; granted, I have honed my skills over the years, but I didn’t do anything to earn my brain, just as Shaq/%%WELL_KNOWN_ATHLETE%% didn’t do anything to earn his height, or his fast twitch to slow twitch muscle ratio [although he has obviously honed his physical skills].

In my personal “tribal” view of humanity, if you receive a windfall that you did nothing to earn, you are obligated to share it with your tribe. Period. That’s the rules of the game, for me. For this reason, I can’t really support Ayn Rand’s ideas.

[alarmclock]

Ayn Rand and objectivism are something like a crazy loner uncle (or aunt, I guess). The ideas are frankly very interesting, but it’s almost impossible to get past her complete inability to write about interpersonal relationships.

Neglecting the many stupid things I’ve written here, I “won” the brain raffle, as did everyone who places into the top quartile (probably everyone on this site, who uses a computer, etc). The key thing to understand is that I did not do a single thing to earn this brain; granted, I have honed my skills over the years, but I didn’t do anything to earn my brain, just as Shaq/%%WELL_KNOWN_ATHLETE%% didn’t do anything to earn his height, or his fast twitch to slow twitch muscle ratio [although he has obviously honed his physical skills].

In my personal “tribal” view of humanity, if you receive a windfall that you did nothing to earn, you are obligated to share it with your tribe. Period. That’s the rules of the game, for me. For this reason, I can’t really support Ayn Rand’s ideas.

[alarmclock]

Ayn Rand and objectivism are something like a crazy loner uncle (or aunt, I guess). The ideas are frankly very interesting, but it’s almost impossible to get past her complete inability to write about interpersonal relationships.

Neglecting the many stupid things I’ve written here, I “won” the brain raffle, as did everyone who places into the top quartile (probably everyone on this site, who uses a computer, etc). The key thing to understand is that I did not do a single thing to earn this brain; granted, I have honed my skills over the years, but I didn’t do anything to earn my brain, just as Shaq/%%WELL_KNOWN_ATHLETE%% didn’t do anything to earn his height, or his fast twitch to slow twitch muscle ratio [although he has obviously honed his physical skills].

In my personal “tribal” view of humanity, if you receive a windfall that you did nothing to earn, you are obligated to share it with your tribe. Period. That’s the rules of the game, for me. For this reason, I can’t really support Ayn Rand’s ideas.

[alarmclock]

Ayn Rand and objectivism are something like a crazy loner uncle (or aunt, I guess). The ideas are frankly very interesting, but it’s almost impossible to get past her complete inability to write about interpersonal relationships.

Neglecting the many stupid things I’ve written here, I “won” the brain raffle, as did everyone who places into the top quartile (probably everyone on this site, who uses a computer, etc). The key thing to understand is that I did not do a single thing to earn this brain; granted, I have honed my skills over the years, but I didn’t do anything to earn my brain, just as Shaq/%%WELL_KNOWN_ATHLETE%% didn’t do anything to earn his height, or his fast twitch to slow twitch muscle ratio [although he has obviously honed his physical skills].

In my personal “tribal” view of humanity, if you receive a windfall that you did nothing to earn, you are obligated to share it with your tribe. Period. That’s the rules of the game, for me. For this reason, I can’t really support Ayn Rand’s ideas.

[sdduuuude]

The recession proves that systems which are called “free market economies,” but really aren’t free-market economies really don’t work.

[sdduuuude]

The recession proves that systems which are called “free market economies,” but really aren’t free-market economies really don’t work.

[sdduuuude]

The recession proves that systems which are called “free market economies,” but really aren’t free-market economies really don’t work.

[sdduuuude]

The recession proves that systems which are called “free market economies,” but really aren’t free-market economies really don’t work.

[sdduuuude]

The recession proves that systems which are called “free market economies,” but really aren’t free-market economies really don’t work.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think its fair to compare today’s economy with a true capitalist/laissez faire economy/society. Having said that, I don’t think Mr Galt would be leading the captains of industry if he knew what greedy scoundrels they turned out to be. To have free market society you have to have integrity.

An engineer by trade, Galt’s actions include withdrawing his talents, “stopping the motor of the world,” and leading the “strikers” (in this case the captains of industry) against the “looters” (in this case the mob rule of strikers and the common man). The

[Anonymous]

I don’t think its fair to compare today’s economy with a true capitalist/laissez faire economy/society. Having said that, I don’t think Mr Galt would be leading the captains of industry if he knew what greedy scoundrels they turned out to be. To have free market society you have to have integrity.

An engineer by trade, Galt’s actions include withdrawing his talents, “stopping the motor of the world,” and leading the “strikers” (in this case the captains of industry) against the “looters” (in this case the mob rule of strikers and the common man). The

[Anonymous]

I don’t think its fair to compare today’s economy with a true capitalist/laissez faire economy/society. Having said that, I don’t think Mr Galt would be leading the captains of industry if he knew what greedy scoundrels they turned out to be. To have free market society you have to have integrity.

An engineer by trade, Galt’s actions include withdrawing his talents, “stopping the motor of the world,” and leading the “strikers” (in this case the captains of industry) against the “looters” (in this case the mob rule of strikers and the common man). The

[Anonymous]

I don’t think its fair to compare today’s economy with a true capitalist/laissez faire economy/society. Having said that, I don’t think Mr Galt would be leading the captains of industry if he knew what greedy scoundrels they turned out to be. To have free market society you have to have integrity.

An engineer by trade, Galt’s actions include withdrawing his talents, “stopping the motor of the world,” and leading the “strikers” (in this case the captains of industry) against the “looters” (in this case the mob rule of strikers and the common man). The

[Author]

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