Ayn
Rand believes government is inefficient. She wrote book called Atlas Shrugged to
let us know. Of course, if you feel the need to confirm the sentiment, just take
a trip to the DMV. As horrid as that might be, it would save you the bother of
suffering through 1,200 pages in pursuit of a parallel state of utopia that is
as unrealistic as the one she’s against. I offer here an explanation of the
irrationality that brought her to us.
I
had long been intrigued by the cover of this book and the unusual name that went
with it. As blindsided market economics grew in popularity, the unusual name
really began to resonate and my curiosity peaked.
I
picked up her first novel, “We, the Living.” Loosely based on her escape from
the newly formed Soviet Union, I was doubly hooked. Meaning, I’ve always had a
fascination for Russian History – being well versed in the atrocity that was the
Bolshevik State.
Less
attuned to the sheer violence, this was a study in how the pursuit of the
communist ideal led the country into crippling backwardness. Incrementally
detailing the descent, the tragic ending of the main character served as a
victory to the human spirit nonetheless.
And
if I don’t say, one of the most amazing finishes I’ve ever read. Atlas Shrugged
was clearly in my future.
In
real life, Ayn Rand’s escape was far less dramatic, but the experience obviously
drove her life’s work. Unfortunately, it influenced her to the point of
irrationality. I know the feeling.
Not
nearly of the magnitude of Rand’s experience, an incident in my life can
sometimes suspend the equal consideration that all should be addressed with.
Prejudice. I was wronged by a group –
an occupation – and I find myself lumping the entire field to the individual who
crossed me. Nonetheless, I am aware of this and keep it in check but it is
valuable to see how people succumb to this emotion.
Hello
Ayn Rand.
The
Soviet Union was its brother’s keeper. On an individual basis, the results – at
best – are mixed. Playing them out across an entire society is looking for
trouble. The catastrophic incidences are too numerous to list.
Thus
ensconced in the opposite extreme, Rand’s irrationality remained nowhere near in
check but that doesn’t mean “objectivism” doesn’t contain rational purpose.
“Great men” took risks and made super human efforts to cross the oceans, build
the railroads and link the world together by transatlantic and coaxial cables.
And she’s correct in saying that societies often unfairly criticize the virtue
of those efforts – especially in consideration of the riches it brings them.
Dagny
Taggert and Hank Rearden are the primary victims of the stagnant economic
ideology that over took the world. The two characters and those of their
literary ilk want to produce and earn based solely on their ability to meet
demand. I say, God Bless ‘em
Unfortunately,
this does not sound like the present day “destroyers” who brought down the world
economy. In practice, too many seek unfair advantage over competitors, and often
in at the expense of the public, through the purchase of politicians.
Or
they’ll just break the law. HSBC is under investigation for laundering drug money for Mexican
cartels and they’re not the first. The government will settle and the fine will
be insignificant in comparison to the
profits.
Why?
Because the banks are armed with
lawyers that will drag out the process and make the government look bad. I doubt
Hank Rearden would approve.
Rand
then turns to an industrial class that has gone on strike. They feel the world
does not appreciate enough the wealth and opportunity provided through the ages.
But can the same be said of the Apple subsidiary Foxconn. It was forced to place
netting around the housing of its semi-enslaved Chinese workers to cut into the
suicide rate bore of horrendous conditions.
In
turn, sweatshops and dire working conditions go unreported around the world in
compliance with a media that protects the overlords. Right here, a Florida Super
Market Chain called Publix, among others, employed Human Labor Trafficking
practices to increase its bottom line.
On
the other hand, the unfettered system of capitalism that companies enjoy outside American borders does lead to
the general uplift of those host societies, as Alan Greenspan would tell
you.
This
sounds awfully like the speak of other Utopian visions. But, at the same time,
adding up the pluses and minuses may just justify the pain. Given the
unfortunate state of the human condition, across the landscape of history and
its horror, all possibly go under the heading of the price of doing
business.
Why
then can she not extend a similar analogy to the operation of government and the
check against excess?
Did
I mention irrationality, which I estimate is the reason Atlas succumbed
nonviolently to the said dystopia. In this, she’s warning of the most likely
manner in which our democratic system would fall to communism. The Bush tax cuts
in serious consideration of repeal, we can only resign to our sealed fate.
Please!!!
Aside
from the inefficiency and waste that goes with government programs, increasing
taxes helps the government dole out political power – thus amounting to poor use
of capital and distorting values in the market place. (Of course, I don’t see
Exxon/Mobil or the nuclear industry
deferring on the Corporate Welfare that Ayn Rand thinks they would.)
Given
the human condition across the landscape of history, this amounts to the price
of doing business. In case that doesn’t sound familiar, let’s just say, business
needs government to save itself from itself and government needs business to
save itself from itself.
Despite
the straight forward concept, it’s understandable how Ayn Rand’s irrational
experience tainted her work. But the Tea Party and all those who think Atlas
Shrugged should be viewed as a biblical blue print for all economic
consideration – God help us
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