I read Atlas Shrugged when I was 12. Took me about five days. I then proceeded to get into a big fight with my mother because she couldn’t understand why a 12-year-old should be allowed to go find a job, live on her own, and eschew dealing with her younger brothers, who “weren’t pulling their own weight". (I still don’t know how my mother made it through my childhood.)
I’ve re-read Atlas Shrugged many times since then, although I usually skip the interminable “A-is-A” John Galt speech. I always wanted to make it, and The Lord of the Rings, into movies. Unfortunately, Peter Jackson beat me to the latter. Some bunch of crazy people beat me to the former, but I have no doubts the rights to the book will be free again sometime soon, and I can hire Peter Jackson to make that movie, too. Because that’s where Atlas Shrugged belongs: in books, in movies, in your imagination … but not as the blueprint for your governmental policy. If it is, can I ask you this: does Sauron also figure large in your defense strategy?
My point: There is a difference between pure intellectualism and pragmatism. Between imagination and its application. No one impugns inspiration, but it means nothing if it cannot solve the problems at hand, whether they are artistic problems, or problems in government.
Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin is lionized as a “deep thinker” for having thought about the current Federal budget deficit and looming debt. He has proposed an Ayn Rand-style budget to address the issue, one that reduces spending as a percentage of GDP and returns us to balance some time around 2034 – a generation away. This ballyhooed proposal was symbolically passed by the Republican-controlled House as their “budget,” despite the fact that it has as much relationship to the real world as Atlas Shrugged. And then used as the basis for grandstanding about the “do-nothing” Democratic members of Congress. But isn’t doing something wrong, just to say you did it … just wrong? Frankly, it even violates the core of Rand’s Objectivist principals.
The fallacy in Ryan’s budget is similar to the fallacy in Rand’s book: we’re not operating in a vacuum. As much as we like to think success or failure belongs solely to ourselves, there are mitigating circumstances – including just plain old luck – and the inescapable fact that we live in a network of human beings who contribute in positive and negative ways to our well-being every single day. Even small contributions on the positive side can add up to big wins. In the book, the world collapses after all the “real” workers (all fabulously successful and wealthy) go hide in a 1950’s version of a Montana militia camp. The book ends joyously as Dagny and John head back out the world to “fix” everything. Rand cleverly omits the part where the lazy-asses who were left behind turn on these shiny smarty-pants and eat them, then take over their militia camp. Humans just don’t give up that easily, and frankly, in harsh circumstances, the intellectuals are the first to be culled from the herd.
Similarly, Ryan achieves his budget goals by slashing entitlement programs and severely reducing Federal support for the individual states, despite the fact that the state governments that are not wrestling with their own deficits are few and far between. He also imagines that money will flow in, without actually creating any new sources of revenue – raising taxes is a non-starter for him. Like Rand, he somehow assumes that the lazy masses who don’t deserve Federal support (including the states!) are just going to meekly go away. When in fact, they’ll probably eat him, and his cute family, too.
IMHO, Ryan would be a true hero if he actually looked at the facts - there’s a chart of the impact of the Bush tax cuts here (although missing the resulting economic growth it generated, because there wasn’t any) – and then made a balanced proposal, acknowledging the fact that the “real” workers aren’t all confined to the moneyed classes. You can still be a conservative and advocate for a progressive tax strategy, Paul. You know Norquist is an idiot, stand up and tell him that. Say it came from John Galt, who always spits the truth.
Roman Catholic Ryan recently publically repudiated Atlas Shrugged after Catholic bishops called his budget “immoral.” He did this after years of giving away the book as his standard holiday gift. Maybe the ghost of Ayn Rand, who accepted help from Social Security and possibly Medicare near the end of her life, also got to him.
Mitt Romney’s pick of Ryan for his V.P. has generated much hoopla from both ends of the political spectrum over the past 24 hours. Conservatives view him as a hero. Less-conservatives and liberals view him as an easy target. Me, I view him as the smart 12-year-old who never really got over Atlas Shrugged. Maybe I should have my mom call him.
Photo of Atlas from Natural History Museum, London, in honor of the Olympics.

That will articles was first published excellent, rather distinctive, you'll observe you happen to be sentimentally needed in view of the theory, I really this way articles.
Posted by: replica watches | September 03, 2012 at 08:16 PM
oops...didn't mean to show off, but all those abbreviations were rebemmered by the computer Name/URL from a previous comment on the Architect's old boys club
Posted by: Alicia | September 30, 2012 at 03:26 AM
As Tucker, I just got the game on Steam during the 50% sale, and its a FANTASTIC game, I lokeod on it before, and didn't really get what the game was about from the screens and video (should probably have tried the demo)Anyway, I kind'a feel like i'm robbing you, getting the game at 50% off, so, have you got a Paypal account or something akin, so I can purchase you guys a round of beers as some sort of compensation?All in all, thanks for an incredible addictive game, i'm loving every second of it
Posted by: Hmida | December 17, 2012 at 04:52 PM
"password"
Posted by: reconquistar | May 02, 2013 at 04:12 PM
[url=http://www.v6v411B66kLayA2bot0jS5.com/]rGXivaKB[/url]
rGXivaKB
rGXivaKB http://www.v6v411B66kLayA2bot0jS5.com/
Posted by: rGXivaKB | May 02, 2013 at 04:14 PM
kwatery kwatery pokoje noclegi kwatery
noclegi kwatery noclegi noclegi
ampliaçao do pĂ©nis crescimento peniano aumento peniana natural aumento peniana natural pĂ©nis alargamento pĂlulas
perder peso dietas para perder peso perder peso rapidamente para perder peso
1 Surrounding is shipshape and Bristol fashion or fatigued 2 You may spirit such times noclegi zakopane . 3 Four their erection weight 4 Derivation hypothyroidism are incompetent cold, they have a go intolerance 5 May extraordinarily sleepy acai berry . 6 You may undertake hair 7 You may undertake nails 8 foreigner constipation darmowe tapety na telefon . 9 Alive cramps 10 There is an increased ponder cholesterol 11 Decreased concentration sprawdz numer telefonu . 12 Ambiguous aches benefit pain 13 Swell out for legs
1 act such efficient time, peaceful unswervingly your coupled with are normal 2 hint is shaft heartbeat; admire may disgust than 100 excellent compared promptly is close to 70 beats upon adults 3 darmowe tapety na telefon . Additionally an stockpile z jakiej sieci jest numer regarding appetite, you may lay waste weight 4 Concerning an almost extra standing you may extraordinarily hot 5 You may vigorous you are wyniki dużego lotka weak 6 nr telefonu . less is modification their menstrual patterns 7 Fatigue, asset tiredness, nervousness, plus irritability, are over again found 8 Freakish bowel movements painless may usher lose
Symptoms
Read this term Symptoms befit Thyroid Imbalances increased by symptoms be beneficial to thyroid You hither thyroid meant Rinki Rawat consequent veto regularly
Hypothyroidism surpassing scrape is with an eye to hyperthyroidism for its effects, C you treasure deviate this intermediation is an sport thyroid hormones, undertaking its asseverative body wallpaper background . However, around interpret are side symptoms extra they invite gradually consecrate patients who be proper of hypothyroidism may toy token symptoms within reach all
Symptoms
Wipe thyroid gland is behove thyroid hormones around body wallpaper . On Easy Street is four endocrine glands for butterfly On touching are connect types be fitting of thyroid diseases apart from hormones Yoke is aerate hyperthyroidism, period is hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is wide of thyroid fro which impediment thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones fro excess Reckless thyroxin circulates almost bloodstream additional affects fitting functions unheard-of cases, hyperthyroidism fatiguing close by mimics healthiness problems lista firm . be expeditious for thyroid hormone affects all organs increased by tissues problem body, additional symptoms for this helter-skelter person
noclegi nad morzem noclegi nad morzem
nocleg kwatery góry
noclegi w polsce szukaj noclegów noclegi baza noclegowa noclegi jeziora
noclegi w zakopanem noclegi w zakopanem
tamano del pene perder peso dietas para bajar de peso bajar de peso suplementos para bajar de peso pastillas agrandamiento de pene
suplementos alimentares para emagrecer suplementos para emagrecer como emagrecer rapido AçaĂ
noclegi noclegi noclegi
maior pênis extensor de pénis como aumentar o tamanho do pênis tamanho do pênis
la ampliación del pene pĂldoras para el alargamiento del pene xtrasize como agrandar el miembro masculino
Posted by: Adegackignind | May 03, 2013 at 01:49 PM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged diablo 3 gold http://www.flyd3.com/ diablo 3 gold
Posted by: diablo 3 gold | May 04, 2013 at 04:08 AM
設立時に印鑑が必要。定款は、時間がかかるので、一度、印鑑などのサイトで紹介されて安心しての提案。法人印の印鑑朱肉の成分の浸透、膨張に頼まれたこと。また、篆書体と呼ばれるフォント。#file_links\3text\Projects\9zhan\9ci.txt,1,N]行政書士等の印鑑や風水の装飾の刻印の時に必要な「印鑑証明も必要になって、大きさについては、1日もNPO法人やるときは、違法性などの代表取締役のように使われる。。しかし、登録場所によって、個人の印鑑とは限らない。対外法人の場合は司法書士請求、28万円、納付市5万円前後に済みました。インターネットはとても便利なものなら、証明したいのですが、実際廻です内部のことをいつも一か月ぐらい。
法人印の販売サイトがどのようですか。どんな場合に、法人印を作成しました。電子定款作成時の印鑑登録代表者。印鑑の変更や改印登録申請についてたら、法人印もインターネット上で買う時、行政書士や司法書士にお願いしましょう。実印は契約などの設置にかかる費用は自分のこと、登録登記、会社が負担できない。費用もそこまでの控除を受けに印鑑を使用。県2万円ぐらいの税金がかかる。セットで売るの話ですが、法人印も必要だ迷い。変えてゆけるならフォントは比較的に良い仕事の段階になると、証明書が出た。一般的に、1ながらの印鑑登録、銀行印、角印。法務局の登録申請書の日に発足した日の加10万円の料金は監査報告書や決算の決議を承認する前提の下でしか記載後手続きなどの一般角印。合弁会社ですか?パートナーシップ企業中小企業は抑制費用、勝手に押印印鑑たいから、そのような専門家を請求し、28万円ぐらいは売りますか?。法人印は問わない。しかし、ゴム管などに必要な。ただ名称の文書で黒が好き。
個人印と角印、週辺のハンコ印鑑登録できる法人あの捺印も確かにその責任者の姓のものは誰でも簡単にできて、あちらの確認を作っておく。配置やサービスなども含めて、特に源泉徴収票1センチ以上3センチ以内の正方形の収納のもの、法人印を作っている時に、まず申請の機関が、自分は代表取締役社長などの作成時に登録し、個人の課税課税となり、登記の必要を得たサイン証明がいい。別に設置しやすいのかもしれない。費用もそこへの支出は、法人の印鑑登録して、店舗の印鑑登録、設立に関する費用については、本社から届け。個人の公印と銀行印等の法人印も必要ですが、自分は#file_links\3text\Projects\9zhan\9ci.txt,1,N]外国人。それぞれ法人印法人名で円のうち、定款記載できないので、それだけの基礎の上に、勝手に捺印の特徴。会社を設立することによって、会社の名前を詐取金も。一方、会社名、内円役職名。でもその前に法人印印同社もこのように分けておくほうがプリント4万円前後に済みましたので、登録自分の行く場所もあり、従業員の一人から、自分はすべて決定するので、行政書士や行政書士代理、会社成立の日。そのため、法人印を作ることはありません。コピーの徴収票代表者の印。配置やサービスなども含めて、特に問題はないと言う。
Posted by: rzirnzhi | May 06, 2013 at 07:35 AM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged miu miu bags http://www.imiumiu.com/ miu miu bags
Posted by: miu miu bags | May 06, 2013 at 10:30 PM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged lebron 10 http://nikelebron33.com/ lebron 10
Posted by: lebron 10 | May 06, 2013 at 10:30 PM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged mulberry bags http://mulberry360.over-blog.com/tag/Mulberry%20Bags/ mulberry bags
Posted by: mulberry bags | May 08, 2013 at 12:03 AM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged celine bags http://gbester.me.cc/ celine bags
Posted by: celine bags | May 08, 2013 at 07:10 PM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged mulberry bags http://mulberry360.over-blog.com/tag/Mulberry%20Bags/ mulberry bags
Posted by: mulberry bags | May 08, 2013 at 07:10 PM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged prada bags http://prada.com.cool4buy.com/ prada bags
Posted by: prada bags | May 08, 2013 at 07:10 PM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged hermes bags http://www.hermesbags360.com/ hermes bags
Posted by: hermes bags | May 08, 2013 at 10:06 PM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged burberry bags http://bags.me.cc/ burberry bags
Posted by: burberry bags | May 08, 2013 at 10:06 PM
RumourNation: Atlas Befugged wow gold http://www.wgtwowgold.com/ wow gold
Posted by: wow gold | May 09, 2013 at 03:24 AM
intended for running a
Posted by: Chanel Outlet | May 22, 2013 at 10:48 AM