'Atlas Shrugged': Ayn Rand Laughs; The Rest Of Us Weep

by Frank Miele - June 6th, 2009 - Daily Interlake

"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.

Unintended consequences. Unintended consequences are the cause of all government failures. You cannot start with the concept that you can pass a law and make everyone become well intentioned and good... any more than you can legislate repeal of the 'law of gravity'. I have always been astounded that liberals-progressives-socialists-communists, say "well of course you can't repeal the law of gravity" and then they turn around and try to do just that by rephrasing the wording of the law to do it indirectly. As if that made any difference.

Liberals-etc always demand equal results through well intentioned laws. They never get equal results. They just get corruption. Chicago style politics is the essence of this farce.

This editorial by Frank Miele is his usual excellent summation of the happenings of the world. It is also an excellent summation of the theme of a great book, 'Atlas Shrugged'. Article by article Frank is becoming my second favorite writer after Thomas Sowell. I highly recommend Frank Miele.