Who has read Atlas Shrugged? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Botnst · #31 03-01-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

And that slavish adherence to objectivism is irrational exuberance.

Slavish adherence to XXXX is irrational.

Botnst · #32 03-01-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroßeH

I was surprised to hear that my wife is 80th in line, to check out Rand's book on tape! I asked why not the print and her reply was that there is something different about having that story read to you.
I looked it up online and the first set is like $150!
We were talking about this after having seen Capote; Another one of those books that I have added to my to-read list.

ohai, my first post

Welcome. Sense of humor and thick hide highly recommended.

Carleton Hughes · #33 03-01-2009, 10:57 PM

Atlas Collapsed under the weight of humanity.

Pooka · #34 03-02-2009, 01:40 AM

Well... I think Ann Ryan is a hack and a fraud. What if all smart people stopped contributing? Have you ever known a smart person that COULD stop contributing?

One oil company I was with patented 300 new inventions a DAY. The Phds. in the research lab would often come in and work 80 hour weeks if they thought they were on to something. And yes, some of them that were retired would come back and work for free. The thought of changing the world was just to attractive to stay away from. No one cared what they invented since it was Marketings' job to sell things.

Another smart fellow invented the AK-47 while he was laying flat on his back recovering from wounds he received on the battlefield. He knew he would never see a dime from it, but he had to do something besides just lay there and go nuts.

By the way, Ryan ripped off most of A.S. from a 1922 book called "The Driver" It was, under the copyright laws then, just out of copyright.

And her first book about American Samoa? She made all of that up. It reflected her views n life and sold like carzy. But just because someone is popular it does not make them right when the real world shows up.

If all the smart people decided to stop producing someone else would pick up where they left off. Can anyone name a period of history where they have not?

Botnst · #35 03-02-2009, 01:43 AM

That's why we call it "fiction". The premise of the book is, "Just suppose ...".

Ironically you make Rand's point, perfectly.

She wrote about Samoa? That is a new one. What's the title?

kerry · #36 03-02-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

She wrote about Samoa? That is a new one. What's the title?

She was writing under the pseudonym of Margaret Mead.

10fords · #37 03-02-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

Well... I think Ann Ryan is a hack and a fraud. What if all smart people stopped contributing? Have you ever known a smart person that COULD stop contributing?

One oil company I was with patented 300 new inventions a DAY. The Phds. in the research lab would often come in and work 80 hour weeks if they thought they were on to something. And yes, some of them that were retired would come back and work for free. The thought of changing the world was just to attractive to stay away from. No one cared what they invented since it was Marketings' job to sell things.

Another smart fellow invented the AK-47 while he was laying flat on his back recovering from wounds he received on the battlefield. He knew he would never see a dime from it, but he had to do something besides just lay there and go nuts.

By the way, Ryan ripped off most of A.S. from a 1922 book called "The Driver" It was, under the copyright laws then, just out of copyright.

And her first book about American Samoa? She made all of that up. It reflected her views n life and sold like carzy. But just because someone is popular it does not make them right when the real world shows up.

If all the smart people decided to stop producing someone else would pick up where they left off. Can anyone name a period of history where they have not?

Can anyone name a period in history when people who produce were facing such a large redistribution of their wealth? Sounds to me like you are betting your future that someone else will take care of your lack of production. I personally will do anything I can to make sure I don't contribute, and most of the people I know feel the same. If you are counting on the smart producers to take care of you you might want to make other plans.

mplafleur · #38 03-02-2009, 10:29 AM

I've read it maybe three or four times. I've also read Anthem, We the Living and The Fountainhead. I think it's about time I read We the Living again. It was made into a film in Italy during the war and was very popular before Musolini was told it carried an anti-fascist message.

I just read that it was re-edited and approved by Ayn Rand for release in 1986. Has anyone seen this?

BTW: My current selection for Dagny Taggart is Kate Winslet.

kerry · #39 03-02-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplafleur

I just read that it was re-edited and approved by Ayn Rand for release in 1986.

She worked from beyond the grave?

mplafleur · #40 03-02-2009, 10:54 AM

The release date may have nothing to do with when she approved it. I might have worded it better.

It was supposedly re-edited and approved by Ayn Rand and released in 1986.

mgburg · #41 03-02-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

... And then, sometimes, they wake up in rubble with a huge headache, a la Germany 1945. ... Or they behave like Tom Cruise. Or Alan Greenspan. ... Oops.

Germany, 1945? That was capitalism? Hooboyhowdy!

Tom is a nutcase...no capitalism there...just chasing a ghost of some dead sci-fi writer...his reward has nothing to do with reality.

Greenspan? Capitalism WITHOUT checks and balances isn't good anyway you package it...someone was doing some "insider trading" to allow the fox into the henhouse...

Capitalism, with properly enforced checks and balances beats any other system out there, or that has expired, hands down...

And, like anything...ignore the important parts, forget about maintenance and leave certain individuals in charge WAY TOO LONG and you'll witness the death of any good idea, regardless it's origins.

That is a proven truism...

Botnst · #42 03-02-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

She was writing under the pseudonym of Margaret Mead.

My, that ol' gal did git around, di'nt she?

Botnst · #43 03-02-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplafleur

I've read it maybe three or four times. I've also read Anthem, We the Living and The Fountainhead. I think it's about time I read We the Living again. It was made into a film in Italy during the war and was very popular before Musolini was told it carried an anti-fascist message.

I just read that it was re-edited and approved by Ayn Rand for release in 1986. Has anyone seen this?

BTW: My current selection for Dagny Taggart is Kate Winslet.

She's pretty but pouty & girlish. Taggart should project intelligent, arrogant, self-assurance. Cate Blanchette? Not a girlish beauty but when she does the queen thing in the her role in "Elizabeth" it's pretty good. Also her role in "Aviator."

Pooka · #44 03-02-2009, 05:21 PM

Thanks for the Margret Mead correction. I guess I am getting too old to make a long trip and then make a comment after I just got back.

I was glad to see others point out this is a work of fiction. The most fictious part is that creative people can stop being creative because they want too. Anyone who could beleve this dosen't know many creative people.

I have never know a sucessful person that created for others. They all created for themself because they wanted too.

Try this: Create something. Now stop. Easy, is it not?

10fords · #45 03-02-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

Thanks for the Margret Mead correction. I guess I am getting too old to make a long trip and then make a comment after I just got back.

I was glad to see others point out this is a work of fiction. The most fictious part is that creative people can stop being creative because they want too. Anyone who could beleve this dosen't know many creative people.

I have never know a sucessful person that created for others. They all created for themself because they wanted too.

Try this: Create something. Now stop. Easy, is it not?

I'm not sure what you are trying to say

The characters in Atlas Shrugged certainly didn't stop being creative, they just stopped allowing the government to force them to produce. I think the creative people are going to find some very creative ways to make sure they only produce what they absolutely have to for the government and the looters.