A few weeks ago I finished what may be the most amazing and thought-inspiring book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand; the Bible of Selfishness as they call it. The book is considered Rand’s magnum opus, and its 1,200 pages, particularly Galt’s speech (which is 60 pages long) lay the foundation for her philosophy of Objectivism (yes, it’s that kind of reading).
The book is set in the 50s and the mood in America is changing. A prosperous country, with a thriving industry is slowly turning to the ideas of Communism, embracing brotherlove and the Common Good. Meanwhile high-profile members of society — inventors, company owners, musicians — are disappearing without a trace. Quickly it becomes evident that most of these people are prime movers — men and women who make the society move forward. All of them highly motivated, smart and creative were the ones who came up with the solutions to society’s problems. What they got in return was hatred and contempt very similar to what companies like Walmart are experiencing today.
Rand’s book is the capitalist’s Bible and it lays some straight forward rules. To get paid you must produce. Your worth has to come from somewhere. Your “need” is not a valid claim to anything. If you want something you must take by the power of you own mind — you must earn it. I agree with her rules and her philosophy, but mostly just within the scope of her book. I think her idea of a utopia where everyone works hard and money is root of all good is just as absurd — in the real world and with real people — as the idea of prosperity for everyone in a Communist society. But the more likely scenario is that her book was not meant as the Capitalist’s Manifesto, and its intentions are not to incite a riot and overthrow the government (which in her book could be best described as a filthy swamp full of slithering bottom-feeders and purposeless creatures, always concealed and waiting to inject their poison into whatever comes within their reach) but to perhaps to look at one’s own actions, thoughts and accomplishments. To establish a code for how to live one’s own life, and a be productive, think critically, and most importantly, to never depart from that code.
What has intrigued me since I started reading the book, is how much I agree with Rand on her social and political views, from an individual standpoint, of course. At the same time, an acquaintance of mine, who also seems to share her views, would drive me insane and into the most absurdly harsh arguments I’ve ever had with anyone. I could never understand him until I had read the book. I suppose I now understand what drives him as a person, but I still believe that this individual is a bit misguided, because he 1. takes her word as literal gospel, and 2. neglects one fact that separates the novel from reality: the unyielding integrity of character and the moral law — which you will not find in most people. In Rand’s world the world is separated into two kinds of basic people the movers who make it all happen (by producing and/or inventing new things) who conduct themselves by a strict code of ethics in business and pleasure, and the looters (mostly the government and industrialists with close ties to the government) who get what they feel is owed to them by bending the rules in their favor. What my acquaintance constantly seems to forget, is that we don’t live in a society where the industrial tycoon is truly and always a man of his word. Where prosperity is created through ideas and hard work of the individual rather than the exploitation of workers. I have no issue with the prosperity of the selfish — I have no claim to anything they own. When, however, the prosperity of the selfish becomes the a tyranny of such men, that is when we all begin to have a problem. We’re most certainly not a communist society, but the aristocracy of money has largely been replaced by the aristocracy of pull, as she puts it — just look at our current administration and how its conducted itself and its relationships to some of the industry giants.
One of the main characters, Francisco d’Anconia delivers a mini-speech (mini as in only 5 pages long) to some guests at a party, who are revolted by his ideas and his lack of selflessness. How many times have we heard, “Money is the root of all evil?” This should be a nice change of pace:
“So you think that money is the root of all evil?” said Francisco d’Anconia. “Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can’t exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?
“When you accept money in payment for your effort, you do so only on the conviction that you will exchange it for the product of the effort of others. It is not the moochers or the looters who give value to money. Not an ocean of tears nor all the guns in the world can transform those pieces of paper in your wallet into the bread you will need to survive tomorrow. Those pieces of paper, which should have been gold, are a token of honor — your claim upon the energy of the men who produce. Your wallet is your statement of hope that somewhere in the world around there are men who will not default on that moral principle which is the root of money. Is this what you consider evil?
“Have you ever looked for the root of production? Take a look at an electric generator and dare tell yourself that it was created by the muscular effort of unthinking brutes. Try to grow a seed of wheat without the knowledge left to you by men who had to discover it for the first time. Try to obtain your food by means of nothing but physical motions — and you’ll learn that man’s mind is the root of all the goods produced and of all the wealth that has ever existed on earth.
“But you say that mony is made by the strong at the expense of the weak? What strength do you mean? It is not the strength of the guns or muscles. Wealth is the product of man’s capacity to think. Then is money made by the man who invents a motor at the expense of those who did not invent it? Is money made by the intelligent at the expense of the fools? By the able at the expense of the incompetent? By the ambitious at the expense of the lazy? Money is made — before it can be looted or mooched — made by the effort of every honest man, each to the extent of his ability. An honest man is one who knows that he can’t consume more than he has produced.
The speech goes on for a few more pages, but it outlines some basic problems that are in some ways terrifyingly similar to those that have beset our economy recently, and where the experts predict it will go. One reoccurring theme that identifies the moochers, is their indifference to everything. Why do I have to worry about that? It’s not my responsibility! I see this a lot when it comes to politics and social issues, and no one can argue that the average American citizen is pretty ignorant when it comes to world events. Most people I’ve asked can’t even remember when September 11 happened. Yes, it’s far easier to tune out the reality of it all and tune into a manufactured reality available to you at the push of a button on your comfortable little couch. This happens in Rand’s book. I read today in the WSJ, that serious food-shortages are being predicted or at least soaring prices that will further batter our economy with very little chance for recovery. Price of wheat has tripled over the last three years. This happens in Rand’s book. I read yesterday that Europe is turning back to coal, for its power plants partially due to soaring oil prices. This also happens in Rand’s book. I know, I know, every generation whines how bad they have it. I can’t speak for the generations of the past, so I’ll speak for what I see today. I see people who are content. I am content. A co-worker says, “My God, gas will be four dollars a gallon pretty soon.” On the way home I see them in their gas-guzzling SUV. I say “Good. I hope it soars to 10 dollars a gallon by this summer!” Shock. “You’re crazy,” they say. It is too bad, but until it happens everyone will just complain without doing a damn thing about. When it happens I will ride my bike to work and everywhere else. Until then, I am content and find the situation bearable. Just like everyone else.
Many are inclined to say, and in fact have said so to me, that there are no more “prime movers” in society. That one man can no longer make a giant step for mankind. Where this perversion of indvidualist thought comes from is quite intriguing, especially in a country that is known for its unlimited freedom of opportunity, but is not something I would have thought about prior to reading this book.
I read somewhere that a majoirty of readers said this was the second most influental book in their lives, only to be surpassed by the Bibble. I would have to agree.
