"Atlas Shrugged" the Movie Part II Due Out in October 2012: Too Late for France But Not the USA!

Some good news:  they finished Part II of the movie "Atlas Shrugged," based on the novel by Ayn Rand.  I really enjoyed the book and I watched the movie, Part I on Netflicks.  I thought the film was true to the book and well made.

Now it has been announced that Part II of the film will be due in theaters in October 2012 -- just in time for the presidential elections!  Great timing.

You can learn more about the movie and get on their newsletter list at the site "Who Is John Galt?"

"Atlas Shrugged" is a novel written in 1957 by libertarian Ayn Rand, a refugee from communist Russia.  She was an ardent believer in free market capitalism and limited government, but she was not your average conservative.  Rand was an atheist who opposed American intervention in the Korean and Viet Nam wars, even though she hated communism for the brutal evil that it was.

"Who is John Galt?" is a famous line from the novel; supposedly it became a popular saying meaning "Who knows?"  The saying existed only in the novel but has since become a kind of motto for free market capitalists who oppose socialism and government intervention into the marketplace.

John Galt was a capitalist character in the novel, who became disgusted with endless government meddling and intervention in the economy, so he drops out of the economy, stops producing goods and services.  He then starts his own private society, hidden in the mountains of Colorado, where pure capitalism reigns.  He encourages other capitalists to drop out as well, and soon captains of industry are disappearing along with the wealth they produce.  This causes great consternation among the socialists and statists in government, because if no one produces the wealth, there is nothing to appropriate or redistribute.

Today, in our increasingly socialist economy, the producers are dropping out.  Not to join private societies in the mountains, but to either take their productivity elsewhere or slow or even stop producing.  When this happens, they say that "Atlas is Shrugging" -- a reference to the mythical Atlas who held the world on his shoulders until he said to hell with it and let the orb free fall.

Currently, pundits are wondering if the French rich will cross the Channel and move to England or elsewhere, to prevent the new Bolsheviks from appropriating their wealth.  With regard to France we may ask, "Will Atlas shrug?"

Film Clip from Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead," the Movie

Scenes from the film of Ayn Rand's novel, "The Fountainhead." Hat tip Nicomaque.

"Atlas Shrugged" Movie Starts April 15: Who Is John Galt?

Pamela Geller as Dagny Taggart, VP of Taggart
Transcontinental Railroad Lines (of "Atlas Shrugged")

The Other McCain is reporting that the "Atlas Shrugged" movie begins showing in theaters on April 15.  I'd love to see that, and I hope it is true to the book.  Ayn Rand's famous novel about the capitalist good guys fighting the socialist morons is, without a doubt, the greatest pro-capitalism story of all time.  It has inspired the contempt and hatred of leftists since the book debuted in 1957.

The story is about key capitalists bowing out of the economy as governmental interference increases.  The capitalists start their own colony and economy in a hidden valley in Colorado, and let the larger economy crash on the shoals of governmental overreach.  The term "Who is John Galt?" refers to an early leader of the capitalist movement, who walks off the job one day after a pro-socialist meeting of the workers.  "Who is John Galt?" then becomes a popular saying like "What's the price of tea in China?" or "Does a bear sh*t in the woods?" or simply "Who knows?"

Today, more than fifty years later, politicians have learned nothing about economics, and governmental overreach is on steroids.  When major companies go out of business or move their operations overseas (to escape high taxation and onerous regulation), don't ask "Why?"  Ask "Who is John Galt?"

The term "Atlas Shrugged" refers to the great Atlas of capitalism who, instead of continuing to hoist the world on his shoulders, shrugs off the burden.  Now when companies shut down and entrepreneurs drop out of the economy or leave our tax world to find freer havens, people say that "Atlas is shrugging."  Pamela Geller named her blog after this phenomenon, i.e. "Atlas Shrugs."

This phenomenon is not new.  I remember years ago when European politicians complained of the "brain drain" to the United States, as talented European engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs fled to the greener pastures of North America.  Today we may be experiencing a "reverse brain drain" as the technically talented follow their ambition to China and India.  Socialism and its weaker sister liberalism do not strengthen an economy, they slowly choke the life out of it, resulting in lower productivity as the talented seek greater opportunity elsewhere.

A Tribute to Pamela Geller and "Atlas Shrugs"

There's a scene in Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" where Dagny gets out of the train to investigate a delay. She's the brains behind Taggart Railroad and soon has the train running on time. The Photoshop on the left was inspired by that scene.

Pamela Geller named her blog "Atlas Shrugs" in honor of Ayn Rand's great novel of economic freedom. Today I created this Photoshop tribute to Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs Blog, "Atlas Shrugged" the novel, and of course, to Ayn Rand.

The Dagny character in this Photoshop tribute looks a lot like Pamela Geller and why not? Dagny was a beautiful woman. So is Pamela.

Now if I could just convince Pamela to use this image as part of her blog banner.

Update: Pamela has linked to this post. Thanks Pamela!

I'm a BAA-AAD Boy

Egads, I haven't posted in a week. I have another blog and I was working on that one. Also, I was reading Ayn Rand's book, "We The Living." It is a fictional tale of a Russian family living through the early years of the Communist revolution, but is based on Ayn Rand's actual experiences, since she lived them. Rand really writes well. Her fiction is excellent - the plot and the characters keep you interested and involved.

My friend, Professor Donald Douglas tells me he has been harrassed lately by Mike Tuggle, who insists on posting rants to his blog. Give it up Tuggle. You arguing with the professor is like a kid playing sandlot ball trying to compete in the major leagues.

Interviewing for Jobs

Sorry for the lack of postings this week. I have been interviewing for projects and/or full time positions.

I finished reading "Atlas Shrugged" this evening. What a powerful book.

I also received my order from Amazon of three more of Ayn Rand's books: Capitalism, the Unknown Ideal; We the Living; and The Art of Selfishness. I have enough reading material to keep me busy for a couple of weeks.

Ayn Rand and "Atlas Shrugged"

Sorry for the dearth of postings over the weekend. I didn't turn my computer on at all - I just read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. I am 3/4 of the way through the book and should finish it this week. The book grabbed me and I couldn't put it down.

Funny how liberals hate this book. I remember that film "Dirty Dancing" where a waiter in the vacation clubhouse is mean and nasty. When confronted over his nastiness, he pulls a paperback copy of "Atlas Shrugged" out of his back pocket and essentially says "because of this book!" It was a transparently asinine liberal movie-making trick - sully the quality of the book because the leftwing movie director didn't agree with its content. It's a book that only makes people into mean ol' nasties.

"Atlas Shrugged" is a very liberating book in many ways. It relieves us of guilt for wanting to make money and be successful; it relieves us of the old-fashioned, destructive notion that "money is the root of all evil." After reading the first 800 pages, I feel good, freer somehow.

Spending the Weekend with Ayn Rand

I was wondering what to do with the long Memorial Day weekend this morning. I have read all of my good books and have only one in progress. Then it came to me: I can read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. I started the book about 5 years ago and never finished it. I had previously read two of Rand's books, "Anthem" and "The Fountainhead," enjoying them both.

Now it's time to get started on Ayn Rand's real masterpiece. I will just start over from the beginning since it has been so long.

I go now, to fetch my second cup of coffee, my pipe and my book, to retire to my pastoral refuge in the backyard where I will sit, sip, smoke and savor, that is, savor the words of truth by Ayn Rand. I will emerge from my refuge even more sage and saintly then I am even now.

Eat your hearts out, liberals.