The Twentieth Century Motor Company Part 1 of 3

[Blomsternisse]

Seldom have I been so disgusted by socialism as after hearing this

[MrJohngalt2011]

Wonderful part of the book. This is why socialism does not work and can not every work. Socialism ignores human nature. It is not that human nature is evil or cruel, it is just human nature. Socialism will always in all cases lead to slavery and death.

[pacifiedfools]

This pretty much proves socialism and communism will not work.

[htsone]

@Anarchohol

First off, I ain't your "buddy". Second, if you weren't comprehension impaired, you'd notice that I never called them moochers. Third, I don't need preached to by fools who liken themselves to "anarchists".

[jpalberthoward9]

This is a story within a story. It's a cool literary device. Another one that should not be missed is in "The Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoevsky. It's the chapter titled The Grand Inquisitor, and it describes a "what if" scenario of Christ returning to earth during the Spanish Inquisition. Russian authors often write long novels, but that is because most of them have much to say. It's too bad people have such short attention spans, they miss out on a whole bunch of really good stuff.

[fowlerbookcritic]

Thank you sooo much for this! I am sharing all 3 of these on my FB wall! I have often said to people that if Atlas Shrugged is too overwhelming for you then please, at least read the chapter "The Sign of the Dollar" because at least you will get the overall concept of what it was Ayn Rand delivered. Again, Thank You So Much for this!!!

[TheDissident77]

READ "ANIMAL FARM" -another good story of how socialism destroys the soul, mind and the body

[EmptyJackets]

3 moochers clicked 'dislike'

[tylerdaley2]

Thanks for this. Very  helpful :)

[DavidD165]

This is outstanding because this is what Obama wants for America.

[TheNastyLiberal]

It occurs to me, reading this tripe, that Ayn Rand knew about as much about work as Queen Esther of Alaska knows about America. "Objectivism"? "Rationality"? Not from where I stand. I did enjoy the novel "Anthem" when I was a kid, though... a little.

[TheDissident77]

@TheNastyLiberal - Don't really understand the psychological and physical result of socialism do you. She lived in USSR and saw its degradation. When you are forced, by gun or by moral code to work for another and not for your own, the end result is moochers.

[htsone]

This country is full of moochers nowadays. Sad thing is, many who are don't realize it. Not that I wish anyone to pay taxes to a worthless government, but almost 50% pay no income tax now. Think they're looking for "change"?

[exmoagogo]

Sounds like unions to me.

[mustang607]

Sounds much like how the regressives got voted in the largest ponzi scheme in existence, "social security."

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

How has that been working out? Check out usdebtclock org to find out.

[madmax8903]

Key speech in a brilliant book. Embodies all the concepts and moves the book outside the realms of ordinary fiction. This shit is has been happening for thousands of years, is happening today, cemented in government policy. From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs is something you hear politicians in the UK spout almost verbatim without a murmur of protest, and the tax system is set up precisely along those lines. Bankers didn't cause the recession, altruism did.

[buzzclick500]

Is this pageful of words going to be the "new way" on Youtube?

[prayfortruejustice]

Do you think they will extend unemployment again.  Who is John Galt?

[Highlander9992003]

From the young enginerr that stood up that day and said, "I'll stop the motor of the world"... Who is John Galt?

[brasso4u]

In any company, if you are a bright, hard worker, you are a threat to higher mgmt. They don't want to be shown up as not as able as you, and more importantly, they don't want to even think you are better. If you are a good worker you will get every shit job, every tough job that comes up, 'cause mgmt won't trust it to the other incompetents you work with. Your reward? Watch the kiss-asses get promotions, raises, awards. Why do you see the old-timer's just putting in their time? Experience.

[buzzclick500]

@brasso4u : Been there, done that. One company I worked for, the management said, "Just do the best job you know how to and take care of the guests." Two of the best years of my working life--went by like a month. A taste of serious freedom, complimented by handsome compensation.

[JoeMadAsHell]

It is only fiction in Proper nouns...the ideology becomes non-fiction when we live it at any point in time, which we are. If I write a book on World War III, it may be "made up shit" today and a very real lesson tomorrow. I am in a union and I can already see that, although I make a good wage as a new journeyman, the guy who has been doing this work for 20 years makes the same wage as I do. Glass ceiling does not even come close to the stagnating pool of giving us just enough to keep us working.

[mustang607]

Sounds like what is happening today. And this disease of social needs against individual rights is spreading. People who reason know what is at the end of this road.

[qualqui]

Very interestin', stay tuned for part 2 and 3.

[CMLovejoy]

There's was no such thing as 20th century motors.

This is all fictitious.

[rj5150]

Yes but there is truth in fiction

[CMLovejoy]

There are both pro's and con's to both capitalism and communism.

I've worked in a communist union auto plant and it was the best job I've ever had.

[Bcapitalist]

@CMLovejoy CMLovejoy I bet you didn't have to think, but you took a nice paycheck home huh. The producers did all of the thinking didn't they.

[CMLovejoy]

@Bcapitalist Union shops are more productive and efficient than non union shops. Its a fact.

[tugatrader]

Is this from the audiobook, you made by you? Anyway, good work!

[rambo26]

This is my favourite part of Atlas

[NoMorFear]

Another thing, what Rand talks about in Atlas, like how prodution deteiorates without the profit motive, really has no basis. On the contrary, during the Spanish Revolution, contrary to what propaganda has told you, prodution rose dramatically WITHOUT bosses, without government or the state. People like Rand and the establishment help to convince and indoctrinate people to be close-minded and ignorant on many of these issues.

It seems like it takes some time to update the comments, illbe bak

[NoMorFear]

The great thing about novels is that they allow people to make shit up.

Rand's fantasy world on how she thinks communism or w/e will work is comically shallow and skewed.

[AmeriKidz]

Thanks for commenting, I suppose I'd counter you by pointing out that many lessons/ideas are taught via parables and/or analogies. I rather agree with Rand because my family lived/survived under communism in Russia. The first hand knowledge I have is surprisingly similar with this story. How do you find it comical? I'd be delighted to hear your opinion on what's good about communism?

[NoMorFear]

What we saw in Russia was not genuine communism. The Revolution was originally well-intentioned but was betrayed by the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks decieved the people, took power, and suppressed all dissent from the party, all under the guise that the new government would be one of the proletariat.

tbc

[AmeriKidz]

"well-intentioned" now... that's comical! (I'm sorry, I'll wait for you to finish.)

[NoMorFear]

6th:

Do you not know the history of your people? Or are you too brainwashed from the propaganda and lies.

For nearly 500 years prior to the February Revolution of 1917, the Russian people suffered under the monarchy of the Tsar. The people had enough of it and overthrew the monarchy that was responsible for centuries of oppression and a totally illegitimate, pointless war being currently fought in WWI causing unimaginable death and suffering.

Is this not "well-intentioned"?

tbc

[NoMorFear]

7th:

The overthrow of the monarchy was the initial motive of the revolution. After that, a provisional government was instilled and propped up the rights of the bourgeois. By October of 1917, this was deemed more than illegitimate and revolutionary movements sprung to create a better society. Some of those movements were Anarchist but the majority was led by the Bolsheviks and they eventually took power through deception.

[NoMorFear]

8th:

How is the overthrow of monarchy to create a better society not "well-intentioned". I'm not saying the Bolshevik betrayal was well-intentioned. I await your clarification and perhaps you misunderstood me and were misinformed.

Communism really hasn't existed, just totalitarian deviations of socialism. Though there are examples of Anarcho-Communism during the Spanish Revolition, so maybe there are, arguably.

I think I'm done.

Tell me when you have finished replying.

[AmeriKidz]

Why should intention matter when considering the result. Look, when u speak of a just society based on real freedom I can't help but laugh. Now who is promulgating fantasy? I'm sorry, but quoting Marxist theories are just phrases that look good in text. What you speak of is an abomination of thought. "dictatorship of the proletariat" = mob rule right? "totalitarian deviations of socialism" = usually comes from Marxist snake-oil salesmen right?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions;-)tbc

[NoMorFear]

The point is that the intention was there but the cause was exploited and dictatorship won because the people were decieved and knew no better. They were not educated in that area. They just came out of feudalism and knew not how to appropriately go through the next stage of revolution.

Education and organization are the key, of which the Russian proletariat had little of. If the masses are united for a common cause, there is nothing that can stop them, but they believed the party legit.

[NoMorFear]

You seem to think that is the way revolution will always turnout, but why? How are we to make a better world when all people do is scoff and say "impossible!'. Meanwhile the world gets worse an worse, the rich, richer, the poor, poorer. And what a surprise it is the ruling class, it is the propaganda centers, that are the ones who say nothing can be done of it, it's just the way things are, it's just man.

[mammuru]

surprise the ruling class is saying nothing can be done? Their the one striving for a more central and social state. it is easier to control those that are poor because they feel they are cornered. Most upper income classes vote for socialist acts.

There is always a ruling class, be it a certain group, warlords, or politics. these are usually the same. The best scam they can do is to influence emotionally, target a negative aim that is hard to explain. Only this propaganda is hard to see

[mammuru]

All in all "communism" hasn't existed, because it doesn't exist. your looking at an ideology that has existed for 6,000 years; and ratified 300 years ago. It intentionally ignores many important variables that make communism on the same line as alchemy. Useless. Communisms inevitable end is totalitarian deviations of socialism...If you try to make gold out of chocolate, youll fail equally as much as trying to create a communist regime without it turning into a totalitarian socialist state.

[Hiraghm]

@mammuru - I can make gold out of chocolate.

I can gather the ingredients and make chocolate. I can then trade that chocolate for gold. And I will have made gold... out of chocolate :)

[NoMorFear]

Ideally, real communism would come about through a genuine, unified movement of the people. The people would assert their attained power through the state. They would use the state as a machine to suppress any remnants of the bourgeois and it would be used to bring about the necessary preconditions for a stateless society where the people manage themselves without coercive institutions.

The state phase, i.e. the "dictatorship of the proletariat", would be the transitional phase to the ideal.

[NoMorFear]

3rd:

In a nutshell, that is communism.

What we saw in Russia was really none of the sort. A single party took control and established its own dictatorship while pretty much excluding the will of the people. A small elite essentially dictated what was to be done and what we got was a totalitarian deviation of socialism.

It was claimed to be communism by the Soviets in order to prop-up the illusion of communist hopes held by the people.

[NoMorFear]

4th:

The West unequivocally associated the USSR with communism to propagate the diluted perception that communism was evil by associating it with a horrible example in order to easier control socialist elements through rigid propaganda.

[mammuru]

BS, I and my family's heritage come from the USSR, and what evil was made there is no propaganda.

[NoMorFear]

Communism, usually, but not always, denotes that a state is to be used by the people in order to bring about a stateless, ideal society.

There is also anarcho-communism, which essentially skips the transition period and after revoluton abolishes all forms of authority. Ideally, people then voluntarily organize together based on free association. There is no state, no coercive instituitions, just people cooperating and managing themselves into a more just society based on real freedom.

[AmeriKidz]

I'll grant you that a commune *may* work on a small scale, in fact, I'm certain you can find many here in the states to choose from or start your own. If it worked, then it would have caught on by now. Capitalism is true freedom and collectivism has to be by way of institutionalization. The story above is an exercise in rational thought and represents your ideas in actual practice. Arrgh! I've got to go to sleep now. Please respond and I'll catch up 2morrow sometime. -Cheers comrade;-)

[madmax8903]

@AmeriKidz Not to mention that Rand herself lived and suffered under communism in the early twenties. She had first hand knowledge of it, unlike Western middle class professorial types who knew it only through beautiful theory and officially-sanctioned trips to Moscow etc. Her great achievement here was to get to the essence of the concept, to make it real simple, to put a magnifying glass on it and say, there! look at it for what it is. None of this "but it's not that simple" crap.

[mammuru]

"The great thing about novels is that they allow people to make shit up. "

Sounds pretty good with the communist manifesto. A flawed book that focues on making people emotional, idealical and shun the idea of objective thinking...logical thinking. Yet the ideas of Marx seems so interesting to most, but who too blame this awesome propaganda machine? It teaches the people to use justified violence to improve their life...hah!