Atlas Shrugged: From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

[timpinckney]

We need RON PAUL more than ever now to restore America. Millions of people have sacraficed so much to come to the US over the last several decades. Some even risked their lives. Economic FREEDOM is what caused this nation to thrive. NOT Large Government. Thanks for uploading.

[LtColomboLAPD]

"PHILLIP ROTHSCHILD ORDERED ONE OF HIS MISTRESSES TO WRITE AN 1100-PAGE BOOK that would describe to all witches how they would take control of the World through the Illuminati: It's called Atlas Shrugged. (By Ayn Rand) One of the things in it is happening on the front pages of the newspapers across the United States right now." John Todd, Satanism and the Illuminati

[Vegasgodless]

@LtColomboLAPD you're a fucking moron!!!

[sssssjjjj1]

she was a joke. racist to the max.

[rjpcambridge]

an evil selfish woman - and the Republican cult that worship her because she make them feel better about being selfish greedy "individualists" who do not care about their fellow Americans, brothers and sisters - or human suffering.

[Sumdude54]

@rjpcambridge Sounds like Soviet Russia is happening all over again.

[MandyVin17]

@Sumdude54 That's what all the old russians say...

[Metaphysicist]

@rjpcambridge which if you think about is kind of ironic. One of the big themes of Objectivism is not sacrificing your self for others or demanding that others sacrifice themselves for you. if you want something from one you trade them fairly for it. What the Right likes about Objectivism is that it seems, to justify their irrational self interest. And disregard for their fellow man.

[coletrainwvu]

so basically,.. this is suggesting that a loan from a government bureaucracy is somehow different than a loan from a corporate bureaucracy? Entitlements are entitlements and all forms of bureaucracy are corrosive to free thought.  This isn't libertarianism, it's corporatism. Get it strait folks.

[rdlineberry]

@coletrainwvu No, Government bailouts are corporatism. Free competition without Government intervention is libertarianism. Get it straight.

[coletrainwvu]

@rdlineberry Free competition without government intervention is free market fundamentalism. Preserving sovereign human liberties from tyrannical bureaucracies and factions is libertarianism.

[rdlineberry]

@coletrainwvu No, Government bailouts are corporatism. Free competition without Government intervention is libertarianism. Get it straight.

[penbus492]

iLLUMINATI

[anglophile1972]

Just read it. The computer voice is unlistenable.

[TheDano1947]

Suggestions please.!?? We're being forced into permanent poverty via government interference all in the name of public good.

[Solverwiz]

“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”

- Winston Churchill

[rjpcambridge]

@Solverwiz Saod a wealthy elitist white maile

[rjpcambridge]

@Solverwiz Said a wealthy elitist white male

[schmoborama]

@Solverwiz

Well it's a good thing that the U.S. is NOWHERE NEAR BEING SOCIALIST.

Don't just blindly parrot what the Tea Party says.

[Vegasgodless]

@schmoborama Blind as a bat aren't you? Welfare, assistant housing, medicaid, medicare, food stamps, obamacare, corporate welfare, i.e. banks bailouts, auto manufacturing bail outs, insurance company bail out, unemployment benefits, extended unemployment benefits, all these and more are socialist, border line fascist practices by our gov, time to dig your head out of your ass!!!

[schmoborama]

@Vegasgodless

Just because YOU call them Socialist doesn't make the U.S. a Socailist country - it's NOT. Only a few countries have been described as more Capitalist than the U.S. Stop being a PARROT.

[Hiraghm]

@schmoborama - If it walks like a a duck, and it quacks like a duck... it's not a moose.

[schmoborama]

@Hiraghm

Then you might as well say that China is a Captialist country, because it has *some* free trade, and private ownership.

The U.S. is one of the LEAST socialist countries on the PLANET.

I swear to god you people are so fucking STUPID.

[Hiraghm]

@schmoborama - So we've gone from "the U.S. is NOT socialist" to "the U.S. is the least socialist". The U.S. is far, far more socialist today than it was 100 years ago. China is less socialist than it was 50 years ago. They're going in the right direction, we're going in the wrong one.

Actually, I would describe China as fascist, and the U.S. as increasingly fascist. But, then fascism is just another strain of the disease known as socialism.

[schmoborama]

@Hiraghm

"So we've gone from "the U.S. is NOT socialist" to..."

No, smartass. The U.S. is NOT a "Socialist" country but it does have some socialist-type policies... EVERY western country does. What did you think when I wrote "you might as well say that China is Captialist"?

"U.S. is far, far more socialist today than it was 100 years ago"

Yea GOOD. 100 years ago you'd get rat shit in your hamburger. Lots of it. And we've outlawed the blatant ripoffs by big business.

[odalrich]

The economic system that most closely resembles the system depicted in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged is neoliberalism which has been applied to the Western economies since the days of Reagan. This system has collapsed with the result we all know: inequality, unemployment, poverty, etc. If we applied Rand's economics, it would be the end of our civilization and the beginning of barbarism.

[Hiraghm]

@odalrich - depending on how you mean that, you're probably right; the system depicted in Atlas Shrugged was not based on objectivism or even conservatism, but on liberal socialism. And, in spite of Reagan's efforts to return us to a capitalist system (thwarted repeatedly by leftist Congresses... strange how the economy did so well in the mid-90s when moderate-conservatives controlled Congress...), we have continued on the progressive path (Bush Sr, Clinton, and Bush Jr all being progressives).

[odalrich]

@Hiraghm The whole Western economies have been infected by “Reaganomics” with leftist or rightist parliaments, congresses or whatever you want to call them. I don’t know what you mean by “progressive” If it means what I think; calling Bush Jr a “progressive” is like calling Gadafi a champion for democracy.

[Hiraghm]

@odalrich - I wish they had, because Reaganomics worked in the U.S.

Calling Bush a progressive is like calling Obama a progressive. They both think the government exists to control and manipulate the people.

[odalrich]

@Hiraghm Reaganomics worked for a while (so did Stalinist economics in the past) but in the long run it ruined the economy and caused today’s problems. It concentrated too much wealth in the hands of a few while reducing the purchasing power of the majority.

[zackypooofillinois]

the only problem is how long it is... i can't do that. it's too much i just want it in a nutshell ya know?

[buffbobbeefpants]

who ever made this video is fucked

[ReasonSharp]

Any references to the event described on the slide shown at 5:41 ? Who were the bank presidents? Which banks? I'm often told how ultimately it's only bankers who profit from such government interventions in the economy (and that they have bought the entire government apparatus). This seems like a perfect bit of information that could debunk these nonsensical claims.

[ljstevens46]

The government is the problem, not the solution.

[theinvektor]

To all those who ask : "Have you read Ayn Rand's books?" we should counter-ask: "How many books beside Ayn Rand's have you read?"

[notbestfriends]

The highest tribute to Ayn Rand, abundantly in evidence here, is that her critics must distort everything that she stood for in order to attack her. She advocated reason, not force; the individual's rights to freedom of action, speech, and association; self-responsibility not self-indulgence, and a live-and-let-live society in which each individual is treated as an END, not the MEANS of others' ends. How many critics would dare to honestly state these ideas, & say "...and that's what I reject?"

[OneEyedMonsterr]

@FenrirLupus ive read milton friedman. completely impractical philosophy. government has a much greater and necessary role than what mr friedman would like to see implemented.

[mustang607]

The bigger the government, the more people who can no longer survive in a voluntary society. The more people who can no longer survive in a voluntary society, the bigger the government.

[OneEyedMonsterr]

yea, im sure unbridled, unchecked, and unregulated capatilism is the best way. (heavy sarcasm*)

[liberalsAREbigZEROS]

@OneEyedMonsterr all capitalism is is the exchange of money for a product. how and why in the hell would you wanna rain in on someones freedom to do as they wish !!!!!!! commie.

[liberalsAREbigZEROS]

@OneEyedMonsterr capitalism is the best way for a country to run. america is proof of that ! we've achieved the HIGHEST standard of living than anyone else in the world and we WERE the richest country in the world.

THAT. is the reason why capitalism is best. and socialism isnt. even fidel castro said they cant keep control of the people anymore. it's not working anymore. it's falling apart just like soviet russia.

[malikabuttinger]

Watch the video called "John Todd on Atlas Shrugged". I think it's only fair you are shown different point a view.

[dannidandannikins]

@malikabuttinger To anyone who may be tempted to see 'John Todd on Atlas Shrugged'... don't bother. It's just conspiracy theorist nonsense about illuminati. John Todd is apparently under the impression that Ayn Rand was a communist! lol

[malikabuttinger]

@dannidandannikins Just a matter of choosing colors. Which pill do you prefer?

[dannidandannikins]

@malikabuttinger Actually I don't take pills. I deal with reality instead.

[malikabuttinger]

@dannidandannikins Enough said. Let's just agree upon disagreeing :)

[MandyVin17]

@dannidandannikins Thankyou for your opinion on "conspiracy nonsense", agent silly long name. Documents, autobiographies stating intent, and a cursory glance at real world events prove to me that it's no "conspiracy theory", the term I prefer is "alternative agenda".

[dannidandannikins]

@MandyVin17 lol.

[yousmokecrackers]

Atlas Shrugged movie trailer on youtube

[daleprechaungold]

This article is quite stupid.

For instance the bank managers who were shaken down, by the big evil government, were the same people who were largely behind fucking up the economy.

Asking for handouts, and shouting theft when asked to give something in return.

Who the fuck are the communists here.

[thebestsumoeva]

@daleprechaungold Last I checked it was legally mandated that banks handout sub prime mortgages to help poor people get cheaper mortgages. They even went so far as to create an enterprise whose job it was to provide insurance for bad mortgages. Sounds to me like bad economic policy on behalf of the government, but luckily for the government they get to use tax payer money for public relations and can act like they had no idea what was going on.

[artregeous]

wonderul teachings from an atheist jewish family member who has strong relations with directors of federal reserves wonderful teacher for all americans who love bailouts bad loans crisis created by jewish bankers she is wonderful great she is beautiful and they speak about income tax???my gosh who chose feds ??any written law for taxing labor??but hey when you dig it youll see jewsih bankers as usual but whom ur hoping help from a jewish author funny

[dannidandannikins]

@artregeous Sorry, I couldn't understand your post... something to do with you hating jews, right?

[artregeous]

@dannidandannikins nothing related with emotional contagion or hate ..it was just a comment how philosophy is abused for perception management .i dint know there is an obligation to chat about validity or justification for the proposed opinion based on reviewed chronology

[MorganshipCaptain]

Arr, tis writing for the tally handed who find folly in their pantaloons and can't find no explorin' elsewhere in the wide wide world. Back and back again they go, worry away their codpiece till their Junior's Stubbin is calloused as the bottom of Mary McCreedy's worn old toe. Looks like a worm old toe Rand does, like as not her suitors in her younger days thought as much twice as fast. No worry on that codpiece, sore muggins be the caterwaul outside her window all those years past, avast.

[Vocalallusive]

Applied democracy is when some psychopaths rats together into something called party and screaming out to the public they will be allowed to share a lot of stolen goods if they are obedient by showing up at a poll station. The stolen goods will at a greater extent come from the competing psychopaths in another party.

Thus, the problem is democracy itself. It appeals to people's criminal disposition and encourage it.

Slim down the Gov't is like a medicine treating the symptoms. Not the disease.

[notbestfriends]

Rand was a genius.

[DavyTom71]

I must read this book. Rand's idea that governments only exist to expand themselves in size and power, and do so by extorting ever greater amounts of money from businesses and workers is so true. The world is witnessing that all the taxes and regulations - which exist mainly to give government workers something to do - are crippling economic growth

[ThePunkrocker8]

@DavyTom71 You really should. I read it last year, it was the only book that is lightly if now entirely based on views that I AGREED with.

[sleedolfine15]

I'm re-reading Atlas Shrugged. I never cared much for the novel's characteristics--the people are too abstract--too symbolic,but her individualistic ideals are thrilling. It's wonderful the way she is unapologetic in her defense of the individual's right to exist for his own sake & his own aims. Also,I doubt that she would've been surprised by Barack Obama who could easily have been one of Atlas's villains. The novel's collapsing world is coming true today. Where is our John Galt?

[biowarfare1]

im glad that someone out there see what i see i totally agree ith this!!!!!

[Nullifidian]

If Atlas Shrugged were required reading for members of Congress, I can imagine that there would be a sharp decrease in "applicants" for the job.

[MorganshipCaptain]

Arr, ye worried scuppers, it should tell ye plenty and yore that it comes second only to the Good Book in popularity among the tally-handed. There are those that find carnival in their pantaloons with naught but their hands, and there are those that find mermaids and devils in their own heads, even w'out ye rum. To ye be fed the myths of budgetary spendin' Why? Cause it keeps ye occupied! What would ye do could ye not go finger pointin: 'All is wrong, corrupt!" They paint ye big targets!!

[ErnstStvroBlofeld]

@MorganshipCaptain I don't know if you think this is some kind of big joke, but I assure you that is not funny. The imperialist governments are running roughshod over the citizens they are supposed to protect. Concern over budgetary spending as you should not be compared to masturbation, and Rand's precepts are hardly fodder for myth baiting. You should read 'Atlas Shrugged', it'll change your pointless view of the world.

[cresidue]

People on youtube need to STOP using computer voice dubs, it's stupid!

[estherhaZel]

damnn i read it in two weaks now all the words keep repeating in my mind:D

understand evil money gun blood storm light darkness, eyes and movement

oh yeah and motive power.. so if you read it, it's useful to look up those words in a dictionary ;D

[korgri]

Ayn Rand considers almost everything except a sense of humor, which is a much larger component to every aspect of our lives than most people ever grasp. Ayn was really a bit of stickly toad, and her view of the world demonstrates this in the rather obvious flat and humorless views that underscore all of her works. She reduces life to a blatant sour fart, and then brilliantly expounds it into long story form. It's useful in the same way that knowing what a gila monster looks like is useful.

[MyITRcom]

@korgri Pretty flat and humorless to live in a world where the majority of the minds hold corrupt and erroneous philosophies. Mostly the philosophies of religion that teaches man he is a defective sinner, that reason and knowledge are evil, that mans mind is incapable of knowing reality, and those of us who are good, rational and value producing end up a slave to these ideologies. Nothing to laugh about.

[korgri]

@MyITRcom Do you think she was into that whole bondage sado-masochism scene?

[ErnstStvroBlofeld]

@korgri That question is just as absurd as the idea that she was a Soviet mole, a long term effort to undermine American society. The thing is, Soviets were kind of dumb on these matters. Just because they take ideology seriously, they figured everyone does. It never occurs to them that providing Rand to the US was just another means of putting a leash on those who took her seriously. Instantly you know: another 'Ayn Rand' nut. Absurdity at it's base, as her forecast proves viable.

[StayingSain]

I don't think I could have picked a more perfect time to read Atlas Shrugged. I started it in 2009 and I'm still reading it.

It's startling to realize just how insightful the book really is even though it was written over 50 years ago.

I will enjoy the book for years to come and I will never forget that my life belongs to me.

[h8red42]

i just like the look on peoples faces when i point out hat Ayn Rand is an atheist. conservative Christians turn white and look like they are going to throw up.

[quomodocumque]

Atlas Shrugged is a terrible book and every conservative should denounce it and be ashamed of any fellow conservative that would promote it. There exist an objective measure of right and wrong and what we see in the book is the main character clearly in the wrong. She is a sexual deviant. The evil of the main character almost completely overshadows the evil of the strawmen communist in Washington.

[WakeupFreedom]

@quomodocumque wow... someone needs to get screwed... must be hard to never have had an orgasm...lmao... as for me I have a real woman just like Dagny:)

[candiceevans1]

the worst part of the book and the reality that they are making come to pass is that they plan to destroy the entire world...in Atlas shrugged they generate a food famine to starve the planet then they decide they must murder everyone below 10 and above 60. they aquire the go ahead to save the eastern states by killing millions.

[tharealest62qb]

alot of people still don't know VOTES DON'T COUNT.

both side work for the rothschild.they going to elect who they want not who they people want but who the people believe

they all talk a good wun.

people are really stupid who could never think for themselves.

[mhirtes12]

Rand's flaw is that she assumes the rich are good.

They are not.

They are selfish, vain, and cruel.

Bernie Madoff and Dick Cheney are proof of this.

"Behind every great fortune there is a great crime." -- Honore de Balzac

[ronpaul101789]

Have you read her book?

[archerman610]

Rand never claims the rich are good.

Rand says that Man's happiness is good. She celebrates productive work, and individuality as virtues.

[mhirtes12]

And those who receive Social Security are "Moochers"? Explain THAT.

[archerman610]

It depends on frame of mind. If one views it as restitution for Welfare Statism, and rejects Welfare Statism than no they are not a moocher.

However, if one views it as an entitlement than they are moochers.

[mhirtes12]

WTF kind of jibberish babble is that?

People should be entitled (yes, entitled) to their Social Security, and to Hell with what a small pack of sourpuss libertarian goons have to say about it!

[katiasht]

This is so good and so true. Very good. And very true. Our Mr. President is ruining the country, imposing social regime of redistribution. What do we do? How do we stop it?

[imre1000]

I don't know wether to laugh or cry at all the polititians are doing now... Hope you guys vote in Ron Paul sometime soon

[MayeCreations]

Imre1000: I would love to see Ron Paul as President. However, there are too many sheeple voting who really don't understand what is going on with the power behind the power structure of our government. Most people just care about their "piece of the pie" and don't consider what makes up that pie, how they are given that piece of the pie and how truly transitory that piece of pie really is. I think I'll cry because I think it will only get worse right now. Peace...

[bearsagainstevil]

reading atlas shrugged for the first time what a terrific book, and so timely to read at the present time with bailouts for failure banks and big city chums .

[Etelvina99]

Liam Neeson must play the part of Reardon.

[Sam26100]

Well said 5 stars, everybody needs to watch this.

[chiquito]

A is A.

The lack of oversight and regulation of exotic financial instruments like credit-default swaps, derivatives, and hedge funds brought down Wall Street to its knees and triggered the global financial meltdown.

Alan Greenspan was there and saw it coming but did nothing. On the contrary, he naively thought that the markets would regulate itself. How ironic that Greenspan is a protege of Ms. Rand!

[Juxtys]

John Galt was not a businessman, but an engineer.

[InFromTheVoid]

He was a student of physics and philosophy.

[Martintfre]

replace the income tax with the FED's magical printing press.

Why bother the little people when Ben Bernakies magical printing press can create a couple trillion when ever the bureaucritters want.

[gregorio360moto2]

The current inflation rate of the US is actually negative, and has not gone up more than 5.6% since last year.

I think it's ignorant to think that the Fed is printing money at will when there is no inflation, the first sign of printing too much money. The governement cash injections are being managed very well to avoid the side effect of inflation, and besides, the bureaucrats have nothing to do with the Fed, they are and independent institution within the government.

[Martintfre]

grego..Negative inflation rate Lol. By what standard?

In 1999 when the dow rose to10,000 it took 33 oz of gold to buy the dow, IN 2008 when it fell below 10,000 it took 12 oz gold to buy the dow and when it rose last week (oct14) to 10,000 it was 9.5 oz gold to buy the dow.

Between the fall last year and the sping this year the FED doubled the money supply by another .8 trillion - that is inflation of money supply or devaluation of dollar

Jan 09, 0.75 euros to buy dollar, now 0.66 euros.

[learninglemur]

Greed is a fact of life. It is simply insatiable desire.

[texpeare]

Greed is not a virtue.

[herbs814]

Stephen Moore is such a brilliant analyst. I'm glad this was given a reading.

[proudfootz]

HAHAHA! Bodice-ripping romance novel 'Atlas Shrugged' being required reading on the WSJ?

Just shows what BS passes for serious journalistic standards among the money-worshipping parasites.

[thesquonkstear]

It's an odd climate where the clergy of cooked capitalism continue to decry perils of ANY and ALL government intervention, ignoring how Business Schools have been teaching students the sociopathy of exploiting barriers to entry in every industry, right down to frozen yogart stands. Critics are right, Atlas Shrugged has been too simplistic to apply to this climate of corruption and capital flight since Ike made his farewell speech.

John Gault would never stop puking, if you could find hi.

[InternalNEternal]

It is true that they could not make a move out of this book because it would then reveal their plan. However, I have heard rumor that currently Angelina Jolie is filming for this movie to be released in 2011, by that time all things that were said in the book should have come true.

For this book to be 2nd and the bible being the first tells you how many people understand the hidden message this book brings. There are a lot more people involved in these lies than people want to believe.

[PlasmaStar9]

How could liberal, bleeding heart Hollywood make a movie of Atlas Shrugged, unless of course, the movie took the government's side and painted the "evil" industrialists as the problem. Anti-Atlas Shrugged. Probably why it was never made a movie in the first place.

[AJAX556]

Angelina Jolie is slated to be Dagny............Oh I'm sure it'll be a gem.

[lowmank79]

I only just finished the first part of the book. I'm reading it slowly and I couldn't imagine a better time to read it. When I heard that she was playing the role, it didn't make any sense. It still doesn't. Hell, Hollywood making the movie doesn't make any sense. Who will play Rearden? Sean Penn? Why would they make the movie now?

[camdaddy09]

what about the guy that played 007? idk just throwin it out there

[5starrater1]

very interesting