“Atlas Shrugged” Part 1 of ?
by Tom on October 31, 2009
in Atlas Shrugged
Okay, I’m finally going to get this rolling. I’ve been rereading Atlas Shrugged again and as I come across what I view are important things, I’ll talk about them.
The first “moment” comes in the first chapter when Eddy is talking to James Taggert. They are talking about the future of one of the lines of their railroad and Eddy says, “Do the right thing no matter what.”
Do the right thing no matter what. Think about that for a minute, how many of the problems we are currently having would have been avoided if people had done the right thing, no matter what?
More later……
Tom
That’s a superb observation. The other side of that coin — James Taggert and his buddies did exactly what they thought was the ‘right thing’ throughout the book.
There’s such a real world difference between perception and reality. Those who espouse the ‘perception is reality’ cliché tend to lose traction when they bloody their noses against concrete reality.
I think I can fly. I jump off the 100th floor roof. I’m living my perceived reality ’till…..splat. Turns out my perception wasn’t reality at all.
Taggert’s kind live their lives defending their predictable failures by claiming their good intentions, all the while living off others’ production.
This new series is gonna be great fun. What a good idea.
Do the right thing. What a concept (a V-8 moment if I ever heard one)!!!
Tom,
Great observation. In light of the plane splashing down in the Hudson, the pilot, Sullenberger, is just that kind of guy we need.
He did, “… the right thing no matter what.”
Sully made a life time out of good decision making. When he was called upon in a time of tremendous stress, his discipline of good decision making came to the forefront.
Juxtapose that against Daschle, Geitner, Rangle and the like that claim good intentions, but fail to meet their own obligations. Their focus is not on “doing the right thing,” it is on their own self-interest.
Sully ‘12!