It’s only here for a limited engagement – one week.
Part one of a three part series is now playing at the Cinemark. Summary: This movie should be mandatory viewing for every high school government class.
The long list of subtle and not so subtle points really hits home. It takes on the failed socialist notions and reminds us who we are – free Americans in a capitalist society!
It might come off as a little too incredible. . . at first, but, then you think about it and suddenly you realize it’s. . . incredibly prophetic! And it’s the [message] that makes it a winner of a movie. I’ll give this one 5 stars, but not for special effects or for the acting (which was good), but for bringing us a warning from the past that is foretelling our future. We should all see this movie. However, I know we ALL won’t see it, because this movie is a bit too hard hitting for most folks left of center. It goes after their deeply held values, shreds them and makes them look like fools.
Spoiler Alert …. The movie explores a dystopian United States where leading innovators, ranging from industrialists to artists, refuse to be exploited by society. The protagonist, Dagny Taggart, sees society collapse around her as the government increasingly asserts control over all industry (including Taggart Transcontinental, the once mighty transcontinental railroad for which she serves as the Vice President of Operations), while society’s most productive citizens, led by the mysterious John Galt, progressively disappear. Galt describes the strike as “stopping the motor of the world” by withdrawing the “minds” that drive society’s growth and productivity. In their efforts, these people “of the mind” hope to demonstrate that a world in which the individual is not free to create is doomed, that civilization cannot exist where people are slaves to society and government, and that the destruction of the profit motive leads to the collapse of society.
Wake up Americans! Ayn Rand prophetically wrote this story over 50 years ago warning us how our personal freedoms and our country could be lost. Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, vividly shows whats happening to our country as the lefts socialist ideas and Orwellian propaganda gain more and more political power.
We could continue to let government take more and more of our freedoms and more and more of our earnings. Or, we could throw out those officials who are power hungry, greedy or just weaklings who go along with their tribe (i.e. political party).
Decide which you want for you and your kids. See Atlas Shrugged, part 1 or, better yet, read the book. Do you want a bleak society where an all powerful government tells you what to do and how much money you should have? Or do you want to live where the government is primarily limited to just helping you protect your life, your liberty and your property? Do you want to live as a slave or as a free and creative individual?
Excellent comments Mike. I hope everyone will make a special effort to see this movie before it’s gone. It really is important and the message is fundamental to our future. GO SEE THIS MOVIE FOLKS!!!!
Mike: “the lefts socialist ideas and Orwellian propaganda”
You are aware that Orwell himself was a self-identified socialist, right? (He was also ten times more talented a writer than Ayn Rand, who couldn’t write a relatable character or believable plot to save her life.)
The dystopian futures in Orwell’s stories were not intended to be condemnations of socialism, but of totalitarianism. They certainly can’t be read as condemnations of the modern progressive movement–which is far from true socialism–at least not by anyone who is the least bit informed.
Jack, I wouldn’t get my hopes up for a part two or three (which would essentially have been a three-hour long speech anyway). From what I’ve heard, the director is already so disappointed in the poor turnout and terrible reviews that he will probably not continue.
Chris: “From what I’ve heard, the director is already so disappointed in the poor turnout and terrible reviews that he will probably not continue.”
When asked which books made the most difference in their lives the #1 response was the Bible and the #2 response was Atlas Shrugged.
The producers havent given up on this project.
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/04/30/atlas-shrugged-producer-hopes-for-round-two/
The modern progressive movement is totalitarian in nature seeking government central planning and control as all socialist governments do. History is filled with enough examples to serve as a warning…and still they persist.
Chris: I certainly agree with you that George Orwell was a great writer. After all, one certainly cannot disagree with him when he says “And I believe that totalitarianism, if not fought against, could triumph again.” The movie is making that very point.
When I said Orwellian propaganda I was referring 1984 and to the slogans supported by the Thought Police such as:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Compare this to the statements of the present day Progressives and Obama supporters like:
HUMANS ARE CAUSING TERRIBLE GLOBAL WARMING THE ARGUMENT IS OVER!
IF WERE JUST REAL NICE TO TOTALITARIAN RADICAL ISLAMIST GOVERNMENTS, THEY WONT SUPPORT TERRORISTS WHO ATTACK US.
WEVE DECIDED ITS NOT FAIR THAT SOME FOLKS ARE TOO RICH SO WERE GOING TO TAKE THEIR STUFF.
I avoided referring to the Progressive actions as totalitarian because nowadays they seem to think you are calling them Nazis. As I understand it, the difference between the way socialism and totalitarianism treat businesses is that Socialists take ownership while totalitarian governments regulate and control them. In Atlas Shrugged, the government is doing both, big time! Again, the Obama administration is doing both. It has taken ownership in GM, Chrysler and the student loan companies. It has piled many, many draconian regulations on businesses such as banks, home lenders, schools and oil drillers and is even trying to stop Boeing from opening the brand new plant it built in South Carolina.
You claimed that the movie has terrible reviews when in fact, people who have seen it really like it. On NetFlix it has an average 4.1 rating which is up there with the highest any good movie gets. In the future, Chris, you might consider seeing the movie and reading the book before you toss insults at Ayn Rand and mischaracterizing the movie. Maybe you could deal with issues and facts and not just resort to personal attacks and misstatements.
I thought it kind of strange that Rand would choose the rail and steel industries as the basis for a capitalism drama. The heyday of steel was the period when they enjoyed government supplied tariff protections. When they actually had to go free-market, they didn’t know how to handle it and rapidly fell into decline. And where would the railroads be without government giving them the land? Currently Amtrak requires government support, even in heavily traveled areas like the east coast.
I found the book an interesting and thought provoking read, however I feel the concept of the story without basis in reality.
“When asked which books made the most difference in their lives the #1 response was the Bible and the #2 response was Atlas Shrugged.”
What poll was this from?
I don’t doubt that the book has been influential, though. My little brother was very influenced by it in high school, and stills identifies as a libertarian. However, as he’s gotten older he’s begun to see a lot of the problems in the book, and in Ayn Rand’s selfish and snobbish philosophy.
There’s an old joke about this, although I have no idea where it originated from. It goes something like this:
There are two novels that can forever change a bookish fourteen-year olds life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
😉
http://www.prweb.com/releases/atlas/shrugged/prweb561836.htm
A 1991 poll by the Library of Congress and Book of the Month Club found that Atlas Shrugged was the second most influential book after the Bible.
“…selfish and snobbish philosophy”
I’d appreciate it if you would elaborate. What specifically is selfish and what is snobbish about Rand’s philosophy?
The joke is mildly humerous as a gotcha…one of those incredibly stupid jokes people tell when they don’t understand or can’t adequately argue the point.
Geez Chris, why not look this stuff up before being critical at Tina? I just googled it and got a lot of hits. Here’s one I’m sure you will love, “Atlas Shrugged has sold over 6 million copies since it was published in 1957. This is remarkable for a 1000 page philosophical novel. Were not talking light entertainment here. The fact is that Atlas Shrugged was named a distant second to the bible as most influential book in 1991 Library of Congress study. Again, this is remarkable given it had to compete against something as all pervasive as the Bible. Atlas Shrugged is probably the single most intellectually significant book written in the 20th Century. As far as Im concerned, everyone should read Atlas Shrugged and give serious consideration to her ideas. Im still astonished at the shear audacity Rand showed in challenging 2000 years of altruist bromides. A spectacular intellect! I dont agree with all of her ideas; but I love her for making question my own.” Lloyd Drum
Great points, Jim. Of course, you’ll probably be called a socialist for your endorsement of government-funded railroads.
Mike, the statements that you attribute to progressives are in no way comparable to the 1984 quotes. The first one is simply a fact, and the second and third are things that no one on the left is actually saying. Progressive taxation is not about taking from those who are “too rich. It’s about investing in the economy. The most radical idea being proposed by Democrats these days regarding taxes on the rich is to go back to the rates they were at in the mid-90s, which were themselves a historic low. If that’s your evidence of a move toward socialist totalitarianism in this country, than I think Orwell would say we’re doing pretty good for ourselves.
I based my remark on the critical reception of the movie on Rotten Tomatos, which compiles reviews from pretty much all of the leading publications. It got only 13% positive reviews there from critics. I’m not sure how Netflix’s rating system works. Is it audience-based? Because even at RT, it got 84% positive votes. (This isn’t surprising, since Rand has a legion of passionate fans who are much more likely to actually see the movie and vote than non-Randians.) But hey, I liked “The Number 23” which only got 8%, so who am I to judge? Maybe it’s a good movie. But if my understanding is correct, in order to buy the central premise, I have to believe that the rich, talented and powerful are actually the oppressed victims in this society, and that the poor are simply useless leeches. I’m not willing to buy into that, even for a fictional story.
Tina, Ayn Rand wrote a whole book entitled “The Virtue of Selfishness.” Pretty self-explanatory.
The successful railroad in America didn’t rely on government handouts…they purchased the land.
Chris government cannot “invest” in the economy…it can only transfer wealth out of the economy (TAX), skim from the top for buraucratic paperwork and such, and then redirect funds as it sees fit. This is not investment, which requires risk, and it certrainly lacks the entrepreneurial spirit that made America great. Mostly this transfer and redistribution scheme is used to buy votes or feather a few beds.
Obviously you missed the “virtue” angle that Rand wished to convey. Too bad…you engage in it every single day of your life! And now, in order to appear compassionate and giving, you lie about it!
You also assume that awareness of ones own self-interest automatically translates to complete selfishness of spirit. Rand wasn’t into such things as spirituality but her lack of religious belief doesn’t make the concept of her book flawed; it simply means she had a narrow focus.
Most who appreciate her work also appreciate themes of sacrifice, compassion and giving in other great works.
Tina, maybe we should be glad government wastes so much of our tax money. Imagine what it would be like if we got all the government we paid for!
Jim, don’t allow yourself to be confused over minutia. Those railroads or the steel industry are just random picks, so don’t read into them too much. The real message in the movie and the book is hard work, creativity and risk taking are what makes this country strong. Conversely, living off the sweat of others via wealth shifting makes citizens weak and unproductive.
It’s a very simple message and it’s one that has been proven throughout history.
“Chris government cannot “invest” in the economy…”
We’ve been through this, Tina…if you really don’t think public schools, police and fire departments, roads, etc. are “investments,” then you simply couldn’t be more wrong.
Chris please don’t attempt to talk down to me. You know damn well we weren’t talking about schools, police and fire departments, most of which are funded through local taxes, but the overall economy.
The overall economy is alive and vibrant because of the entreprenuerial efforts and hard work of the free citizens of this nation. Through innovative efforts and financial risk the basis for everyones financial well being is made possible. We have money for fire and police protection and to educate our children BECAUSE of these efforts. (Because people are naturally inclined when not discouraged or oppressed, to look out for their own best interests)
“Jim, don’t allow yourself to be confused over minutia. Those railroads or the steel industry are just random picks, so don’t read into them too much.”
But the story is about railroads.
It seems that it’s the European socialist countries that have the best railroads in the world.
Jim, the story is about an ideology, not a business industry. So, are you favor of nationalizing our railroads?
“Two years after approving the measure, the European Union has a series of new regulations in effect today that will dramatically increase the rights of travelers on the continents huge rail system (and subsidy costs are increasing too). Immediately affecting all cross-border travel, the rules will be enforced as desired by each separate nation until they become mandatory in fifteen years.
The rules make railway companies liable in many of the same ways that airlines already are in the E.U. Railroads will be forced to compensate deaths caused by accidents at a minimum rate of 310,000 per person and they will now be required to refund personal property losses at up to 1,800 per person. Most importantly, though, the rules require companies to refund 25% of the ticket price in cash if a train experiences a 60-119 minutes delay and a full 50% if a train is delayed by more than 120 minutes. If a train is delayed by more than 60 minutes and a passenger does not want to start or continue the trip, he or she has the right to ask for a full reimbursement or a ticket to take the trip another day. Like airlines, railroad companies will have to provide free meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time, in addition to offering a free hotel room if an overnight stay is necessary.” These new costs will be levied upon the taxpayer.
Tina, I was not attempting to talk down to you, but now it seems like you are changing the argument. You very clearly said that government CANNOT invest in the economy. This is obviously false. Public schools and often police and fire departments get federal aid all the time. You’ve also argued previously that government aid towards higher education is not an investment, another obvious falsehood.
You are right to credit the hard work of individuals for our nation’s success…I have never claimed that individuals cannot work toward establishing a vibrant economy. You’re the only one arguing that it has to be one way or another, individuals or government, that can stimulate the economy. This is shallow, simplistic thinking, the exact same kind that Atlas Shrugs promotes.
You are attempting to change the argument!
Schools and police and fire are not money making operations. When we speak about the economny we are not refering to the “services” these things represent. Your 401 K wil not be invested in these services so that profit will genrate to your account.
My assertions are not false;yours seek to muddy the conversation.
SPENDING on education (when it produces) is wise. Educated societies are more likely to become producers of and for future economies. (When education produces more service oriented citizens than it does wealth generating citizens that liklihood is diminished, however. And when education produces uneducated dependence oriented citizens that liklihood results in a drain on the economy). Washimgton DC spends more money on education than any other area of the country and the return for all of that spending is not commensurate with the cost.
Your distracting and subject changing arguments do not alter or ammend the obvious truth that men and women in pursuit of self interests, bettering their own lives, create greater economic opportunity and abundance for others in the process. This is what works to make America vibnrant and strrong and creates the excess that can create amazing services like schools, police and fire…IF progressive takers will get the hell out of the way and let them do their thing (instead of being oppressive stranglers of productivity and portrayers of individual responsibility as greed)
Jim the story is not “about” railroads. It’s about government control and oppression and the corrupting outcomes that follow when government and business make crooked deals. The types of industries don’t matter at all.
As for high speed rail…
Heres why high speed rail is a stupid idea in America:
http://www.economics.neu.edu/morrison/research/bg921201.htm
And this is why the Obama administration is in favor of high gasoline prices and a lousy economy. They want to force a demand for high speed rail and alternative energy. Of course they will kill industry and jobs in the process and cause a rise in prices that will make Americans of all classes a lot poorer but, heythey know best, right? Heres more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/16/AR2011021605977.html
That translates to higher taxes, taxes that never end, for everyone.
That figure keeps getting smaller and smaller. The money we make from our labors is our property. Whenever government decides it must do the more they diminish our ability to do for ourselves.
Good movie…much needed message.
We are currently killing our golden goose in just this way. All Americans will suffer. This kind of hope and change is a freight train to vast levels of poverty and incredible oppression of creativity and aliveness, for want of a better word!