tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395038039066334365.post2310191339759095691..comments2023-10-17T09:51:33.567-04:00Comments on A Liberal Point of View: Atlas ShruggedJOE PUGNETTIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04353040217634054901noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395038039066334365.post-31834360018400484212014-06-02T19:26:24.469-04:002014-06-02T19:26:24.469-04:00It can be done for free and you often find wealthy...It can be done for free and you often find wealthy people giving of themselves and their money for no return. The difference with Ayn Rand's philosophy and the current liberal philosophy is that for Rand, this should be voluntary and for the current liberal philosophy it should be compelled by force (force of Government with it's ability to take your resources or freedom).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395038039066334365.post-65578768314534177082012-08-03T15:31:04.675-04:002012-08-03T15:31:04.675-04:00Thanks for the comment. I also know many people w...Thanks for the comment. I also know many people who have worked hard providing goods and services to society while making much money for themselves. I certainly do not want to disincentivize those who are responsible for the innovations that have helped all of us; I don't want them to feel that their hard work will go unrewarded. Nor do I want people to think that they can sit back and take advantage of those who do the work, just as some of the characters in Atlas Shrugged did when they used the "heroes" to create what was needed for society to progress. I guess I am looking for a middle ground where, at least some of those Atlases take time out, not from helping society through inventions, ideas, etc, but from profitting on those improvements. Doing something for the good of all, at times, without benefitting personally anymore than the whole benefits when inovation occurs.<br /><br />As an example, if there are such people who can examine a company, improve that which needs to be changed and eliminate the policies/actions that inhibit profitability, then why can't it be done, occasionally, for free. Especially when such companies represent thousands of jobs effecting dozens of communities. No big monetary reward, just the reward of knowing that their talent, some of which was given to them through their winning the birth lottery, was used to help their fellow Americans, or even fellow humans. True Atlas behavior!JOE PUGNETTIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04353040217634054901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395038039066334365.post-2097438165576439952012-08-03T15:05:08.279-04:002012-08-03T15:05:08.279-04:00If it were only about money for those at the top o...If it were only about money for those at the top of the economic pyramid, they'd stop once getting somewhere near the top, and retire to a tropical island.<br /><br />I'm 25 years old and in my short time in the business world, the executives I know truly do love their work, and they feel that they truly contribute to society, providing jobs and goods and services that our country needs. It's not wrong that they're motivated by profits - it is their job, after all! If they weren't, how long could they go on providing jobs and goods and services? Not long - unless subsidized.<br /><br />They know nothing is perfect and that efficiency is important for the health of the business - but that's just how things work in the world. That's Darwinism. <br /><br />When failing corporations are able to take advantage of government favoritism in the form of bailouts or investments of taxpayer money, that's when it's unfair and the top-down policy does NOT contribute to efficiency. Sometimes it's a good thing (imagine all the jobs that would have been lost if GM went under); sometimes it's bad (Solyndra).<br /><br />The Joe Publics in the world are motivated by money just as much if not more than the executives. Do you think they pick up trash because it makes them feel good? Don't you think they would trade places with a corporate executive if given the opportunity? What's so wrong about that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395038039066334365.post-62391563864851076272012-02-01T13:17:48.002-05:002012-02-01T13:17:48.002-05:00For what it's worth, Ayn Rand -- at one point ...For what it's worth, Ayn Rand -- at one point in her life -- thought that the Liberals might be a good source for potential Objectivists. That was how I came to read her works, and that was the background from which I came to become -- eventually -- an Objectivist.<br /><br />Regarding the "shrugging" of Joe Public; it happens all the time -- just read any newspaper. The real Atlases, however, rarely shrug because they do love their work. You are also right about the protagonists in Atlas Shrugged; money for them is an effect, but not the cause (at least the only cause). What I like about those protagonists is that they do not apologize for their ability to make money or for their wealth. Were that the case in reality, many of our economic problems would be ancient history.Mark A. Hurt, MDhttp://www.markahurt.comnoreply@blogger.com