The past few years have led me to rekindle an interest in political philosophy and governmental structures in general, Libertarianism and the writings of Ayn Rand in particular. With the apparent demographic shift in America from do-it-yourselfers to those wanting, and voting for, government handouts and benefits ("free" healthcare & "free" contraception, food stamps, etc), I thought it might be helpful to post a short novella written by Rand, titled Anthem; a story of a dystopian future (American?) society generations after a revolution by Progressives/Utopianists brought down the former "evil" governmental structure.
In this new society, all is "fair". Equality is determined and enforced by a cadre of overseers whose task is to manage all aspects of the lives of their citizens, choosing levels of education and assigning the citizens' life's work. As we may have just taken the first steps on the road to such a possible future, a look at the ultimate result of voters' current choices may serve as a deterrent, slowing or halting our slide into the abyss.
I usually post once per week, but as I'm at home for the remainder of this week I'll be able to post the entire work over the next few days. Whether you are an adherent of Rand's philosophy or not, I hope the following will at least cause you to pause and reflect on your political choices. Enjoy.
PART ONE:
It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own. And we know well that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone. We have broken the laws. The laws say that men may not write unless the Council of Vocations bid them so. May we be forgiven!
But this is not the only sin upon us. We have committed a greater crime, and for this crime there is no name. What punishment awaits us if it be discovered know not, for no such crime has come in the memory of men and there are no laws to provide for it.
It is dark here. The flame of the candle stands still in the air. Nothing moves in this tunnel save our hand on the paper. We are alone here under the earth. It is a fearful word, alone. The laws say that none among man may be alone, ever and at any time, for this is the great transgression and the root of all evil. Be we have broken many laws. And now there is nothing here save our one body, and it is strange to see only two legs stretched on the ground, and on the wall before us the shadow of our one head.
The walls are cracked and water runs upon them in thin threads without sound, black and glistening as blood. We stole the candle from the larder of the Home of the Street Sweepers. We shall be sentenced to ten years in the Palace of Corrective Detention if it be discovered. But this matters not. It matters only that the light is precious and we should not waste it to write when we need it for that work which is our crime. Nothing matters save the work, our secret, our evil, our precious work. Still, we must also write, for--may the Council have mercy upon us!--we wish to speak for once to no ears but our own.
Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written on the iron bracelet which all men wear on the left wrists with their names upon it. We are twenty-one years old. We are six feet tall, and this is a burden, for there are not many men who are six feet tall. Ever have the Teachers and the Leaders pointed to us and frowned and said: "There is evil in your bones, Equality 7-2521 for your body has grown beyond the bodies of your brothers." But we cannot change our bones nor our body.
We were born with a curse. It has always driven us to thoughts which are forbidden. It has always given us wishes which men may not wish. We know that we are evil, but there is no will is us and no power to resist it. This is our wonder and our secret fear, that we know and do not resist.
We strive to be like all our brother men, for all mun must be alike. Over the portals of the Palace of the World Council, there are words cut into the marble, which we repeat to ourselves whenever we are tempted: "We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, one, indivisible, and forever."
We repeat this to ourselves, but it helps us not.
These words were cut long ago. There is green mould in the grooves of the letters and yellow streaks on the marble, which come from more years than men could count. And these words are the truth, for they are written on the Palace of the World Council, and the World Council is the body of all truth. This has it been ever since the Great Rebirth, and farther back than that no memory can reach.
But we must never speak of the times of the Great Rebirth, else we are sentenced to three years in the Palace of Corrective Detention. It is only the Old Ones who whisper about it in the evenings, in the Home of the Useless. They whisper many strange things, of the towers which rose to the sky, in those Unmentionable Times, and of the wagons which moved without horses, and of the lights which burned without flame. But those times were evil. And those times passed away, when men saw the Great Truth which is this: that all men are one and that there is no will save the will of all men together.
All men are good and wise. It is only we, Equality 7-2521, we alone who were born with a curse. For we are not like our brothers. And as we look back upon our life, we see that it has ever been thus and that it has brought us step by step to our last, supreme transgression, our crime of crimes hidden here under the ground.
We remember the Home of the Infants where we lived till we were five years old, together with all the children of the City who had been born in the same year. The sleeping halls there were white and clean and bare of all things save one hundred beds. We were just like all our brothers then, save for the one transgression: we fought with our brothers. There are few offenses blacker than to fight with our brothers, at any age and any cause whatsoever. The Council of the Home told us so, and of all the children of that year, we were locked in the cellar most often.
When we were five years old, we were sent to the Home of the Students, where there are ten wards, for our ten years of learning. Men must learn till they reach their fifteenth year. Then they go to work. In the Home of the Students we arose when the big bell rang in the tower and we went to our beds when it rang again. Before we removed our garments, we stood in the great sleeping hall, and we raised our right arms, and we said all together with the three Teachers at the head: "We are nothing. Mankind is all. By the grace of our brothers are we allowed our lives. We exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen."
Then we slept. The sleeping halls were white and clean and bare of all things save one hundred beds.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Elections Have Consequences
It's not yet two weeks since the re-election of Barack Obama and already we are seeing some "unanticipated" results.
In the first few days following the election we watched the Dow Jones stock market average drop over 400 pts, a drop of 3%. Stocks of energy companies were especially hard hit, with investors anticipating a wave of new regulations and restrictions from the administration and the EPA. Understandable, with the comments by the President promoting so-called "green" energy projects (many of which, operated by or invested in by major donors) that have taken large taxpayer subsidies before filing for bankruptcy, while arguing for greater regulation and restriction on traditional forms of energy, even going so far as to eliminate 1.6 million acres in the western states from energy development. Land that had already been previously approved for such use. All while professing to desire an "all of the above" domestic energy strategy and American energy independence.
Also surprising (to Liberals and establishment media types) was the disclosure this week of a steep rise (also "unanticipated") in the number of people filing for unemployment benefits. The weekly number of first time filers rose by more than 78,000 to a total of 439,000. That's nearly half a million people filing for first time benefits in one single week. This is already being spun as a consequence of super storm Sandy. If that's the case, why would it be "unanticipated"? The storm hit over three weeks ago. Couldn't the people that put out the predicted employment/unemployment numbers account for that? I would think that people who have made a profession out of anticipating unemployment numbers would be able to come closer than 78,000.
Also muddying the economic outlook are the announcements by dozens of firms, large and small, of intention to initiate lay-offs. From Papa John's Pizza to Pepsi Co. to Verizon to Bank of America, the announcements are nearly universal in respect to one significant factor: Obamacare. With the re-election of Obama, the institution of Obamacare is assured. Employers, having looked at the avalanche of new regulations, fees, and taxes coming their way have determined that they simply can not afford to both pay their employees and cover the new expenses mandated by the government. Also aggravating the situation for employees is the fact that buried within the legislation was a provision that recalculated the level at which an employee would be considered to be "full time" and thus eligible for mandatory employer healthcare coverage, reducing what the Labor Department considers full time employment from 40 hrs/wk down to 30. This has led many smaller employers to say that they are going to be forced to reduce employee hours accordingly in order to avoid being burdened with the additional costs of the healthcare law.
The electoral "landslide" was a result of the vote by large metropolitan population centers swinging states with the lion's share of electoral college votes to the left. The sentiment of the people was narrowly divided, 51%-49% (actually closer than that, but it's a close average of differing vote counts). Despite the actual narrowness of his "victory", Obama and the left have somehow determined that they now have a "mandate" to push their agenda. Obama claims that the people endorsed his vision of higher taxation on the "rich", the 2%, in order to address the fiscal troubles of the country. Actually, exit polls showed that only 47% (ironic, eh?) actually agreed with the President that the country's economic situation should be addressed by increasing taxes. Count on another fiscal cliff fiasco, similar to last year's debt ceiling debacle. Obama said after the election that he was looking forward to working with leaders of both sides of the aisle to craft a compromise, yet later he said that he instead of the previous deal that would have been worth $800B in additional revenue and spending cuts over ten years he now intended to get agreement for a package worth $1.6T, essentially doubling down on his original demands. He intends to achieve this mark with higher tax rates, in addition to closing loop holes and deductions (also for "the rich"). We've got a slowing economy, with massive lay-offs on the horizon and his prescription for America is to burden businesses and individuals with an even greater tax burden. Make no mistake, the taxes will fall on individuals. Liberals and Progressives never seem to grasp the truth that no corporation or business ever pays taxes. Any and all such expenses are passed along in the form of higher prices and higher fees. Always.
Unions, where Obama got his greatest support, are also apparently feeling their oats. Flexing their muscles, both financially and politically. Following the election, union leaders and leftist economic academics were the first invited to the White House. Not legislative leaders. Not business owners. Not the CEO's. They obviously expect to be richly repaid for their support. They have also mistaken the true extent of their power. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (who knew such a group existed?) struck Hostess Foods and refused to accept concessions the company said were necessary for it to stave off a third bankruptcy. The company asked it's 18,500 employees to accept a new contract that included an 8% pay cut and increased contributions to their pensions and healthcare expenses. The Teamsters, hardly an example of union/corporate cooperation warned the bakery union (itself a subsidiary operating under the Teamsters umbrella) that Hostess wasn't simply making a threat when it said that if employees didn't return to work by the deadline the business would shut down and liquidate, that they weren't just posturing for leverage in negotiations. The baker's union refused to deal, forcing Hostess to close it's doors and eliminate all 18,500 jobs.
Talk about being short-sighted. Figuring an average salary of $50,000, the workers decided that they'd rather risk losing everything, just days before the holidays, than continue to work for $46,000. They didn't just shoot themselves in the foot, they also shot thousands of other workers in the back. People who were not given a voice in the negotiations. What of the delivery drivers? What of the truck drivers who delivered the raw ingredients into the bakeries? What of the loss of retail sales that will affect grocers and convenience stores nationwide? These people were convinced by their leadership (none of whom, by the way, will lose their jobs or their paychecks) that it was better to stand firm than to negotiate and compromise in any way. Union leadership apparently wanted to set an example more than they wanted to do what was in the best interests of the workers and the company that employed them. Someone needs to sit these idiots down and relate to them the parable of the Golden Goose. They killed the Golden Goose, and cooked their own goose in the process. I wonder how many more families will end up losing their homes because of this?
Yes, elections have consequences. And we have only just begun to appreciate the consequences of this one. Congratulations, Liberals! You have re-elected your choice for the leader of the country and will have the opportunity to enjoy the government you have chosen and deserve. Sadly, the other 49% of the country will also experience the government you deserve. I don't know if there will be any coming back.
In the first few days following the election we watched the Dow Jones stock market average drop over 400 pts, a drop of 3%. Stocks of energy companies were especially hard hit, with investors anticipating a wave of new regulations and restrictions from the administration and the EPA. Understandable, with the comments by the President promoting so-called "green" energy projects (many of which, operated by or invested in by major donors) that have taken large taxpayer subsidies before filing for bankruptcy, while arguing for greater regulation and restriction on traditional forms of energy, even going so far as to eliminate 1.6 million acres in the western states from energy development. Land that had already been previously approved for such use. All while professing to desire an "all of the above" domestic energy strategy and American energy independence.
Also surprising (to Liberals and establishment media types) was the disclosure this week of a steep rise (also "unanticipated") in the number of people filing for unemployment benefits. The weekly number of first time filers rose by more than 78,000 to a total of 439,000. That's nearly half a million people filing for first time benefits in one single week. This is already being spun as a consequence of super storm Sandy. If that's the case, why would it be "unanticipated"? The storm hit over three weeks ago. Couldn't the people that put out the predicted employment/unemployment numbers account for that? I would think that people who have made a profession out of anticipating unemployment numbers would be able to come closer than 78,000.
Also muddying the economic outlook are the announcements by dozens of firms, large and small, of intention to initiate lay-offs. From Papa John's Pizza to Pepsi Co. to Verizon to Bank of America, the announcements are nearly universal in respect to one significant factor: Obamacare. With the re-election of Obama, the institution of Obamacare is assured. Employers, having looked at the avalanche of new regulations, fees, and taxes coming their way have determined that they simply can not afford to both pay their employees and cover the new expenses mandated by the government. Also aggravating the situation for employees is the fact that buried within the legislation was a provision that recalculated the level at which an employee would be considered to be "full time" and thus eligible for mandatory employer healthcare coverage, reducing what the Labor Department considers full time employment from 40 hrs/wk down to 30. This has led many smaller employers to say that they are going to be forced to reduce employee hours accordingly in order to avoid being burdened with the additional costs of the healthcare law.
The electoral "landslide" was a result of the vote by large metropolitan population centers swinging states with the lion's share of electoral college votes to the left. The sentiment of the people was narrowly divided, 51%-49% (actually closer than that, but it's a close average of differing vote counts). Despite the actual narrowness of his "victory", Obama and the left have somehow determined that they now have a "mandate" to push their agenda. Obama claims that the people endorsed his vision of higher taxation on the "rich", the 2%, in order to address the fiscal troubles of the country. Actually, exit polls showed that only 47% (ironic, eh?) actually agreed with the President that the country's economic situation should be addressed by increasing taxes. Count on another fiscal cliff fiasco, similar to last year's debt ceiling debacle. Obama said after the election that he was looking forward to working with leaders of both sides of the aisle to craft a compromise, yet later he said that he instead of the previous deal that would have been worth $800B in additional revenue and spending cuts over ten years he now intended to get agreement for a package worth $1.6T, essentially doubling down on his original demands. He intends to achieve this mark with higher tax rates, in addition to closing loop holes and deductions (also for "the rich"). We've got a slowing economy, with massive lay-offs on the horizon and his prescription for America is to burden businesses and individuals with an even greater tax burden. Make no mistake, the taxes will fall on individuals. Liberals and Progressives never seem to grasp the truth that no corporation or business ever pays taxes. Any and all such expenses are passed along in the form of higher prices and higher fees. Always.
Unions, where Obama got his greatest support, are also apparently feeling their oats. Flexing their muscles, both financially and politically. Following the election, union leaders and leftist economic academics were the first invited to the White House. Not legislative leaders. Not business owners. Not the CEO's. They obviously expect to be richly repaid for their support. They have also mistaken the true extent of their power. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (who knew such a group existed?) struck Hostess Foods and refused to accept concessions the company said were necessary for it to stave off a third bankruptcy. The company asked it's 18,500 employees to accept a new contract that included an 8% pay cut and increased contributions to their pensions and healthcare expenses. The Teamsters, hardly an example of union/corporate cooperation warned the bakery union (itself a subsidiary operating under the Teamsters umbrella) that Hostess wasn't simply making a threat when it said that if employees didn't return to work by the deadline the business would shut down and liquidate, that they weren't just posturing for leverage in negotiations. The baker's union refused to deal, forcing Hostess to close it's doors and eliminate all 18,500 jobs.
Talk about being short-sighted. Figuring an average salary of $50,000, the workers decided that they'd rather risk losing everything, just days before the holidays, than continue to work for $46,000. They didn't just shoot themselves in the foot, they also shot thousands of other workers in the back. People who were not given a voice in the negotiations. What of the delivery drivers? What of the truck drivers who delivered the raw ingredients into the bakeries? What of the loss of retail sales that will affect grocers and convenience stores nationwide? These people were convinced by their leadership (none of whom, by the way, will lose their jobs or their paychecks) that it was better to stand firm than to negotiate and compromise in any way. Union leadership apparently wanted to set an example more than they wanted to do what was in the best interests of the workers and the company that employed them. Someone needs to sit these idiots down and relate to them the parable of the Golden Goose. They killed the Golden Goose, and cooked their own goose in the process. I wonder how many more families will end up losing their homes because of this?
Yes, elections have consequences. And we have only just begun to appreciate the consequences of this one. Congratulations, Liberals! You have re-elected your choice for the leader of the country and will have the opportunity to enjoy the government you have chosen and deserve. Sadly, the other 49% of the country will also experience the government you deserve. I don't know if there will be any coming back.
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