"Going a long distance out of the way, to come back a short distance correctly"
Atlas Shrugged – Day 084 – pp. 902-911
The world, as represented by ole Jimmy Taggart, is rapidly spiraling down into a moral abyss. He’s just hit it with Lillian Rearden. More or less taking advantage of a woman down on her most-undeserved luck to satisfy not a sexual but a power lust.
Yeah, he’s a sick POS. (And I’m getting the sense he’s going off the deep end.)
Anyway, back to the ever-increasing drama…
Atlas Shrugged – Day 082 – pp. 882-891
Yeah, Jim keeps heading on down the path with Cherryl.
“What path is that?” you say.
Atlas Shrugged – Day 081 – pp. 872-881
OK, for those who came in late. Things are picking up. A little. Hank and Dagny have taken the last steps they can against the looters. Jim and his cohorts are taking over the rest of the world (to loot it.)
(By the way, anyone interested in how this works in real life should read the Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein. It’s essentially about how countries are bankrupted and destroyed so that the US can come in an cash in. Personally, I think she misdirects her blame at Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of economics. Well, in truth, they were all there for the events she describes, but I think she unfairly takes issue with the free market theory. What she inadvertently reveals, is its misapplication.)
All I’m gonna say is, if this story doesn’t end with a huge 21st century battle between the looters and the industrialists with handheld x-ray machines, self-sustaining motors, giant xylophones and maybe a couple light sabers and an terminator or two, I’m gonna be pissed. Anywho…
Atlas Shrugged – Day 080 – pp. 862-871
“Now tell me,” he asked, “where were you?”
Can’t tell you. Don’t know. Couldn’t’ find it if I wanted.
“Who is he?”
“Who is John Galt?”
Ohhhhhhhh!
Atlas Shrugged – Day 040 – pp. 389-398
And on and on he’d ramble. About how good Dagny, his “ruthless, conceited bitch” of a sister and Hank Rearden and all the rest of them are at making money. Why wouldn’t they acknowledge his spiritual superiority.
Don’t know Jim. Maybe if you were living in a monastery. . . but you’re president of a railroad.
Cherryl on the other hand, really had no idea what he is talking about. She does see that he’s in pain, however, and her youthful sympathy, like finding a rabbit or something equally cuddly caught in a trap makes you cry, draws her to him.
Actually did more than that.
Atlas Shrugged – Day 039 – pp. 379-388
Chapter II — The Aristocracy of Pull
Finally a title that makes sense! This is the world we’re living in right now. Where if you are positioned correctly in the right office and know the right people, you can get – do – say – screw just about anyone or anything. H-E-L-L-O Washington.
The calendar in the sky beyond Dagny’s window said September 2. OK. We’re one year into the book — it read exactly the same when Eddie looked up at it on page 2 or 3.
Incidentally, I recently found out that Sept 2 is “Atlas Shrugged Day.” Happy Belated Atlas Shrugged day to all!
The calendar that timed her race to get the JG line built was now “clocking her race against an unknown destroyer.”
Atlas Shrugged – Day 027 – pp. 264-273
Absolving himself. For his inabilities. . . For falling back on the excuse of doing things for the heart — the right reasons. The other reasons.
I wonder if Rand doesn’t think “other reasons” are valid motivations for anything. There are those who beg charity to help the less fortunate. And they are virtuous. Maybe it’s my Catholic upbringing. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve never been a zillionaire industrialist. I wonder if its expectation (of shared wealth) that she rails against.
One thing is for certain. The willingness to accept “it’s not your/my/their fault — you can’t be blamed” as an excuse is a major character flaw.
Anyway, Jim’s in the “confessional” with Cherryl — a new character – poor, awestruck shop-girl from Buffalo — talking, essentially about how everyone who’s great today, ain’t so great. . .
Atlas Shrugged – Day 026 – pp. 254-263
Chapter IX – The Sacred and the Profane (sounds like a soap opera…)
The deed done, now comes the awkward part.
Hank gets up to get dressed and addresses the situation…