An Atlas Shrugged Thought

Out of all the parallels between Atlas Shrugged and the current crisis in the United States (and the rest of the world), the one parallel I haven't heard yet is that, in the book, the moochers are always trying to make it look like the movers are voluntarily signing away their hard work when, in fact, they actually committing what amounts to be armed robbery from the movers. The one example that comes to mind is when Hank Rearden refuses to sign the document releasing the patent for Rearden Metal to the public and he's sent to trial. The fictional government tried to make it look like Rearden was voluntarily giving up HIS patent to HIS product.

If you haven't noticed, the Obama administration tries to make it look like all the experts agree on his plan when they don't. He's got talking heads like Krugman and DeLong supporting wildly expensive and irresponsible spending (whether or not they like the spending bill that actually passed) and these guys are - literally - calling those that question them evil. The Democrats don't need these people's agreement to pass this foolish legislation. Hell, they're even trying to make the Republicans either look like they approve or look like they're just playing politics if they say they disapprove when they don't even need the Republicans vote since the Dems have the majority.

When I first read Atlas Shrugged in 2005, I thought it was a great work and a great demonstration of what principles should guide general human behavior but I never thought reality would come close to resembling her fictional world. I didn't even think it was possible. Now I'm scared. And this is just one example - Instapundit links to many more.

Let's just hope there's enough people going to these Tea Parties to make a difference.