'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years • Hacker News Board

Re: 'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

#141

Post by bumbledraven » Sun, Jan 11, 2009, 5:00 AM UTC

rw wrote: post #67

opticksversi wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to this... http://www.irefeurope.org/col_docs/doc_26_fr.pdf [pdf] ... any given nation would be nicer, with no income- (including capital-gains) or consumption- taxes. . if the tax rate tends towards zero percent, its influence on the decisions taken by persons affected tends to be negligible. ... less taxation, and, in addition, less distortionary taxation is desirable. Several studies even demonstrate tha…

Do you agree with that quote? Do you think "less distortionary taxation" is a reasonable price to pay for, say, no public grade schools, especially in at-risk communities?

Absolutely. As far as I can see, the government does everything poorly, especially charity.

Re: 'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

#142

Post by walterk » Sun, Jan 11, 2009, 7:04 AM UTC

mmmurf wrote: post #123

walterk wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, but there are also many who are simply discouraged from striving at all, possibly jaded. Rand never considers the forces behind this fact: she simply casts them as villains.

I wouldn't say that. Have you read any of Rand's books?

Yes. Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.

Re: 'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

#143

Post by DanielBMarkham » Sun, Jan 11, 2009, 5:53 PM UTC

mattmaroon wrote: post #51

So because government programs in a work of fiction caused more harm than good, all government programs in the non-fiction world must be bad. Good logic.

It's called a thought experiment.

Re: 'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

#144

Post by chadmalik » Sun, Jan 11, 2009, 6:47 PM UTC

Remind me of how Moore was opposing the Greenspan monetary policies and Bush fiscal policies? Oh, right, he didn't.

It defies parody that a Rand protege (Greenspan) and Rand supporters like Moore basically created this mess.

Re: 'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

#145

Post by endtime » Sun, Feb 01, 2009, 3:58 AM UTC

unalone wrote: post #95

endtime wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know what you mean - I felt the same way after reading Age of Tolerance (similar to Atlas Shrugged but specific to contemporary American political issues) and then saw people singing the national anthem in Spanish, but with the words politically modified. I've read The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged too, but it was a while ago.

Would you recommend Age of Tolerance as a book?

Sorry for the much-delayed reply. It's certainly nowhere near Atlas Shrugged in terms of quality, and there's a heavy US Republican undertone. I'm a moderate that leans slightly towards the right and it bothered me a few times. So if you're sensitive to that kind of thing, then no.

That said, I did find it to be insightful in places. So I can't say I'd recommend it wholeheartedly, but there is some value in there.

Re: 'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

#146

Post by endtime » Sun, Feb 01, 2009, 4:01 AM UTC

anewaccountname wrote: post #128

Retric wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

with the words politically modified

as though it were some sacred canon from god.

The national anthem is sacred, but that doesn't mean I can't resent its being co-opted to advocate certain political positions.

Re: 'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years

#147

Post by endtime » Mon, Feb 02, 2009, 10:55 PM UTC

endtime wrote: post #146

anewaccountname wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

as though it were some sacred canon from god.

The national anthem is sacred, but that doesn't mean I can't resent its being co-opted to advocate certain political positions.

Whoops. Meant to say isn't sacred.