To be clear, I agree that the "looters" are doing the same thing I'm fussing about the industrialists doing; they are bitter and grasping, and their cries of "greater good" are just so much noise.
However, I disagree the industrialists don't share this sense of entitlement, and I think it is important not to discount their repeatedly expressed lack of interest in anything larger than themselves and their "enjoyment" of life. The whole idea behind the strike is one of entitlement, and if Rand's thesis of world collapsing is correct (and we can assume in the AS universe it is), then they abandon all the people who work for them, who helped them become successful, whom they claim to want to treat fairly. Ultimately, no one matters to the industrialists- except themselves.
While I think you are right to point out the Industrialists declare their desire to deal fairly with people from whom they needed things, I think it does bear noting they are very seldom including the people who work for them in this statement- usually they are referring to other industrialists. I believe Reardon is the exception. However, even if we assume they mean everyone, how do the actions of the characters bear out these claims?
Did Dagny even give a second thought to Scott Willers? Nope, she leaves him behind, in spite of his contributions to her success, because he wasn't an Atlas. When his mines are nationalized, Francisco blows them up. There are reasons, other than adherence to a "looter" philosophy, for 3rd world countries to nationalize their resources, but for Francisco, if he can't have the mines, he'll blow them up, no matter what the cost to the people who worked in the mines and relied upon their existence for their livelihood.
Galt's folks, on the other hand, lived their own lives amongst like-minded people and left everyone else alone to live however they saw fit.
Well, not exactly. If you've gotten to Galt's seemingly interminable radio address, you'll know what I mean.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: I See What You Mean
Date: 2008-06-24 07:36 pm (UTC)However, I disagree the industrialists don't share this sense of entitlement, and I think it is important not to discount their repeatedly expressed lack of interest in anything larger than themselves and their "enjoyment" of life. The whole idea behind the strike is one of entitlement, and if Rand's thesis of world collapsing is correct (and we can assume in the AS universe it is), then they abandon all the people who work for them, who helped them become successful, whom they claim to want to treat fairly. Ultimately, no one matters to the industrialists- except themselves.
While I think you are right to point out the Industrialists declare their desire to deal fairly with people from whom they needed things, I think it does bear noting they are very seldom including the people who work for them in this statement- usually they are referring to other industrialists. I believe Reardon is the exception. However, even if we assume they mean everyone, how do the actions of the characters bear out these claims?
Did Dagny even give a second thought to Scott Willers? Nope, she leaves him behind, in spite of his contributions to her success, because he wasn't an Atlas. When his mines are nationalized, Francisco blows them up. There are reasons, other than adherence to a "looter" philosophy, for 3rd world countries to nationalize their resources, but for Francisco, if he can't have the mines, he'll blow them up, no matter what the cost to the people who worked in the mines and relied upon their existence for their livelihood.
Galt's folks, on the other hand, lived their own lives amongst like-minded people and left everyone else alone to live however they saw fit.
Well, not exactly. If you've gotten to Galt's seemingly interminable radio address, you'll know what I mean.