A recent article in the Wall Street Journal references one of the best libertarian books of all time. The book was written by Ayn Rand who immigrated to the U.S. from Russia in the early 1950's.Rand's book, Atlas Shrugged, is reviled by liberals and revered by every non-liberal that reads it. The book poses a simple hypothesis. What happens to society when government attempts to control the markets?
Throughout the book those that are successful continue to produce. They find ways around the government barriers set up to 'level' the playing field. The world is divided into the producer and two other categories.
The other groups are those that do nothing and those that identify opportunity to use the government rules as a tool to line their own pockets. (Sounds eerily familiar, it's just like what is going on with our government and economy today doesn't it.)
Ayn Rand used her unique insight and experience from communist Russia to build a captivating and realistic story of what happens when governments attempt to control incomes and what happens when the producers and innovators in society finally give up and throw in the towel.
This book is no easy read. At over 1,000 pages most people will not even attempt to read it. However, when surveyed, a majority of people who have read it said it was one of the most influential books in their lives. It rated second only to the bible.
I would posit that it should be mandatory reading for every high school senior prior to graduation! If you haven't read the book I encourage you to do so.
If you aren't going to read under any circumstance I implore you to at least read the great Wall Street Journal commentary about the book. Here is the link to the WSF article: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=44251878044&h=z8mMm&u=lH3EK
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