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Title: Where is John Galt?

Completed: 2009

Medium: Pencil on Bristol

Price: $100

Dimensions: 8" x 10"

Notes:

Description:

For those of you familiar with Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged, you will know what I'm talking about. For the rest of you; for God's sake, read the book. I'm happy to say sales have skyrocketed lately, so the kid at the local bookstore chain might actually know what you're asking for. This book made a huge impact on me when I read it in college. I am confident in saying it changed my world view, opened my eyes, and gave me the strength to fight for the ideas this country was formed around, rather than accept the country it has become. Fifty and some odd years after its first publication, Atlas is true now more than ever. It was the fertilizer my young mind needed to grow into the well-informed and self-motivated person that I am today. Looking back, it helped me develop a strong personal philosophy and standard of value that has led me to be a political artist and activist. Some would agree, sarcastically, that it is indeed fertilizer. I think my favorite criticism of Ms. Rand's work and philosophy came from someone who said, her books are just written for young angst-ridden girls who have no concept of self. The small-mindedness of people will never cease to amaze me. This drawing is the second in a series of Americana images I am working on. The dollar, being an integral part of our society, is an iconic symbol. Sadly, it has become polluted by our government, as have many other symbols of our once great country. The day the gold standard was abolished should be considered a day of infamy, but I fear that many don't even know what that means. When the money our government prints, has no actual value behind it, our society is at the mercy of those who would grant it any value at all. Not being an economist, I would encourage you to do some research on the Federal Reserve and the definition of fiat currency. You may want to pour a stiff drink before you begin.

Back on topic: Where is John Galt? The allusion is to the theme in Atlas Shrugged that those who work the hardest are punished the most, and they perpetuate the system that confiscates their wealth by continuing to produce. The question is a challenge to stop producing and leave the parasites and do-gooders to their fate. Only when they see the consequences of their actions, will they learn the lesson of failure.

By her own description, the novel is based on the 'theme that humanity has been warped by a corrupt philosophy which is destroying the best in man for the sake of enshrining mediocrity'. 'Her dominant premise is that men are responsible for the ideas they choose to accept and the actions they choose to take'.

The dollar sign is the symbol of money, profit and capitalism. It is a positive symbol of the achievements of free men. In her journals, Rand described Communism, Democracy, and Socialism as the 'logical results of present day humanity'. Even though she completed the novel in the 1950's, it remains true that 'The nameless horror in these systems is both in their logical end and in the unconscious way they already rule mankind'. Ms. Rand was not just philosophizing on theory, she was speaking from experience. She lived under the tyranny of communism before moving to the United States. She had first-hand experience with the atrocities committed by government in the name of the common good. As she said, "The plot of my novel is entirely fiction. The background and circumstances which make the plot possible are entirely true."

We all know from history that systems based on the theories of collectivism do not, and cannot work. There is no sustainable way for the government to force people to work for one another rather than themselves. It is naive to think that the profit of one man is gained at the expense of many others. When the motive of profit is removed, there is no incentive to produce, no matter how much use of force is threatened by the government. And yet, that is the system that our government has been pushing at an ever-increasing rate. There is only one outcome of the current government regulation and spending. It's too bad we have no Galt's Gulch in the real world. Those who work for a living have nowhere to hide.

Links: All of the references to Ayn Rand's writing in this description are based on: Journals of Ayn Rand, Edited By David Harriman and with Foreward By Leonard Peikoff 1997

CONTACT: frances@machinepolitick.com
All images and political rants on this page are the property of Machine Politick and are not to be used or reproduced in any way without permission from frances@machinepolitick.com. All images are copyrighted creations of the artist behind Machine Politick unless otherwise noted and are not to be used or reproduced in any way without permission from frances@machinepolitick.com. Copyright 2006.