Stupidity was devastating for mythological Atlas, whose fate was to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders. He had a chance to rid himself of the burden when Hercules, a man of superhuman strength, visited him, seeking help in recovering the missing Golden Apples of the Hesperides.
Atlas knew their whereabouts, and Hercules agreed to hold up the tremendous burden while he went to fetch them. Atlas returned with the apples, but refused to give them to Hercules. As wily as he was strong, Hercules asked Atlas to hold up the world while he padded his shoulders to ease the grinding weight. Atlas consented, and Hercules, with apples in hand, departed.
When Ayn Rand, a Russian immigrant to America who had endured the woes created by stupid, collectivist politicians, wrote “Atlas Shrugged,” the book that has impacted my life the most, second only to the Bible, she knew how big governments and bloated bureaucracies cripple courageous individuals — similar to Rand’s protagonist John Galt — who engage in laissez-faire capitalism.
A blockbuster success when released in 1957, “Atlas Shrugged” parodies politicians who respond to financial crises by passing legislation that stymies economic progress. Invariably, such laws, regulations, entitlements, ever-increasing taxes, and non-stimulating stimulus incentives worsen economic health. In never-ending stupidity, lawmakers then create even more financially destructive boondoggles, thus verifying that eternal truth: Only fools think that repeating what failed once will succeed the second time.
Conceived in the name of fairness and equality, but actually in blatant lack of foresight, the cycle of counter-productive legislation causes those who create wealth and employment to throw up their hands and quit, leaving everyone less well off.
The current erosion of this country’s economic stability is prescient in “Atlas Shrugged”: Often, competence in business is punished, while incompetence is rewarded. Recently, Americans have observed with incredulity how deep-in-debt industries, among them automobile manufacturers, construction and chemical companies, developers, steel industries, and so forth, continue along the same catastrophic business paths, confident that politicians will bail them out before they go under. They are perceived as victims who deserve government handouts, while productive people are perceived as greedy capitalists who profit illegitimately.
All through Rand’s novel, readers are reminded that mankind’s power of reason is the cornerstone of economic wellbeing and growth. Only reasonable businesspeople — those who are unafraid to balance risks against rewards, to act on the basis of their own courage and resourcefulness instead of depending on governmental cradle-to-grave security, to engage competitively with like-minded entrepreneurs, to rise up and rejoin the fight when beaten — can maintain America’s global preeminence. But they cannot do so when hamstrung by politicians, most of whom have never done an honest day’s work.
Ayn Rand once said, “We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality.” Apparently, politicians who thrive by prostituting themselves to special interest groups and who have little regard for the insurmountable burden they will leave behind for future generations are evading reality. They share Atlas’ shortcoming: Stupidity.
Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.
This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.
Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
