Ayn Rand’s book, Atlas Shrugged involves a mystery of a man named John Galt. An inventor who refuses to allow the United States government to control his invention. He forms a community of like-minded individuals who believe in the sanctity of work and self-direction.

Now I confess I have not read Atlas Shrugged (1,168 pages) or The Fountainhead (753, more possible though I still have not read it). However, I have seen all three of the Atlas Shrugged films. I have also seen a few interviews with Ayn Rand. She was a very interesting philosopher. She believed very strongly in free markets and no government involvement. She grew up seeing the workings of communism in the Soviet Union and this shaped her thinking.

I agree with her commitment to capitalism. I do believe that capitalism has much more power to help people reach their full potential and allow them to live the life they want than socialism (much, much more than communism). However, I do believe that government involvement through such laws as the Americans with Disabilities Act have created more opportunities for people with disabilities to enter the workforce.

I wondered, however, why she despised Christianity so much, especially when the communists she hated so much, did as well. She was an adamant atheist. Just in case anyone is wondering, that did not make her a bad person.

Regardless of her beliefs, which again, were a result of her time in the Soviet Union, she was not the first to believe in capitalism. The Founding Fathers did too. They believed (and most of them were men of great faith) that capitalism was the way to go as well. They believed that due to their faith in God. They believed in capitalism because they believed in the God of the universe and that we are made in the image of the Creator.

Both Ayn Rand and the founding fathers believed that capitalism are part of the part of a good, self-actualizing life, an expression of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that too. I hope you do as well. It has made us into the greatest nation on the planet. Meanwhile, socialism has made the Soviet Union into what it is today, a failed attempt. Lets not allow those who want more socialism and are uneducated and who are seeking to destroy America, tell us otherwise.

George Washington : “A people… who are possessed of the spirit of commerce, who see and who will pursue their advantages may achieve almost anything.”

—————————————————————-W.