This Is John Galt Speaking.

[Dodger]

(Pardon me for the length of this topic. I felt compelled to post this. These are my words, credited to John Galt who inspired them.)

This is John Galt speaking.

My fire has been rekindled, and now my strength that I have kept inside for so long will now be used.

I am stronger than you. Much stronger. I can outwit you in most likely anything you want to throw at me. I am no longer a lost, passively-minded 17 year old kid, but a strong, powerful, wise, and unchallenged man.

I may sound conceited, but believe me when I say my self assuredness does not come from arrogance, rather it comes from knowing that what I am capable of I will no longer push aside--I will use it. The reason I can outmatch you is because you have not decided to use your capabilities. You sit and wait. You do no work. You believe that someone will give you the chance you deserve without working for it.

I will no longer act as I once did. I will destroy you're thanatonic approaches by being completely indifferent. I will remain unattached. I will no longer serve the public good. I will serve my own intentions and my own beliefs. Your beliefs be damned. The public good be damned.

I will begin a revolution. I will be the man who gains power by doing work for himself. I will gain every penny or profit by my own work and by my own capabilities. I will destroy the looters by not giving them anything of mine to loot. I will become powerful.

My mind is a tool which I have wasted for the past 17 years. I have done nothing productive with it--nothing for me to be proud of. I have been a child, careless and insecure.

Now I am secure, powerful, and productive. I care for only one thing and that is my work. You will admire me or you will hate me. Those that know of my values will love me, those that dont will despise me.

I will take from you that which you use to fight me. I will take from you that which you believe to be yours. I will destroy your false ideals and bury you 10 feet under the ground.

You are not credible. You have nothing that gives you the right to anaylze me. You have no credibility. You forfeited it when you asked for hand outs. You will fall down at my feet and beg me to give you that which I have. I will laugh in your face when you do so and do no work to gain it.

I am the man who will stop the motor of the world. I will take from the government that which they hold so dearly. I will revolutionize this society and destroy the socialism that exists today. I will crush those who take without warrant and praise those who work for their own good. I will silence those that tell me I am immoral, and push aside those that say I am unethical.

You who have tormented me for years and have pretended to be that which you are not--You who have done nothing but sit and criticize without credibility--You who have asked of me that which you did not deserve--You who have pretended to be kind to destroy me--You who have lied and deceived me and caused my pain--You who have fought to keep me in isolation....

You will all cry for my help when there is no where else to turn.

I am John Galt.

I will stop the motor of the world.

Greetings and salutations. I hope my rant interested you

My name is Mitchell, and I am seventeen years old. Please don't refer to me as a kid, a youngster, or any word that has a similar connotation. I am not what you think I am. I am much stronger than a child, and I am not here to leech off or your intelligence. I am here because of Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged.

I may be young and inexperienced but I have at least had the time to sit back and observe. I may not have gone through what most older men and women have but I believe that with my objective stance, I am able to anaylze and conclude with confidence. I am somewhat new to the concepts of objectivism, but from what I do know, I love it. Objectivism has caused me to change for the better. I was at once a kid who wanted things given to him. I did not want to work for things--I wanted handouts. I wanted problems to be solved for me, and I wasted my time, my productivity, my talents, and my mind all for the sake of laziness. I was, simply put, a looter.

However, John Galt challenged me to change my ways. I realized my habits and my actions had no justification, and I started the habit of justifying my beliefs/values/principles/actions/words/thoughts and more before using them. I reason. I no longer go by what I feel, but I go by what it is that I can deduce. I no longer act on feelings and try my best to rationalize and understand every situation I'm placed in, because I know that if you do not justify that which you are, you are merely a wanderer in a society of fools, and you will not know which way to turn and who you should follow.

Due to my numerous realizations I decided that it was time for me to take my place in this world as a producer. I am very skilled with electronics and in a few months time I will be working towards my degree for Electrical Engineering Technology. Afterwards I will start from the ground up. I will innovate and use my talents to produce products and services that will profit me. I will work against socialism and for capitalism. I will challenge the government when it attempts to crush my success and keep me silenced.

If my short rant was any sign of my personality at all, you should know my values and my standards already. You should know I stand for what is right and for individual growth. I stand against that which calls itself the public good, and I stand against those who believe my work should be shared with those who do not have my talents.

I stand for objectivism, and I stand for Ayn Rand. I may only be seventeen, but in a few years time I will be much more powerful and much more influential. I will use my productivity to do Ayn Rand justice and destroy that which is the looter.

I look forward to getting to know you all and sharing our knowledge with each other. Oh how I have longed for a place where intelligent people gathered.

Until next time!

Mitchell/Dodger/John Galt

[Chris Grieb]

Mitchell; Welcome from one of the older people on the forum to one of the youngest. Jeff Kremer who has not posted for a while is younger.

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Mitchell,

Dayaamm!

You sure ain't lacking in the piss and vinegar department. You have plenty to go around.

Let me extend you a warm welcome to OL. You look like fun.

btw - Check the following link out. From some reason, I see a kindred spirit.

The Best Page in the Universe

Michael

[Dodger]

Chris: I appreciate the welcome and--how much younger is Jeff?

Michael: I hadn't laughed quite like that in a while. I can see why you decided to reference that page, but the author of that page in my opinion would lose to me in a battle of wits--he is unarmed.

There may be similarities but only when things are taken out of context.

[PalePower]

Welcome, Mitchell. From what I've experienced of it so far, I think you'll enjoy the atmosphere on OL. I'm also 17. Sucks, doesn't it?

Glad to be aware of one more person on there with a firm grasp on the value of their mind; however, a short word of advice based on first impressions. Just remember that Rand's heroes derive their self-esteem from their self based on their own standards, not their self in comparison to the supposed inferiority of others. Having read Rand myself for the first time just a couple years ago, I can certainly understand the intoxicating effect of her world and resulting superiority complexes, but as you get older and more used to Objectivist ideas as a norm - instead of a surprise - I hope those feelings of spite and vindictiveness simmer down a little.

You said you read Atlas Shrugged - have you read any of Rand's other fiction, namely, The Fountainhead?

Cheers,

~Elizabeth

[Dodger]

Welcome, Mitchell. From what I've experienced of it so far, I think you'll enjoy the atmosphere on OL. I'm also 17. Sucks, doesn't it?

Glad to be aware of one more person on there with a firm grasp on the value of their mind; however, a short word of advice based on first impressions. Just remember that Rand's heroes derive their self-esteem from their self based on their own standards, not their self in comparison to the supposed inferiority of others. Having read Rand myself for the first time just a couple years ago, I can certainly understand the intoxicating effect of her world and resulting superiority complexes, but as you get older and more used to Objectivist ideas as a norm - instead of a surprise - I hope those feelings of spite and vindictiveness simmer down a little.

You said you read Atlas Shrugged - have you read any of Rand's other fiction, namely, The Fountainhead?

Cheers,

~Elizabeth

I felt compelled to point this out:

Just remember that Rand's heroes derive their self-esteem from their self based on their own standards, not their self in comparison to the supposed inferiority of others.

Very, very, very good point. There is a fine line to walk when you follow objectivist thinking, and if you aren't careful, your productivity will lead you to a deluded mindset. I can assure you, however, that such a mindset is far from my perspective. I do not believe I am superior to anyone but I do believe that those who do not work for what they gain have no right to govern me. Perhaps I should expand my views to make sure I do not give the wrong first impression

I'll throw in a quick edit: What I wrote (italics) is directed towards those of the 'looter' class. The 'you' I speak of is the general 'you' that applies directly to those who do not work and want problems solved for them. So please be aware that I do not want to imply that I believe anyone to be inferior to me besides those who do nothing. I cannot help but despise those who wish to take without warrant.

Thank you for your advice. It is very sound and perfectly applicable. And to answer your question, Atlas Shrugged is the only work of Ayn Rand that I have read.

And yes, being 17 sucks.

Edited April 18, 2007 by Dodger

[BAMF]

Welcome, Dodger! Interesting read! Glad to have you aboard, dude. I'm 17 as well, but turning 18 on April 28. Then it'll be time for me to purchase pornography, cigarettes, and lottery tickets and use them all simultaneously. Are you a sophomore or a junior, good sir? Whatever you are, I wish you much luck in finishing high school. It really is a pain in the ass, but when you come so close to freedom (well, sorta)...well, there are no words to describe it. (Elizabeth, good luck to you, too!)

Dodge, I recommend that you read Rand's fiction first. The Fountainhead, We The Living and then Anthem. I learned much more from the fiction than I ever did from the non-fiction. I hate to say it, but it's just so boring.

[Dodger]

Welcome, Dodger! Interesting read! Glad to have you aboard, dude. I'm 17 as well, but turning 18 on April 28. Then it'll be time for me to purchase pornography, cigarettes, and lottery tickets and use them all simultaneously. Are you a sophomore or a junior, good sir? Whatever you are, I wish you much luck in finishing high school. It really is a pain in the ass, but when you come so close to freedom (well, sorta)...well, there are no words to describe it. (Elizabeth, good luck to you, too!)

Dodge, I recommend that you read Rand's fiction first. The Fountainhead, We The Living and then Anthem. I learned much more from the fiction than I ever did from the non-fiction. I hate to say it, but it's just so boring.

Actually, Im a senior. High school wouldn't be so much of a pain if it wasnt centered on standardized tests and performance on such tests.

Eh, I can only do so much. I'll change things when Im older

[Victor Pross]

Doger, you owe it to yourself to move on to The Fountainhead now. :turned:

-Victor

[Dodger]

Yes, the man who told me to read Atlas Shrugged is reading Fountainhead now. I'm going to do the same soon.

[Chris Grieb]

Dodger; Read The Fountainhead. You get it.

[Judith]

Don't be surprised if you find "The Fountainhead" a bit of a let-down after "Atlas"; some here think it was a better book, but coming right after "Atlas", I didn't appreciate it as much as I might have had I read it on its own terms.

Judith

[BAMF]

Actually, Im a senior. High school wouldn't be so much of a pain if it wasnt centered on standardized tests and performance on such tests.

Eh, I can only do so much. I'll change things when Im older

Wowie! Me too, dude. And I'm deliriously happy about it. I'm currently scrambling to finish a 10-page research paper, which is due tomorrow, and after that I have nothing else school related to worry my head over! I just have a calculus final, but that's nothin'. The happiest day of my life (graduation day) is on May 24th. When do you graduate? I'm so happy for us!

I agree about those standardized tests. They put so much pressure on us to do well on those tests so that they can get accredited and get more funding, but then what do they do with that funding? They're supposed to improve our education, right? Well, my school received some money and they're building our THIRD gymnasium. This pisses me off beyond belief. It's like school is more focused on sports than academics (not that I think sports are completely unimportant). I believe that over half of our freshmen this year were failing at least 1 or 2 of their classes....sheesh!

Anyhow, I wish you even more good luck. From my experience, the last year has been my hardest. I just have to keep chuggin', keep chuggin', keep chuggin'...

EDIT: Judith, I read The Fountainhead first (actually Anthem, but I consider The Fountainhead the real first...lol) and I can't say that I know for sure, but I think it really would be a letdown from reading Atlas. However, they're both amazing novels and I'm interested to know which novel Dodger likes best. Hell, maybe it'll be a non-fiction work.

EDIT II: Dodger, why do you call yourself that? Are you a baseball fan? If you are, I think you and Jeff will get along ridiculously well. LOL.

Edited April 18, 2007 by Kori

[Dodger]

Kori:

Standardized tests annoy me simply because when education is focused around standards, the true value of education seems to go unnoticed. Thankfully, I no longer have to take them, but I still maintain my 'anti-standard' values.

To answer your question, the reason I call myself Dodger is because there was a man, in his late 50's, that was a member of another forum that I had been a part of. His name was Artful Dodger, and he is probably the wisest man I've ever come in contact with. The things I learned simply from him are endless, and I decided to name myself 'Dodger' as a tribute to him. If I hadn't have named myself in this way, I would have most likely gone with 'John Galt'

[Chris Grieb]

Dodger; The Artful Dodger is one of the more interesting characters in Oliver Twist. What are your thoughts on college and a career.

Edited April 19, 2007 by Chris Grieb

[Dodger]

I'm going to DeVry for my degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. While it might not be an Ivy League school, it teaches you by doing. I visited the campus and saw freshmen building circuit boards. It was like heaven on earth for me, because I love electronics, and I have inventions that I have always wanted to create but never had the know-how to do so. If you are really interested in my plans, and have about an hour or so of free time, let me know, because I have a lot of things that I can share that may interest you

EDIT: I never knew the Artful Dodger was a fictional character, I believed it was just a made up name. Heh, you learn something new everyday eh?

Edited April 19, 2007 by Dodger

[Danneskjold]

Late salutations, I've been busy with baseball season. It occurred to me that we should have switched starting display names. Mine was Danneskjold. Danneskjold (if I remember correctly) shared your interest in science (majored in physics). I, on the other hand, would be proud to be a Dodger (think baseball).

In any case, welcome.

[Chris Grieb]

Dodger; Every so often on TCM they show 50ths version of Oliver Twist. If you can see that and not the musical Oliver which won Best Picture at the Oscar's. I'm impressed that you want to do real things. I also impressed that you don't want to go an Ivy League or one of the Ivy League clone. It's a little after 6am where I am and I've already handed out a bunch of complements.

[studiodekadent]

Dodger,

I know how it feels to be patronized by ones elders, who of course have the stupidity to assume their age confers superior intellect upon themselves. So believe me, I can understand the (to use Michael's term) "piss and vinegar" you have. I have a very similar level as well.

I look foward to discussions with you.

[Dodger]

Dodger,

I know how it feels to be patronized by ones elders, who of course have the stupidity to assume their age confers superior intellect upon themselves. So believe me, I can understand the (to use Michael's term) "piss and vinegar" you have. I have a very similar level as well.

I look foward to discussions with you.

Ah yes, the old 'Shoo kid, you don't know what you are talking about' situations.

It doenst both me much anymore that older people dont appreciate anything I say, considering they have experience and I just have raw knowledge. I would have to say that an excess of one is never a good thing, but a balance between the two can keep your thoughts in check.

I do have to say though, I despise those who look down on me when they have no credibility. Oh wait, I already emphasized that in my speech