Going Galt

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

There's an odd fantasy crossing the media. There's talk of a brain-drain during Preident Obama's administration as a reaction to his socialist policies. It has been dubbed "Going Galt," which means to go on strike, remove one's ability from the marketplace, do just the bare minimum to get by, and possibly leave the USA.

Here are some links:

Going John Galt? Tell Dr. Helen About It… (call to be interviewed)

‘Going Galt’: Everyone’s Doing It! (by Eric Etheridge in NYT Opinionator)

The hope from audacity (by Ed Duffy in Examiner--mentions wealthy people "Going Galt" to lower their income level to avoid becoming targets of the federal government)

The “Going Galt” phenom spreads; Whoopi goes on anti-tax rant (by Michelle Malkin)

Will Atlas Shrug? A Compilation of Blogosphere Commentary about “Going Galt” (by Stephen Gordon in The Liberty Papers)

Going Galt A-Go-Go (by Ellis Weiner in The Huffington Post--liberal mocking)

I think the focus on Rand is great in this media/blogosphere attention, but as a practical issue, it's way too early to give the country up.

In Rand's novel, there was no villain-country with a strong military intent on invading the USA like there is out here in the real world. So working to destroy the economic capacity of the country works to pave the way for producers in the novel, but it doesn't work in reality. It will pave the way for foreign dictators with the "audacity of hope" of destroying a world-power burning in their guts.

On a personal note, I have "Gone Galt" once. I left the professional field I dearly loved and had educated myself for. The result? It broke my heart. I became an alcoholic, then a drug addict. The world did not become a better place because of any of that. Dagny's line, "We never had to take any of it seriously, did we?" comes to mind when I think of the things that used to hurt me so badly.

My suggestion in these upcoming times is definitely do not "Go Galt." Use every device at your fingertips to avoid becoming a target of the government, and that includes doing whatever you need to do to get into a lower income level--even getting your money out of the USA for a while if you are rich. But actively resist encroachment (on and under the radar) and take care of your family and loved ones. Do not give up work you love. It's your life, not the government's. Any socialist government can be beat, as history has proven time and time again. President Obama and his team will learn this lesson the hard way.

Let the electorate beat the government, not a foreign government. Incompetence alone will not beat the government like it did in Atlas Shrugged. If the USA gets beat instead of President Obama's dream, the incompetence will come with foreign guns and goons.

We are going to face a large economic hardship that has not fully hit yet. Lots of people are going to be forced to "Go Galt" whether they want to or not. So you don't need to actively pursue this line of action. As many learned in The Great Depression, there is little romance or glory in starving. I predict there will be similar hardship coming. Maybe not as acute, but times will be tough. Reality will be harsh enough. You don't need to make it worse on yourself and your loved ones by choice.

I am not a political organizer nor a political follower, but I will support getting Congress away from President Obama in 2010. As this country has shown time and time again, really bad laws can be repealed. I believe the present ones will be trounced if the right people get elected in 2 years, then 4 years. An opportunity is coming where people can also get many of the not-so-bad laws that slowly encroach on everyone repealed as gravy.

It would be a shame to waste an opportunity like that by minimizing your voice. And if you become poor on purpose and give up work you love, that is exactly what you will do.

Michael

[Chris Grieb]

Michael; It is worth noting that Henry Mark Holzer who before the election announced he was heading to Galt's Gulch has stated in his latest blog post that he has made a return trip.

We can still speak out.

[galtgulch]

We are going to face a large economic hardship that has not fully hit yet. Lots of people are going to be forced to "Go Galt" whether they want to or not. So you don't need to actively pursue this line of action. As many learned in The Great Depression, there is little romance or glory in starving. I predict there will be similar hardship coming. Maybe not as acute, but times will be tough. Reality will be harsh enough. You don't need to make it worse on yourself and your loved ones by choice.

I am not a political organizer nor a political follower, but I will support getting Congress away from President Obama in 2010. As this country has shown time and time again, really bad laws can be repealed. I believe the present ones will be trounced if the right people get elected in 2 years, then 4 years. An opportunity is coming where people can also get many of the not-so-bad laws that slowly encroach on everyone repealed as gravy.

It would be a shame to waste an opportunity like that by minimizing your voice. And if you become poor on purpose and give up work you love, that is exactly what you will do.

Michael

Et al, I have found a job which is as close to being a track walker on a railroad in my field. I still do pay taxes and do let others know about the movement. We are armed intellectually. I always have been troubled by talk such as "there is no time to argue, now is the time to act." There are enough of us who have done the learning and thinking and reading to have the basics down. Now is the time to take action. I don't mean taking up arms. I mean talking to others one to one. I mean writing letters to the editor. I mean writing books and running for office so we can influence the dialog in campaigns.

Our republic is in trouble and in danger of becoming tyrannical. We know there is a movement which is profreedom which has been dormant. The order of the day is to Pass the Torch.

www.campaignforliberty.com 9Mar 6PM 106215

gulch

Edited March 9, 2009 by galtgulch

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Here is video of Yaron Brook interviewed on Pajamas TV:

Is Atlas Shrugging?

There is much in this interview I agree with. (I am still in serious doubt about demonizing Greenspan. There are some issues that need more than Objectivist jargon to fully understand and I am mulling them over.)

But overall, I enjoyed it. One of the best by Brook I have seen.

Michael

[BaalChatzaf]

Here is video of Yaron Brook interviewed on Pajamas TV:

Is Atlas Shrugging?

There is much in this interview I agree with. (I am still in serious doubt about demonizing Greenspan. There are some issues that need more than Objectivist jargon to fully understand and I am mulling them over.)

But overall, I enjoyed it. One of the best by Brook I have seen.

Michael

I watched that too. The impression I got from what Yaron Brook said, was that there is no Galt's Gulch. But there is Galt's blog.

Ba'al Chatzaf

[Michelle]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

[favonius18]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

I agree. But I still struggle a lot when I look at the world I'm going to have to spend the next seventy or so years in knowing that it is totally contrary to everything I try to live by... More than anything I'd like to be able to "shrug" off everything opposed to me and not take life so seriously. But at the same time, like Michael said, it hurts and I feel like I'm being pulled down by my surroundings. This quote has often summed it up for me: "Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel." -Horace Walpole

[Brant Gaede]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

I agree. But I still struggle a lot when I look at the world I'm going to have to spend the next seventy or so years in knowing that it is totally contrary to everything I try to live by... More than anything I'd like to be able to "shrug" off everything opposed to me and not take life so seriously. But at the same time, like Michael said, it hurts and I feel like I'm being pulled down by my surroundings. This quote has often summed it up for me: "Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel." -Horace Walpole

You need options. Learn Mandarin and Spanish. If that's too much, learn Mandarin. Get a business minor.

--Brant

Edited November 13, 2009 by Brant Gaede

[favonius18]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

I agree. But I still struggle a lot when I look at the world I'm going to have to spend the next seventy or so years in knowing that it is totally contrary to everything I try to live by... More than anything I'd like to be able to "shrug" off everything opposed to me and not take life so seriously. But at the same time, like Michael said, it hurts and I feel like I'm being pulled down by my surroundings. This quote has often summed it up for me: "Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel." -Horace Walpole

You need options. Learn Mandarin and Spanish. If that's too much, learn Mandarin. Get a business minor.

--Brant

What if I'm not a fan of Asia? I'd have to settle for like... Swedish or Finnish... or something cool like that.

[Brant Gaede]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

I agree. But I still struggle a lot when I look at the world I'm going to have to spend the next seventy or so years in knowing that it is totally contrary to everything I try to live by... More than anything I'd like to be able to "shrug" off everything opposed to me and not take life so seriously. But at the same time, like Michael said, it hurts and I feel like I'm being pulled down by my surroundings. This quote has often summed it up for me: "Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel." -Horace Walpole

You need options. Learn Mandarin and Spanish. If that's too much, learn Mandarin. Get a business minor.

--Brant

What if I'm not a fan of Asia? I'd have to settle for like... Swedish or Finnish... or something cool like that.

Or learn to sew.

--Brant

[favonius18]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

I agree. But I still struggle a lot when I look at the world I'm going to have to spend the next seventy or so years in knowing that it is totally contrary to everything I try to live by... More than anything I'd like to be able to "shrug" off everything opposed to me and not take life so seriously. But at the same time, like Michael said, it hurts and I feel like I'm being pulled down by my surroundings. This quote has often summed it up for me: "Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel." -Horace Walpole

You need options. Learn Mandarin and Spanish. If that's too much, learn Mandarin. Get a business minor.

--Brant

What if I'm not a fan of Asia? I'd have to settle for like... Swedish or Finnish... or something cool like that.

Or learn to sew.

--Brant

lol, sewing is definitely not cool.

[James Heaps-Nelson]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

I agree. But I still struggle a lot when I look at the world I'm going to have to spend the next seventy or so years in knowing that it is totally contrary to everything I try to live by... More than anything I'd like to be able to "shrug" off everything opposed to me and not take life so seriously. But at the same time, like Michael said, it hurts and I feel like I'm being pulled down by my surroundings. This quote has often summed it up for me: "Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel." -Horace Walpole

It's not the world, it's the United States. Unless you earn more than about $87,600, you are not stuck supporting the system here right now. Stay liquid and think global. Some parts of the world are enjoying an unprecedented renaissance.

World GDP from 2001-2008 grew at a 4.7%. That's the second highest for an extended period this century.

Jim

[favonius18]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

I agree. But I still struggle a lot when I look at the world I'm going to have to spend the next seventy or so years in knowing that it is totally contrary to everything I try to live by... More than anything I'd like to be able to "shrug" off everything opposed to me and not take life so seriously. But at the same time, like Michael said, it hurts and I feel like I'm being pulled down by my surroundings. This quote has often summed it up for me: "Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel." -Horace Walpole

It's not the world, it's the United States. Unless you earn more than about $87,600, you are not stuck supporting the system here right now. Stay liquid and think global. Some parts of the world are enjoying an unprecedented renaissance.

World GDP from 2001-2008 grew at a 4.7%. That's the second highest for an extended period this century.

Jim

Thanks for the insight. It's good to hear some positive things.

[Alfonso Jones]

1. The Galt strike was only reasonable in the novel because the USA had turned a parody of the Soviet Union. People are treating this Obama-mania thing too seriously. We have reality on our side. He'll do quite a bit to discredit himself anyhow. The only reason people are gunning for him in the first place is because the democrats have positioned him as the right man to clean up the mess made by the conservatives during Bush's two terms. I'm pretty sure by the end of his four years liberals will be dropping him as fast as conservatives have dropped Bush in the last few years.

2. A few people dropping out won't have any effect. The only reason it even worked in the novel is because Galt got almost everybody of talent to join him.

I agree. But I still struggle a lot when I look at the world I'm going to have to spend the next seventy or so years in knowing that it is totally contrary to everything I try to live by... More than anything I'd like to be able to "shrug" off everything opposed to me and not take life so seriously. But at the same time, like Michael said, it hurts and I feel like I'm being pulled down by my surroundings. This quote has often summed it up for me: "Life is a comedy for those who think... and a tragedy for those who feel." -Horace Walpole

You need options. Learn Mandarin and Spanish. If that's too much, learn Mandarin. Get a business minor.

--Brant

Good advice.

Bill P