Atlas Shrugged

How do you feel about movies with political messages? I guess the answer to that depends on how well the message in question corresponds to your own beliefs, though that's not always the case. My sisters complained about the movie WALL-E, not because they disagreed with the messages of environmental friendliness and healthy living, but because they felt the movie was nothing but the message. In that sense, it makes sense. If you want to watch a movie to be entertained and just get preached at for two hours, you're going to be dissatisfied.

I bring this up because I watched Atlas Shrugged the other night, and it is replete with this political agenda of promoting Objectivism (rational selfishness, reward based on merit and effort) and denouncing Collectivism (everyone's needs are met, whether they work hard or not). The story follows CEOs Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden during a severe economic depression. While they struggle to keep their businesses strong, legislation keeps being passed to take from the rich and give to the poor. The government begins to  limit everything they try to do, saying that the successful need to stop being so successful or at least support less successful people so everyone is equal.

At the same time, innovative thinkers and prominent businessmen begin to disappear. This turns out to be the fault of John Galt, who is going around and getting them to join his strike against society. In his past, he worked for a company that decided to pay everyone according to their needs and not their ability, which set him off on this mission to take away all the best men while the rest bring ruin upon themselves. The plan is then to come out of hiding with this army of brilliant leaders and rebuild society with them at the head.

Eh, sure. Why not? Works for me. While I wouldn't go about promoting the philosophy of Objectivism, it makes an okay movie. No, I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for action and adventure…unless you're into political drama ("Oh no you did not just pass that bill!" "Oh yes I did, and I will pass another!" that kind of thing).

In the end, I think I just like the title and what it signifies. The harder Atlas pushes to support the world, the more the world pushes down on Atlas. So what if he just…shrugged? Well, for one thing, there goes civilization….at the same time, though, what debt does he owe us? What debt did Rearden owe his freeloading associates? What great favor did we do for Atlas that now we expect him to serve us forever? You might answer that he's not doing us a favor, that according to the original myth his task was a punishment. Well then, also according to the original myth, he's not holding the earth…he's holding the heavens so they don't touch the earth.

Before this post goes on forever, I'll just end it by saying great title, interesting philosophy, but it's not for those who live on the edge of their seats and off adrenaline. Basic summary. Ta dah!