A dwindling number of us are old enough to remember being awakened in college after reading Ayn Rand’s great novel Atlas Shrugs. It has been summarized as a fictional novel which describes the struggle against an increasingly socialistic government that impedes individual success with increasingly burdensome laws and regulations.
The theme of this book is more apt today than it was when it was published in 1957. Rand’s Atlas is the individual mind and individual creativity. Historically, the Atlas behind our prosperity and freedom has also been our middle class. After visiting this country in 1831, French political scientist, Alexis de Tocqueville lauded our unique middle class. Today, the middle class (income between $49,715 to $149,160) is derided by our media and elites and indoctrinated and suppressed by educators and government.
The middle class is disillusioned and withdrawing. The labor participation rate has dropped from 68.1% in 1997 to 62.7% today. The US Army missed its 2022 recruiting goal by 25%. In 2023, by 17%. There are unprecedented levels of early retirements from an already shorthanded and downcast law enforcement. There is a shortage of doctors and nurses as well as first responders and firefighters. Our institutions are not trusted. They have an irrational adherence to “wokism” and ESG resulting in the abandonment of middle-class principles such as meritocracy, free-market capitalism and Ayn Rand’s philosophy of rational self-interest.
The notion of our middle class or “Atlas” symbolically shrugging is not new. However, this current election presents a unique opportunity for the middle class to reassert itself politically, economically and morally. Only 66% of the voting-eligible population voted in the 2020 presidential election. The middle class is fundamental to citizenship and voting is a fundamental expression of citizenship. The middle class must vote and begin to become America’s “Atlas” again.
David Carlini
Bradenton
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rayfusco68
A lot of word salad and platitudes here. I too read Atlas Shrugged and I have 8 decades of perspective on the changes in our society. I can remember being in 9th grade civics class and the teacher explaining that our work force was changing from a blue collar workforce to a services dominated workforce over time. I also remember Alvin Toffler's book Future Shock that stated that change in our society was accelerating and that the most important thing we should do as students is learn how to adapt to rapid change. Russia has its oligarchs and we have our capitalists they are cut from the same cloth just different names. Over government has bent a knee to the capitalists and has promoted their wealth over the public interest. Health Care is a prime example as we pay double per Capita for care compared to any other advanced country. Our Medication costs are absurd compared to Canada and the rest of the world. We have a critical shortage of healthcare professionals and our hole system is designed for profit not quality. It isn't the fault of the hard working doctors and nurses, it is the corporate greed that is running the system with the assistance of both parties in our federal and state governments. Until we start voting the real issues instead of the irrational party lines this will continue.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Report this