Why is America falling apart? Ask Ayn Rand

**Silverfoot** · 14th August 2007, 05:47 PM

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Collapsing bridges, flooded subways, trapped miners: our recent disasters recall a novel from a half century ago. Fortune's Adam Lashinsky explores the nation's 'Atlas Shrugged' moment.
By Adam Lashinsky, Fortune senior writer
August 14 2007: 6:16 AM EDT

(Fortune) -- It was the breaking-news headline last Friday that three construction workers had died in a coal-mine accident in Princeton, Ind., and maybe the markets melting down too, that congealed in my mind a thought I'd been kicking around for a while now: Our country is having an "Atlas Shrugged" moment.

Trapped coal miners in Utah, smashed levees in New Orleans, busted steam pipes and flooded subways in New York City, a collapsed bridge over the Mississippi River in Minnesota, an air-traffic-control system stressed to its break point. Could this really be a description of the most prosperous country on the planet? Can these all be coincidences? Is it time for a good old-fashioned conspiracy theory, the type that a reflection on Ayn Rand, Alan Greenspan's early mentor, might inform?

For sensible adults who haven't thought about Rand and her darkly fabulist novel in years, the thing to remember about "Atlas Shrugged" - other than the cloying mystery, Who is John Galt? - is that the country was disintegrating in front of the eyes of our various capitalist heroes. The rail lines in particular were in peril in this 1957 book, a turgid ode to selfishness nonetheless considered a masterpiece by Rand's followers, who call themselves Objectivists.

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In "Atlas Shrugged," society was falling apart because the elites - read: socialists - weren't allowing the markets to function. A drumbeat of deadly railroad accidents punctuated and emphasized the calamity.

Cut to the present. Barely a day goes by that some disaster or another doesn't strike, usually having nothing to do with any natural act. The Indiana accident turned out to be just that, construction workers who fell which, tragically, happens from time to time, in good times and bad.

But the levees? After much consideration the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has now fessed up to its responsibility for poor construction and maintenance over decades. When I was in New Orleans in July I heard a story about a levee that didn't fail. It is operated by Lockheed-Martin (Charts, Fortune 500) at a plant that makes fuel tanks for the Space Shuttle. Workers braved Hurricane Katrina and operated pumps during the storm. The privately operated - but government financed - levees held.

I happened to be in New York last week the day the subways flooded. According to New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, it's the third time this has happened in seven months. The New York subway has been pumping water out of its tunnels for a century. Why are downpours disabling New York City now? Likewise the bridge collapse in Minnesota. Accidents happen, but it's inconceivable that such a major thoroughfare in a major city wouldn't be thoroughly and regularly stress tested.

What's causing all this? Could it be the reverse of the "Atlas Shrugged" effect? Might it be that greedy capitalists, comfy in their private jets and third, fourth and fifth vacation homes, aren't paying attention to the national infrastructure that they don't think they need to use?

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As for the political leadership, infrastructure spending is one of those rare instances where President Bush's take is spot-on correct, though his words likely won't be heeded because he is so unpopular and divisive. (The immigration debate, where the president has been pragmatic and right from the beginning, also comes to mind.) Asked if gasoline taxes should be raised to pay for infrastructure improvements, the president chastised Congress for favoring attention-getting new projects over boring maintenance needs.

He's right. Liberals like Chuck Schumer agree. "Routine but important things like maintenance always get shortchanged because it's nice for somebody to cut a ribbon for a new structure," Schumer recently told the New York Times.

Today's Randians, of course, have an answer to our woes: Privatize everything. No way a bridge falls if a profit-seeking company, properly incentivized, had been charged with maintaining it, goes the argument. That, however, is dangerous thinking. There are certain things the market just can't be trusted to handle. Imagine that bridge-maintenance company having to cut expenses this quarter by delaying work for just a few days. Imagine how the CEO might feel if the stock would drop if he couldn't make the quarter.

The markets don't always work for the public good. Just ask CEOs of mortgage lenders that pushed no-documentation loans, which anyone with common sense knew was just asking for trouble. The solution isn't to abolish government. It's to make government work better.

We'll get through this. We always do. As a country we'll become outraged at our crumbling infrastructure and demand that our leaders fix it. By punishing their stock prices - what they really care about - lenders and home builders who duped people into spending beyond their means will get their comeuppance. And then the stocks markets and the economy will be just fine. Plutocrats will realize that their limos travel over bridges and that their employees take the subway.

Who is John Galt, anyway?

**DiP** · 14th August 2007, 05:56 PM

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Who is John Galt, anyway?

Damn good question.

Not going to add my thoughts 'cause then people might think I'm crazy (if they don't already) but some things do strike out as odd from time to time the longer you think about them.

I got a laugh outta this:

Quote:

The markets don't always work for the public good.

Haha, when have they EVER worked for the public good?

Santi · 15th August 2007, 03:27 PM

I think America is falling apart because all the people in charge of taking care of our great nation are the same ones we went to school with back in the day. You remember them....those losers that couldn't stay awake in class. That gross kid that used to eat his boogers. That weird girl that never talked to anyone. That fat kid that used to push everyone off the merry go round. The ones that could hardly spell fart much less keep track of projects. You know the ones. Hmm, some of you may be that weirdo kid we grew up with. That is why America is falling apart.

cadethepagan · 15th August 2007, 05:33 PM

I agree with Santi. A new generation is taking over this country and I don't think they are the brightest buch or from the best stock.

Tukaram · 15th August 2007, 05:56 PM

Everyday I see something else that reminds me of Atlas Shrugged. The good capitalist are on strike. All we have now are the political scabs running everything.

**kingtony** · 16th August 2007, 07:56 AM

Im Sure Some People Will Disagree On This But America Is Falign Apart Because We Pump More Money In Other Countries And Not Enought On Our Own,but What I Mean About This The Money We Pump Into Other Contires Dosent Reach The People It Stays With The Top 10 Richesest 10% You Know For Political Power..and The Other Reason Is Bush He Just Plaiily Sucks Dumpiing Trillions On A War Were Kids Are Getting Killed

Santi · 17th August 2007, 10:19 AM

That is right Tony. And it is those weirdo kids that are pumpin our money into foreign countries and not fixing our own. Best sign that America is jacked up, look at the roads in your city, neighborhood streets. I bet there are more potholes and patchwork than on major "money" roads. Bush is ok in my book. All presidents make decisions that are unpopular, and of course, we all know he doesn't make all these decisions on a whim. I do however, feel we should be out of Iraq by now.

15th August 2007, 03:27 PM	#3
Santi El Mero Mero Join Date: Apr 2004 Shard: Legends Posts: 589 Gold: 116 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Why is America falling apart? Ask Ayn Rand I think America is falling apart because all the people in charge of taking care of our great nation are the same ones we went to school with back in the day. You remember them....those losers that couldn't stay awake in class. That gross kid that used to eat his boogers. That weird girl that never talked to anyone. That fat kid that used to push everyone off the merry go round. The ones that could hardly spell fart much less keep track of projects. You know the ones. Hmm, some of you may be that weirdo kid we grew up with. That is why America is falling apart. If you don't eat your meat you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!

15th August 2007, 05:33 PM	#4
cadethepagan Join Date: Jul 2007 Shard: Great Lakes Posts: 429 Gold: 117 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Why is America falling apart? Ask Ayn Rand I agree with Santi. A new generation is taking over this country and I don't think they are the brightest buch or from the best stock. Power is not given, it is taken!

15th August 2007, 05:56 PM	#5
Tukaram Old & grouchy Join Date: Apr 2004 Shard: Great Lakes Posts: 1,397 Gold: 114 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Why is America falling apart? Ask Ayn Rand Everyday I see something else that reminds me of Atlas Shrugged. The good capitalist are on strike. All we have now are the political scabs running everything. Tuka Kinsmen are born. Friendship is a gift of the gods.

16th August 2007, 07:56 AM	#6
kingtony How do you tell when you run out of invisible ink? Join Date: Jan 2007 Shard: alantic Posts: 2,648 Gold: 215 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Why is America falling apart? Ask Ayn Rand Im Sure Some People Will Disagree On This But America Is Falign Apart Because We Pump More Money In Other Countries And Not Enought On Our Own,but What I Mean About This The Money We Pump Into Other Contires Dosent Reach The People It Stays With The Top 10 Richesest 10% You Know For Political Power..and The Other Reason Is Bush He Just Plaiily Sucks Dumpiing Trillions On A War Were Kids Are Getting Killed For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

17th August 2007, 10:19 AM	#7
Santi El Mero Mero Join Date: Apr 2004 Shard: Legends Posts: 589 Gold: 116 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Why is America falling apart? Ask Ayn Rand That is right Tony. And it is those weirdo kids that are pumpin our money into foreign countries and not fixing our own. Best sign that America is jacked up, look at the roads in your city, neighborhood streets. I bet there are more potholes and patchwork than on major "money" roads. Bush is ok in my book. All presidents make decisions that are unpopular, and of course, we all know he doesn't make all these decisions on a whim. I do however, feel we should be out of Iraq by now. If you don't eat your meat you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?! Last edited by Santi; 17th August 2007 at 10:20 AM..

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