Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand shows very well a couple of main points in Victor Davis Hanson’s The Dying Citizen. The two points that overlap between these two books in the problems of having an administrative state and globalization. In the story, Atlas Shrugged, one of the characters does not want to be bothered or interrupted with anything that he considers irrelevant to his work. Dr. Robert Stadler has delegated most of the decisions to someone else to deal with so that he can continue with his research. A book is published in his name that he disagrees with. He calls the administrative assistant to complain about the book but never really stands up to him because it would inconvenience him. Later again in his name a science project is completed, this project is a weapon that can be used to silence any person who disagrees with the administrative state. Dr. Stadler finds out about it at the press conference. Dr. Stadler states he did not give permission for this project and his appointed director, Dr. Ferris says,
“Now you see, Dr. Stadler, how unfortunate it is if you allow yourself to be disturbed by political matters, which you have always considered unworthy of your attention and knowledge. Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged (p. 775). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
It does not matter Dr. Stadler’s protesting that he didn’t sanction or even know about this project. He is told that he will present a speech supporting the weapon.
“Dr. Stadler took the pages, but held them between the tips of two straight fingers, as one might hold a scrap of waste paper about to be tossed aside. “I haven’t asked you to appoint yourself as my ghost writer,” he said. The sarcasm of the voice gave Ferris his clue: this was not a moment for sarcasm. “I couldn’t have allowed your invaluable time to be taken up by the writing of radio speeches,” said Dr. Ferris. “I felt certain that you would appreciate it.” He said it in a tone of spurious politeness intended to be recognized as spurious, the tone of tossing to a beggar the alms of face-saving. Dr. Stadler’s answer disturbed him: Dr. Stadler did not choose to answer or to glance down at the manuscript”. Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged (pp. 775-776). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
When Dr. Stadler talks of challenging the speech, he is reminded that his job and conveniences will be affected if he does not support the project. As he walks toward the platform to deliver the speech a report begs him to tell the truth.
“Tell them the truth! Tell them that you had nothing to do with it! Tell them what sort of infernal machine it is and for what purpose it’s intended to be used! Tell the country what sort of people are trying to rule it! Nobody can doubt your word! Tell them the truth! Save us! You’re the only one who can!” Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged (pp. 778-779). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
What will Dr. Stadler do? He will attack the newsman and then deliver the speech that is written for him. All because he didn’t want to give up the prestige and comforts that he had been living on as other men had been using his name to advance their position. He joined the deep state to earn some benefits and, in the process, has sold his name to others to be used as they wish.
In Atlas Shrugged the deep state has taken over the education system, business sector and the government, one step at a time with many willing accomplices who think they will benefit by conforming and bargaining with the government. They system becomes “the Frankensteinian monster that cannot be controlled by its human creator (The Dying Citizen p. 160).
In the Dying Citizen, the author shares examples of how America as moved away from its founding principles and documents toward the deep state or the running of America by the unelected. Victor Hansen’s work shows our current choices and trajectory with facts and current conditions of our society. Ayn Rand’s novel shows the fictional collapse of a society. Unfortunately, there are many similarities between the fictional story published in 1957. I think Ayn Rand saw the direction America was heading. Her story shows what could happen and provides a solution. Though I agree with the possibilities of how our society could collapse if we continue to embrace globalism and deep state, I believe there are better solutions than proposed in this book. In Atlas Shrugged those businessmen and institutions that saw the direction was wrong withdrew from society to create a faster collapse. Their goal was to build their own small utopia that would isolate them from the rest of the people, allowing many to suffer. Hanson has a better solution.
“Thus, the only remedy to protect the citizen was to ensure that there would be tripartite and competing government interests-all overseen as well by the people, who in turn could elect their own officials. Each concern would be equipped with checks and balances upon the other. The ensuing tension would lead to a forced sharing of power and thereby prevent the inevitable emergence of a monarch, autocrat, or tyrant or rule by the mob-and also supposedly rule by unelected officials inside the government” (The Dying Citizen, p. 161).
As Victor Davis Hanson points out, the Founding Fathers worked to set up a system where we could oversee the government. Of course, that is work and takes time. I guess we have to consider the consequences of not being a citizen overseer. Will we be like Dr. Stadler? Or will we choose to become active participants in the community, doing all we can to speak up for the values we hold and learn about the principles of good government, so we don’t collapse our own government by allowing others to take advantage of our disinterest and lack of knowledge?
“Now you see, Dr. Stadler, how unfortunate it is if you allow yourself to be disturbed by political matters, which you have always considered unworthy of your attention and knowledge. Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged (p. 775). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
It does not matter Dr. Stadler’s protesting that he didn’t sanction or even know about this project. He is told that he will present a speech supporting the weapon.
“Dr. Stadler took the pages, but held them between the tips of two straight fingers, as one might hold a scrap of waste paper about to be tossed aside. “I haven’t asked you to appoint yourself as my ghost writer,” he said. The sarcasm of the voice gave Ferris his clue: this was not a moment for sarcasm. “I couldn’t have allowed your invaluable time to be taken up by the writing of radio speeches,” said Dr. Ferris. “I felt certain that you would appreciate it.” He said it in a tone of spurious politeness intended to be recognized as spurious, the tone of tossing to a beggar the alms of face-saving. Dr. Stadler’s answer disturbed him: Dr. Stadler did not choose to answer or to glance down at the manuscript”. Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged (pp. 775-776). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
When Dr. Stadler talks of challenging the speech, he is reminded that his job and conveniences will be affected if he does not support the project. As he walks toward the platform to deliver the speech a report begs him to tell the truth.
“Tell them the truth! Tell them that you had nothing to do with it! Tell them what sort of infernal machine it is and for what purpose it’s intended to be used! Tell the country what sort of people are trying to rule it! Nobody can doubt your word! Tell them the truth! Save us! You’re the only one who can!” Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged (pp. 778-779). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
What will Dr. Stadler do? He will attack the newsman and then deliver the speech that is written for him. All because he didn’t want to give up the prestige and comforts that he had been living on as other men had been using his name to advance their position. He joined the deep state to earn some benefits and, in the process, has sold his name to others to be used as they wish.
In Atlas Shrugged the deep state has taken over the education system, business sector and the government, one step at a time with many willing accomplices who think they will benefit by conforming and bargaining with the government. They system becomes “the Frankensteinian monster that cannot be controlled by its human creator (The Dying Citizen p. 160).
In the Dying Citizen, the author shares examples of how America as moved away from its founding principles and documents toward the deep state or the running of America by the unelected. Victor Hansen’s work shows our current choices and trajectory with facts and current conditions of our society. Ayn Rand’s novel shows the fictional collapse of a society. Unfortunately, there are many similarities between the fictional story published in 1957. I think Ayn Rand saw the direction America was heading. Her story shows what could happen and provides a solution. Though I agree with the possibilities of how our society could collapse if we continue to embrace globalism and deep state, I believe there are better solutions than proposed in this book. In Atlas Shrugged those businessmen and institutions that saw the direction was wrong withdrew from society to create a faster collapse. Their goal was to build their own small utopia that would isolate them from the rest of the people, allowing many to suffer. Hanson has a better solution.
“Thus, the only remedy to protect the citizen was to ensure that there would be tripartite and competing government interests-all overseen as well by the people, who in turn could elect their own officials. Each concern would be equipped with checks and balances upon the other. The ensuing tension would lead to a forced sharing of power and thereby prevent the inevitable emergence of a monarch, autocrat, or tyrant or rule by the mob-and also supposedly rule by unelected officials inside the government” (The Dying Citizen, p. 161).
As Victor Davis Hanson points out, the Founding Fathers worked to set up a system where we could oversee the government. Of course, that is work and takes time. I guess we have to consider the consequences of not being a citizen overseer. Will we be like Dr. Stadler? Or will we choose to become active participants in the community, doing all we can to speak up for the values we hold and learn about the principles of good government, so we don’t collapse our own government by allowing others to take advantage of our disinterest and lack of knowledge?
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