Thursday, June 18, 2009

Should We All Just Go 'John Gault'?


atlas_shrugged.jpg


"Everyone has the right to make his own decision(s), but none has the right to force his decision on others." --- Ayn Rand ('The Virtue of Selfishness', Chapter 12) {WMail Issue #10}

From Tybee Island, Ga. ---
There were some big storms rolling through the low country last night and as I lay awake listening to the thunder, comforting my little buddy "Little Bit," I began to think about the fact that I started working at age 13.

Today, at age 58 approaching 59, that means that I have worked close to half a century. For 46 years of my life I have worked and paid taxes. I have tried to grow an estate, maximize my wealth and talent, continue my education and give back in a meaningful way to society not just through my taxes but also through my charity.

I am now being told by the POTUS and current Congress that I will be penalized through higher taxes that will be redistributed to those in need of health care, midnight basketball, new bridges and transit systems to nowhere, more money for the public school system and the endless array of publicly funded programs that have no accountability whatsoever.

As I lay awake listening to the night sounds of the storm I came to understand what Dr. Sigmund Freud meant by the two most important things in a man's life is "love and work."
Both of these have at times in my life alluded me in fulfillment. Man I believe is always searching for unconditional love and meaningful work.

I came away from this contemplation thinking that maybe it is time to simply go "John Gault" and let the looters on both sides of the political spectrum in Congress loot somewhere other than my pocketbook.

What do I mean?

"Who is John Gault?"

John Gault was the fictional character in Ayn Rand's classic novel Atlas Shrugged.

After many years of not reading this book yet being encouraged to do so by many friends on the conservative and libertarian side of the political fence I did so the past two months. The book is more than 500 pages yet once you get into it if you have any sense of outrage at what is going on now in our once free and capitalistic country you will become even more outraged.

What Rand wrote about in 1958 is today's world where the government has nationalized and socialized business and industry.

In the book the government has turned the country into a socialist welfare state because its "leaders" believe all wealth should be redistributed.

John Gault led the strike in this novel to shut down the "engines of the world" and invited those who were or would be the producers to join him in Gault's Gulch where they would produce only enough to sustain themselves and work for no other man's benefit.

Recently on Pajamas TV (www.pjtv.com), Dr. Helen Smith, a Knoxville, Tenn. psychologist, noted that many people are considering how to become present day "John Gaults" in other words if the administration is going to penalize us as producers for earning more by taking more in the form of taxes then how can we "John Gault" it by earning less and enjoying life more?

Seems pretty simple to me POTUS and Congress, you want to tax anyone earning above $250,000 or is it $150,000 VP Biden?

Whatever level you choose you can bet that from that point forward those of us whom you count on to produce your taxes may just decide to earn less and less, maybe even reduce our production to the level that we can also sign up for your redistribution and giveaway programs.

Yes, it has been 46-years that I have diligently worked, saved and at times maybe even sacrificed some of my life spirit to be a good, patriotic tax paying citizen. Oh, I will still pay the tax man until I die in some form or fashion, because there are even hidden taxes now that we all must pay to get along, but should I work for the other man's needs and at his whims when he is not willing to work for himself and pay his own share?

I recommend you listen to this interview with Dr. Smith at:
then decide for yourself your own future.

I look forward to meeting you Mr. Gault!

Love, peace and grace, Dr. D


No comments: