Am I immoral?
Posted by CapitalistFred 11 years, 4 months ago to Philosophy
First, a little bit about myself. I am in my 40s, have a wife and 3 kids, and am the founder and majority shareholder of a small chain of retail stores on the east coast. I am in a recession proof sector of retail, and have grown from 1 store 5 years ago to 12 today.
I am unwilling to even seriously consider going Galt, and will continue to grow my business, create wealth, employ the best people I can find, and yes, enrich the looters through the money that they confiscate from me at the point of a gun.
My reason for staying and continuing to fight is essentially a selfish one: I get great joy from continuing to succeed and grow in spite of all of the obstacles thrown in my way. I am proud of every dollar that I have earned, and it pleases me to be able to employ many who share my ideals and vision.
I am aware that the looters depend upon men like me to finance their oppression, but I am still unwilling to forego the pleasure that I get from continuing to prosper and grow amidst the carnage.
I am, as I have said before, more Rearden than Galt.
Does that make me immoral?
What say you?
I am unwilling to even seriously consider going Galt, and will continue to grow my business, create wealth, employ the best people I can find, and yes, enrich the looters through the money that they confiscate from me at the point of a gun.
My reason for staying and continuing to fight is essentially a selfish one: I get great joy from continuing to succeed and grow in spite of all of the obstacles thrown in my way. I am proud of every dollar that I have earned, and it pleases me to be able to employ many who share my ideals and vision.
I am aware that the looters depend upon men like me to finance their oppression, but I am still unwilling to forego the pleasure that I get from continuing to prosper and grow amidst the carnage.
I am, as I have said before, more Rearden than Galt.
Does that make me immoral?
What say you?
Rand took away her productive resources from the country she grew up in. She risked alot to do that. she wasn't just traveling the world. She wasn't just moving for a better job. She didn't just use her productive energy to make millions, she spent her time in the US trying to stop the decay and evil in the US. There are as many ways to do the above as a smart person can invent.
No. It is those who create the conditions that cause you to question your success that are immoral!
Respectfully,
O.A.
Overall, this is not a good sign for the nation, even though you are prospering and providing useful service. Finally, gun laws and gun purchases are more likely to increase under Obama (other dem president) than a republican president. If our economy was freer and people were not feeling threatened to protect themselves and their assets, do you believe you would still be "wallowing" in the same industry?
The rush on the industry was brought about by the potential infringement on gun ownership, whatever a person uses them for. The business employs many skilled people who are benefitting from this increase in demand. There is also the added bonus of it being a non-union operation.
He is making an honest, and evidently prosperous, living by selling a constitutionally protected product to willing consumers.
I celebrate your success there.
I never yet heard any moron say that "Guns are the root of all evil".
I just create art. And hopefully don't harm anyone in the process.
I am in retail, andthat is a sector that has done poorly, but there are well run copanies that are opening stores and growing profits, and my company is among them.
I thought Government or it's "chosen" few were the only ones booming. But, it seems you've stuck to the basics (including a lot of hard work I imagine). Congrats!
I thought Government or it's "chosen" few were the only ones booming. But, it seems you've stuck to the basics (including a lot of hard work I imagine). Congrats!
Since there is no actual gulch where I can go to create wealth without the looters coming after me, my best course, as far as I can tell, is to continue to find ways to outwit and outwork the looters and moochers, and to live well while doing so.
And besides, I enjoy the hell out of it!
For example, productive industries such as chemical factories producing fixed nitrogen fertilizer. They were productive. They kept playing the game. But at some point they handed over the "gun" to the people who were going to kill them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_...
The whole damned point of Atlas Shrugged is that Hank and Dagney were just facilitating their destroyers.
I think it's more accurate to say that she relocated to a nation where she would be free to be as productive ass possible.
Spot on I think. I also think she would be disheartened to see this country now. Or disgusted. Maybe it's better that she can't.
If on the other hand the system creeps up behind you and nibbles here and there until you are spending more time just trying to put food on your table, pay your house payments, buy gasoline to get to work (ETC) then you go "GALT"
I went "GALT" because I had reached the age that companies no longer wanted to hire me because I was just to old and they wanted younger (more creative?) minds to take my place. What they found out that the majority of the graduating students were FAR from being anything but creative, so they went out of business or soon will (or will be bought out by some other fool company that thinks they have the proper solution.
I asked the readers here whether they think I am immoral.
For myself, as I have said, I will not even consider shrugging, because I derive selfish pleasure from my money making activities.
Since my own joy and prosperity is the aim of my life, my enjoyment of creating wealth makes it right for me. I have far too much self respect to ask others to set my priorities.
I see that others here espouse going in strike, and I am curious how the strikers feel about my stand, as well as how many strikers vs non-strikers are here in the gulch.
I dont believe that going Galt would bring me joy, nor do I truly believe that Rand herself meant for producers to literally strike.
If a real life Galt creates an actual Gulch and invites me to join with the other creators, I will consider it, but unless and until that happens, I, and mine, will stand and fight.
I create as much wealth as I am able, which leads to higher tax revenues for the looters in "Mordor on the Potomac".
I feel no guilt or shame over it, but my selfish economic activities DO benefit the moochers.