Reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and watching the news is highly entertaining for me these last few weeks. (Not making an endorsement for the book yet. Still working my way through it. It’s very long.)
It’s incredible, really. I will read a section from the book and turn on the news and hear almost verbatim the same progressive logic from OWS protestors and classic liberalism logic from Tea Party proponents. Considering that the book was published in the 50′s gives credence to the quote below.
“In the end, it’s crucial to remember that Tea Party protests and Occupy Wall Street demonstrations are just outward and modern manifestations of a more-than-a-century-old battle between classical liberalism and progressivism. Tea Partiers aren’t just trying to make a case for the Tea Party and Occupiers aren’t just trying to make a case for OWS; they’re trying to make a case for the ideas that formed them into these movements in the first place. Remembering those ideas makes the choice of which side’s narrative to believe even easier.” - TINA KORBE
I found this video helpful in remembering/understanding the ideas of classical liberalism vs progressivism.
Clearly the point of view is from someone who holds to classic liberalism but worth watching. Sheds some light on the current happenings. It’s a bonus that the presentation is pretty good.
So, am I making a statement with this post? Sure… “Who is John Gault?”
[Concerning property rights and modern progressivism: Occupy Seattle splinter group has taken over a vacant (for lease) home and decided it was theirs to occupy. Something to think about. http://kuow.org/program.php?id=25172]
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