Similarities to Modern America

From the onset of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand paints a dystopian society riddled with corruption, greed, and poverty. This society considers accidents and loss of life and property as simple numbers and facts, figures without emotional responses. Taggart mentions that another accident has occurred, yet neither him nor Eddie Willers seem to care. The only thing that bothers them in this situation is the fact that they will lose business in Colorado. Taggart intends to rectify the problem by using a friend's company (that may not be the safest) versus the company that has the physical ability to complete the task. And, while they talk of contracts, payoffs, and business, the entire city around them is crumbling financially and socially. Beggars roam the streets, clamoring for every nickel and dime they can find. This entire struggle is represented by four simple words: "Who is John Galt". But, somehow, the city still manages to continue on.

The thing I find rather striking about these events in Atlas Shrugged, especially in the opening of the novel is that this situation resembles (in a shocking manner) the struggle that modern America is experiencing today. It's visible in almost every big city; small businesses closing or being closed whilst big business rages on. But, none more so than in Detroit, MI. The City of Detroit is crumbling in a similar manner; a simple search of the city reveals the hardships that the citizens go through; many of the small businesses of Detroit are all but forgotten, and only the big auto companies (such as General Motors) remain. Poverty has struck nearly everyone. But, through all the hardship, the city still manages (somehow) to continue on.

Seeing a city once so powerful, so awe-inspiring, reduced to near nothingness (and, in Detroit's case, bankruptcy) can be hard to comprehend. It's difficult to understand the why, or the how, and what we as a community can do to prevent and fight against it. But, as a nation, we must find a way to (somehow) continue on.

-Shane Reilly