I'm sure many of you catch the reference in the headline. But in case you don't I will explain.

Bill Whittle is the anti- John Galt.

In Ayn Rand's polemic novel Atlas Shrugged the hero answers the question "Who is John Galt?" by proclaiming "I am the man who stopped the motor of the world." Galt spoke to the best and the brightest in the arts, sciences and business and convinced them to withdraw from the world. To shrug. He brought them all to a valley hidden in the mountains where they lived an idyllic life of unadulterated freedom and individuality and reason while they waited for the world they left behind to collapse. Then they would return and build a better world on its ashes.

The resident's of Galt's Gultch were the Remnant. Don't know what that means? Neither did I until a few moments ago. I'm not sure I fully grasp what it means, but I understand enough to know in my gut that I am Remnant too.

Now if you are familiar with the writings of Bill Whittle - and you really should be - you must be puzzling how I can call him the Anti-Galt. Certainly the virtues of freedom and individuality are the cornerstones of his essays.

Like Galt, Whittle has a vision of place. A haven for the Remnant. But unlike Galt, Whittle does not want to stop the engine of the world. He wants to start it, and open the throttle wide. He wants to work toward building a better society, without having to start from ashes.

I would like to create a virtual city where we can pool our knowledge and skills, refresh our courage, re-affirm our morality and then take those virtues back out into the world and re-light the fire of liberty, courage and reason.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 01:25 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment