IPFS
Atlas don't give up now babe!
Written by Found Zero Subject: Economy - Economics USAThe independently wealthy might easily pick up their heels and glide, but these paragons of working values might have work that they do indeed do for a living. And without one form of work, one must find another. In other words, the need to eat is not a philosophical decision.
Rand dealt with this little literary dilemma by endowing her characters, including Galt, with a host of very manual and practical skills. Unless I'm mistaken and the neo-Galtians truly desire to live under bridges and homeless shelters, these skills will need some cultivation. It would be an example of a literary issue becoming literal in a big hurry. Tragically, a life spent in boarding school does not prepare one for a life living by one's hands. Such things take time just like medical school did.
A landscaper buddy of mine recently described loosing an account, a guy with a huge-ass lawn and all the trimmings. The guy went out and bought the biggest lawn tractor at the shop with all the attachments, I guess figuring he'd save money. "Know how many years of my service this guy just spent?" my buddy asks me. Man I dunno. Probably a few. So now Mr. Big Lawn can spend 15 hours out of his busy week saving himself $20 per hour. Perhaps he can go into competition with his former landscaper. He sounds equipped.
Luckily, doctors are always in demand and can fit into a barter economy quite easily. Lawyers not so much. You financial people have no useful skill outside of your world whatsoever so I regard you folks as truly at-risk. But whatever the case, whatever you are doing now, don't give it up without a solid plan-b.
Atlas babe, hang in there. You drop that thing it could land right on your toe.