Re: Part One, Chapters III–IV (3 - 4)
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:27 am
Sounds like there are some cultural differences in discussing this book, which should prove to be interesting....
Rand's agenda is rather the reverse: to eliminate the Gov't almost entirely except for the enforcement of contracts and defense of borders. Government restrictions on secret collusion could be seen as unwarranted Gov't intrusion in business affairs.Rand's agenda is to reform government so that businesses can succeed or fail on a level playing field based on merit and public rules. Secret collusion between inefficient producers to drive out the efficient is the main story in Atlas Shrugged, using political influence and conspiracy to achieve goals which are couched as public spirited but actually harm the public good.
Agreed, but this involves Government regulation, which is not laissez-faire capitalism, Rand's unknown ideal. We'll see, perhaps this will be dealt with in the book.When government sets the rules of the game to prevent such idiotic and destructive initiatives as the dog eat dog rule, businesses have to compete on merit rather than on patronage.
What a peculiar idea. In America, "all income additional to the amount needed to pay for production costs and normal profit" is called PROFIT!In mining, all income additional to the amount needed to pay for production costs and normal profit is rent.