Ayn Rand and Talk Radio: the Downside

I loved Atlas Shrugged.  And I like and agree with most of what Rush Limbaugh says on his radio show.  I think that the all-encompassing nanny state is one stepping stone away from seizing the wealth of the producers and using it to buy the undying loyalty of the dependency class. I think that people need to wake up and stop thinking that the government is going to give them everything they need for free.  They need to dedicate themselves to their own care, and stop trying to get government to rob others to pay for their desires.  These are deep personal beliefs that make up who I am and form the foundation for the decisions that I make in my daily life.

So what could possibly be wrong with listening to and reading about a positive message like that?

The problem with it lies in what it does to me personally.  Constantly reinforcing the dire warnings that everything I do and earn is in jeopardy of being stolen away from me drains my hope and motivation, interfering with my will to engage in the struggle that is daily life.  It makes me want to completely give up and become a ward of the state, rather than work hard to provide for myself.  In essence, it steals all my drive.  It's like kryptonite.

It seems that the more I focus on how everything I earn is going to be stolen by the Nanny State to pay for the ease and comfort of slackers, the less motivation I have to make a success of myself.  It's like those doctors who think that they can scare us all into healthy living by standing behind us all day repeating, you're gonna die, you're gonna die, you're gonna die.

Yes, it's true that you're going to die.  But did you know what you're going to do every moment until then?   You're going to live. You can spend that time cowering in dread about the last breath, or you can get on with the business of living.  Carpe diem.

So, on this first workday of 2010, I have decided to leave the talk radio off, and enjoy some music for a change.  I'm going to go through my to do lists and attack them with a new ferocity.  I have decided to get on with my life, and let the politics worry about themselves without me for once.  Will I still have strong opinions?  Sure!  Will I still vote conservative during the elections?  Of course.  Will I still whine that the lazy class is raping the working class of it's hard earned income?  You betcha.  I'm just going to spend a lot more time stepping back from it and getting on with the business of living.

Happy New Year everyone.  May you bloom and prosper.