A Cultural Juxtaposition: Steve Jobs vs. Occupy Wall Street
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In her book Capitalism, Ayn Rand juxtaposes the two major events of cultural significance in 1969 – Woodstock and the first lunar landing. She compares the greatest of the men behind Apollo 11 to the people who spent a weekend rolling around in the mud at Yasgar’s Farm in upstate New York. Her conclusion was “a literal dramatization of the truth: it is man’s irrational emotions that bring him down to the mud; it is man’s reason that lifts him to the stars.”
We saw a similar juxtaposition yesterday. On Wall Street, a band of radicals organized by Unions are protesting capitalism. Socialist groups, Communists and other radicals have taken to the streets to demand “forgiveness of all debts, everywhere,” “free health care,” “free public education” and a guaranteed “livable wage” no matter where you work. Their protests are garnering the support of the establishment as Democratic members of Congress and labor unions have voiced solidarity.
While the protests were going on, news spread of the death of Steve Jobs – the ultimate American capitalist. Through his innovation, reason and determination, the man single-handedly changed the world without demanding anything from anyone but their consideration to purchase his products. Jobs didn’t demand government give something to him for “free.” He didn’t ask politicians to do his work for him and it was through Wall Street that he found the resources needed for his endeavor.
Steve Jobs may not have been a “conservative” in the political sense. In fact, I am not sure of his political registration. That makes him unique in other ways. While his competitors, specifically Google, have sought government contracts and policy changes to help pad their bottom line, Jobs sought to do it through innovation.
The difference between Steve Jobs and those demanding “freebies” on Wall Street could not be starker – no different than those who put a man on the moon rather than rolling in the mud taking acid on a summer weekend in 1969.
© 2011, LibertyLover. All rights reserved.
This post was written by
LibertyLover – who has written 6 posts on A Return to Common Sense.
For life, liberty and property! Follow Me on Twitter: @tpartyblog
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Tags: Ayn Rand, capitalism, Occupy Wall Street, Steve Jobs
You couldn’t be more wrong. Steve Jobs considered himself a hippie. He listen to The Beatles and Bob Dylan and did acid. Read about him – he was very clearly and unapologetically liberal.
Great post – love it!