Atlas, Scratch That Itch

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Above is small section of Eisenhower's presidential farewell address, which he delivered on January 17, 1961. Since that time, many contend that the military-industrial complex Eisenhower spoke of has become a reality, and that because of a bloodlust and colonial spirit that makes Alexander the Great look like a child winning marbles on the playground, America has alienated itself from the nobler nations and cultures of the world.

Most would agree that the military-industrial complex is fueled by an officious nature and, much like Superman, an unwarranted need to judge right from wrong and attempt to remedy situations where our presence is neither invited nor wanted. America views the world with eyes that see the globe as a map riddled with bull's eyes, and underneath these bull eye's are dollar signs that demand excavating.

With shocking chutzpah, America has morally over-extended itself and become entangled in wars that were none of our business (i.e. Vietnam), insighted political conflagration where none existed before (i.e. Panama and Iran), and masterminded infrastructural overhauls by strategically directing the attention of the global community to minority intelligence while burning the towering stacks of relevant and more accurate information in furnaces that heat the mansions of the American elite (i.e. Iraq). However, the military-industrial complex is the least of our worries, because the military is not an autonomous, self-governing branch; even the highest ranking military officials must follow the mandates set forth by our constitution and our representatives. The military does not have the authority to send itself into war; when checks and balances are in place, our soldiers and the firing of their bullets are mediated by the discretion of our governing bodies.

The military-industrial complex is a tool, a tool wielded by an even more insidious hand.

More threatening than the military-industrial complex is an underlying American mentality - embodied by an insatiable lust for acquisition - that I like to call the horde-and-devour complex. In this sense, I use the word "complex" to mean a) a pathological disorder; and b) a bureaucratic institution premised on an uneven distribution of power.

When phrases like "conquer or be conquered," "might makes right," "bigger is better" permeate American culture, material and terrestrial wealth are glorified, and the self-idolatry associated with the corruption power is legitimzed, it comes as no surprise that America has a long-standing tradition of devouring other countries whole, a bestial trend that manifests itself in the form of economic enslavement, financial dependence, and strategic manipulation. We build up countries (particularly those of the third world) by making deals to "modernize" these indigent lands, only to later tear them down again and built them back up and tear them down again, acquiring possession of all their natural resources and lending aid in the form of domestic firms that "help" repair the very things we've been blowing up for years.

I hate do admit it, but the novel Atlas Shrugged is probably the most demonstrative novel addressing American thirst for power that has ever been written.

Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged indirectly addresses the economic theory that all economic progress will ultimately benefit all the workers of its economy (symbolized by the obstinate/technocratic heroes Hank Rearden and Dagny Taggart [propagandized as entrepreneurs cum philanthropists through their sheer audacity]). This is an idea that America has sold to other countries and to itself for years. Through their gall, Hank and Dagny change the world by defying the powers that be and, in turn, the two pismires cause the god Atlas to twitch, thereby sending a shock wave through the rest of the world. ("Look at us!" Hank and Dagny shout, "We did it! Everyone said our greed wouldn't benefit society, but we've made the world a better place because we wanted everything to be bigger, better, and faster! Greed works! Three cheers for greed!")

But though Rand's novel make reference to Greek mythology, the vagaries expressed in her "philosophy of self" (her work is about as philosophical as a midnight pee) are distinctly non-Greek while being quintessentially American; in the end, greed helps everyone, even those who were skeptical of its benevolence.

The more likely scenario involving Hank, Dagny, and Atlas, and one that truly echoes the Greek gods' willingness to punish those with elephantine egos, is such: when Atlas shrugs he dislodges Hank and Dagny, and the entire United States for that matter, from their positions of privilege and lets them fall from the earth, where they suffocate in the oxygen-depletion of space. And I'm not entirely sure the revisions I've just made to Rand's novel wouldn't be the best thing for the rest of the world.

So shrug away, Atlas. Shake off American greed and corporate capitalism. Let the thrust of your paroxysm fling off all the adherents of economic jingoism and Wal-Street colonialism. Cast the military-industrial and horde-and-devour complexes into deep space, and if they still crave the bittersweet taste of hubris, let them try to conquer the stars and suffer the fate of Icarus in the process.

This diatribe of disgust was inspired by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' ugly face and duplicitous arrogance, John Perkins' gripping memoir Confessions of an Economic Hitman, and my own desire to see Hugo Chavez do something to really drastic.


"I don't understand what the big deal is...I outsourced two million jobs but I created a million new jobs, so you can clearly see that we're making great strides to secure our economic future...there's progress in Iraq. I hear there's a McDonald's there now and McRibs are selling like hot cakes, and next year we'll hold democratic elections to see if Halliburton should build the Iraqi people a drive-thru...I cut taxes with my judo-chop legislative abilities...and whatever else you don't like, blame the liberals. If those pesky long hairs didn't throw the book at me every time I broke the law I'd be able to get a whole lot more done, but I'm always having to defend myself, and that takes time. All this speachifying makes my head hurt. I set up a cot in the Oval Office so I can nap between lunch and recess. Where's my blanky? Tell me about Little Red Riding Hood and the big, bad Iranian wolf again, Dick, only this time have grandma be Patrick Leahy so he can get gobbled up."