Who is John Galt?

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Photo: Michael Greene

I am not an Objectivist although I am opposed to Collectivism, and there seems to be a growing collectivist sentiment out there these days.  Who John Galt is isn't really important, it is the sentiment that he embodies and represents.

He believes in the power and glory of the human mind, and the right of the individual to use their mind solely for themself. He serves as a highly individualist counterpoint to the collectivist social and economic structure depicted in the novel, in which society is based on oppressive bureaucratic functionaries and a culture that embraces mediocrity in the name of egalitarianism, which the novel posits is the end result of socialistic idealism. 
Wikipedia: John Galt

I got to thinking about John Galt after this past Thursday's post on the platform of the M4BL. Specifically who do these people think are going to pay for their demands?  It's not going to be me, I can tell you that.

In the novel Galt has secretly organized a strike by the world's creative leaders, including inventors, artists and businessmen, in an effort to "stop the motor of the world" and bring about the collapse of the bureaucratic society.  The phrase "going John Galt" or simply "going Galt" has been used by psychologist Helen Smith and others to describe productive members of society cutting back on work in response to the projected increase in U.S. marginal tax rates, increased limits on tax deductions, and the use of tax revenues for causes they regard as immoral.

I am on my second career and in the fortunate position that I could easily switch from being a payer for government services (one-third a slave) to a consumer of government services (a net loss to the government), that is if I simply don't opt to leave.   If half of what is in the M4BL were passed I am ready and willing to do so.

Who is John Galt?

I am John Galt.

How about you?