XPost: talk.politics.libertarian, alt.anarchism, alt.society.anarchy   
   From: anarcissie@gmail.com   
      
   In article   
   ,   
    Bert Hyman  wrote:   
      
   > In news:anarcissie-A82B5F.10342601072010@reader1.panix.com Anarcissie   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   > > I missed the part about an engine than ran on zero-cost fuel.   
   > > Something like that would indeed be worthy of science fiction -- it   
   > > would radically change the world by producing unlimited stuff   
   > > and therefore unmanageable surpluses, obviating the   
   > > need for a special elite to own and manage industrial   
   > > production. I certainly don't recall anything like   
   > > _that_ in _AS_, or being said about it, either.   
   >   
   >         Those men, long ago, tried to invent a motor that would draw   
   >         static electricity from the atmosphere, convert it and create   
   >         its own power as it went along. They couldn't do it. They gave   
   >         it up." She pointed at the broken shape. "But there it is."   
   >         He nodded. He was not smiling. He sat looking at the remnant,   
   >         intent on some thought of his own; it did not seem to be a happy   
   >         thought. "Hank! Don't you understand what this means? It's the   
   >         greatest revolution in power motors since the   
   >         internal-combustion engine- greater than that! It wipes   
   >         everything out-and makes everything possible. To hell with   
   >         Dwight Sanders and all of them! Who'll want to look at a Diesel?   
   >         Who'll want to worry about oil, coal or refueling stations? Do   
   >         you see what I see? A brand-new locomotive half the size of a   
   >         single Diesel unit, and with ten times the power. A   
   >         self-generator, working on a few drops of fuel, with no limits   
   >         to its energy. The cleanest, swiftest, cheapest means of motion   
   >         ever devised. Do you see what this will do to our transportation   
   >         systems and to the country-in about one year?"   
   >   
   > > So what happens with this motor?  It doesn't seem to have   
   > > turned everything over,   
   >   
   > It was intentionally witheld from the world by its inventor, which is a   
   > concrete example of the underlying premise of the entire novel.   
   >   
   >         "Give it up, Miss Taggart," he said quietly, as if giving proof   
   >         that he could guess her thoughts, as she had known he would. "It   
   >         is a hopeless quest, the more hopeless because you have no   
   >         inkling of what an impossible task you have chosen to undertake.   
   >         I would like to spare you the strain of trying to devise some   
   >         argument, trick or plea that would make me give you the   
   >         information you are seeking. Take my word for it: it can't be   
   >         done. You said I'm the end of your trail. It's a blind alley,   
   >         Miss Taggart, Do not attempt to waste your money and effort on   
   >         other, more conventional methods of inquiry: do not hire   
   >         detectives. They will learn nothing. You may choose to ignore my   
   >         warning, but I think that you are a person of high intelligence,   
   >         able to know that I know what I am saying. Give it up. The   
   >         secret you are trying to solve involves something greater-much   
   >         greater-than the invention of a motor run by atmospheric   
   >         electricity. There is only one helpful suggestion that I can   
   >         give you: By the essence and nature of existence, contradictions   
   >         cannot exist. If you find it inconceivable that an invention of   
   >         genius should be abandoned among ruins, and that a philosopher   
   >         should wish to work as a cook in a diner-check your premises.   
   >         You will find that one of them is wrong.   
   >   
   > >  because as I recall at the end the Great Leader is still leading the   
   > >  charge.   
   >   
   >         "The road is cleared," said Galt. "We are going back to the   
   >         world." He raised his hand and over the desolate earth he traced   
   >         in space the sign of the dollar.   
      
   I suppose a unique inventor could conceal his   
   invention, even of such a desirable and useful device.   
   However, once it escaped into the world, and assuming   
   the materials to make it weren't too expensive (as is   
   the case with nuclear power) it would be all over the   
   place in a few years (like computers, for example).   
   They'd be making them in the backwoods of Zimbabwe.   
   And since effectively unlimited industrial power would   
   be in the hands of Zimbabwean backwoodsmen and   
   everyone else, the whole world social order would   
   obviously collapse.   No more real need for   
   capitalists or their pseudo-socialist counterparts,   
   even though the human need to be gamed by bullshitters   
   is great and would not instantly disappear.   In any   
   event, Mr. Galt would not need to go anywhere -- ideas   
   permeate pretty rapidly.  In fact it might advisable   
   to stay in the Gulch while the more warlike disposed   
   of their newfound power and each other, eh?   
      
   Looks like Rand gave up the novel at the most   
   interesting point, just where the science fiction is   
   going to take hold.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)