Labor Day

Happy Labor Day! 

I've been reading Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, but it seemed like somewhat of a sacrilege to read that book on Labor Day.  So I took a break to catch up on the blogging . (1) I really do need to catch up because this has been an incredibly good weekend. So I am posting entries by day.  In fact, so everything shows up in the right order, I have already posted them.  Take a gander at the past few if you missed them.  (2) I also really need the break from Atlas Shrugged.  That book is a chore . 

I'm actually only reading it because it has been in the news recently related to Paul Ryan's political views.  I have not liked Paul Ryan since his "Road Map" budget and one of the criticisms I've levelled at him is having a political foundation based on being an asshole.  Now that he's in the national spotlight I figure as long as he's going to tell us the literary work which laid the first stones of that foundation, I should read it and know what I'm talking about.  I am glad to be doing that.  At the very least I have learned "asshole" is not an accurate adjective.  Heartless and immoral, sure , those are accurate.  But I suppose I should admit he could still be a decent guy.

The book is awful.  It is fictional entertainment comprised of 2 dimensional charicatures aimed at a very narrowly targetted audience.  It is comic book fodder and not even for a very good comic book.  It is Horatio Alger vs the Communists McCarthy era tripe.  The most accurate review I've read went something along the lines of "Never has an author assembled a larger cast of straw men nor thrashed them about as vigorously."

So yeah, reading it is a chore.  I'll force myself to finish it, but it might take a while.

I am aware Ryan is distancing himself from the book.  He now claims something along the lines of, "Yeah, I was a fan back when I was young and first read it, but I'm more mature now."

Whatever. 

It's the work that inspired him to go into politics, he made it required reading for his interns, and his budget reeks of its influence.  Putting a disclaimer on that now smacks of political expedience.  Turns out Ms. Rand was also an ardent atheist and had some socially radical ideas about moral norms.  I'm sure Mr. Ryan wants merely wants to ensure that his views on those subject aren't miscontrued.

So there's my own disclaimer.   Duly noted:  Paul Ryan believes in God and disappoves of adultery.  However, I still say his socioeconomic views are heartless and immoral.

In any case, enough ranting.   I'm not reading it today.  I worked on our bathroom sink, which now not only drains slowly but leaks while it does so.  Becky painted flowers on Tabby's newly pink walls which are turning out beautifully.  Sam spent the day with a friend from Preble.  Tabby & Ben took turns playing on the computer.

For Family Home Evening we took the route Ben & Sam need to walk to school starting tomorrow(!).  Then went to Dairy Queen.  I guess the day ended pretty well.