I've never been one who held much stock in coincidence. And I'm very familiar with Hollywood's subtle, and not so subtle efforts to sway politics and values. Susan Faludi wrote about this Backlash. And I further explored it in The Story of Eve. When, for example, women began moving in the workplace and demanding equal treatment, movies about the joys of motherhood and having babies, babies and more babies started popping up all over the place; along with quite a few movies in which strong female characters were fimically "killed off..."
But that's another story. Let's stick to the subject, shall we? The movie Atlas Shrugged, which was just released, is based on the novel by Ann Ryan. Ann Ryan, in her politics and fiction, advocates the type of society in which the most vulnerable are left to their own devices... the poor, the sick, the victims of storms, the elderly...Just left to sink or swim. Don't bother me with your problems, you're on your own. This of course would mean doing away with medicare and social security. Ron Reagan described Ann Ryan (MSNBC) as a sociopath.
Now does the name Ann Ryan ring a bell? Ann Ryan was someone who Paul Ryan (yes the VP nominee) said: "I grew up reading Ayn Rand and it taught me quite a bit about who I am and what my value systems are and what my beliefs are. It's inspired me so much that it's required reading in my office for all my interns and my staff."
This, of course, became quite uncomfortable for him when it was revealed that Ann Ryan believed in "an extremist vision of America that celebrated greed and selfishness, rejected altruism as "evil" and opposed the fundamental tenets of Judeo-Christian morality. (She was also a militant atheist who favored abortion.)" Paul Ryan is Catholic and rabidly pro-life. He only believes abortion should be allowed in cases of rape and incest-- and until very recently was in favor of changing the defintion of rape to rape vs forcible rape.
I've always believed in facts. In evidence. So what are the facts? Fact 1: We have an election coming up in less than a month that may very well restructure America as we know it. Fact 2: The next president will get to appoint two Supreme Court Justices who can overturn Roe vs. Wade. Fact 3: Not to mention Social Security could be privatized and Medicare turned into a vocher system. Yep. Just give granny a coupon and tell her to shop around for her health care. Fact 4: Corporations have pledged billions to defeat President Obama.
If President Obama is re-elected we don't have to worry about this. If the other guy takes office... well that's another story. Ann Ryan's dream of a society for the super rich where haves have, and the have nots starve comes to pass.
Now I wonder, why on earth would Hollywood release Atlas Shrugged less than a month before the presidential election. Do the corporations think a movie is going to sway our feelings? Drum up support for Romney? The same corporations that have spent so much money to defeat President Obama?
Yes. That's exactly what they think. Let's prove them wrong.
References: Is Paul Ryan for or Against Ann Ryan? http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/14/opinion/weiss-ryan-rand/index.html
Romney comments about the 47% who think they're victims.
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