Latest Update: October 26, 2010  ( 0:50 AM)

Many individuals have agreed to send copies of Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged to their public officials, accompanied by letters which expressed their thoughts and feelings. The letters shown below are those that people wished to share with others.

Letter No. 1:

Dear President Obama:

As a US citizen, I am extremely concerned about the direction in which you and the Congress
are leading this country.

The public's fear, resulting from their anticipation of severe, long-range consequences from this
massive, "stimulus-" package spending, is reflected in the precipitous drop in the market.  Our
uncertainty in how companies will be allowed to function in the future—a consequence of the
numerous newly proposed business and labor regulations—has paralyzed many organizations;
a state of affairs that can only speed their demise.  And your disregard for the right of the
individual to set the direction for his or her own life, and to retain the products of his or her own efforts,
is generating a rising tide of resentment among the more productive members of society, which is
fermenting into deep discontent, as witnessed by the recent flurry of Tea Party protests across the
nation and by the outcry of numerous political commentators.

The nature of these problems and their consequences were identified by Ayn Rand in her novel,
Atlas Shrugged, and that prophetic novel foretells a bleak future for us all should we continue
along our current path. I am enclosing a copy of that book with this letter in the hopes that you
will read it, take its message to heart, and that you will ultimately stop the damage that is being
done to our country.

Sincerely,

C. Jeffery Small

Comment:

This was the sample letter I posted on the web and the actual letter that I sent to the President.

Letter No. 2:

Dear Senator or Representative:

Enclosed you will find a copy of the book Atlas Shrugged.   I send this to you with the hope that you
will read or reread it, take its message to heart, and work to preserve our rights to life, liberty and
property that are at the foundation of our country.

As a US citizen and constituent of our State, I am rapidly growing concerned over the current direction
that our government is headed.   The productive members of society are under attack in a manner
and to a degree that is unconscionable.   Our financial system is in serious trouble and all of the steps
being taken by the government to "stimulate" the situation are simply massive doses of what initially
created the problems.   Consequently, instead of helping, they are driving us into deeper waters, as
witnessed by the relentless plunge of the stock market.   Daily we hear of new programs being proposed
to further regulate private business in numerous ways while at the same time the government "bailouts"
are moving us towards the nationalization of entire industries.   In this sort of climate, no business leader
could possibly plan for the future and remains paralyzed while waiting for the next shoe to drop.   The
rhetoric of class warfare, coupled with the actions of President Obama to redistribute wealth, is destroying
the remnants of Capitalism and replacing them with outright Socialism.   This program is guaranteed to
demotivate the remaining productive members of our society, destroying the engine of wealth creation
so that ultimately, there will be little left to redistribute.   The discontent has already begun to manifest
itself with the "Going Galt" movement you must certainly have encountered, as well as the many tax
revolt Tea Party protests being staged across the country.

The nature of these problems and their consequences were identified by Ayn Rand in her novel
Atlas Shrugged, and that prophetic novel foretells a bleak future for us all should we continue along our
current path.   I ask for your help in changing the course of government so as to free the real source of
strength in the United States—the productive individuals—and allow them to once again pursue their
own judgments and goals. As history has demonstrated countless times, a society's prosperity is directly
proportional to the level of freedom and personal autonomy accorded its citizens, and this is the real
solution to our current troubles.   What I ask of you is actually quite simple.   I need you to do what is
necessary to stop government from interfering in the economy and our lives and nothing more.
Paraphrasing John Galt, all we need from Congress is to "get out of our way".   We will do the rest.

Sincerely,

C. Jeffery Small

Comment:

This was the sample letter I posted on the web and the actual letter that I sent to my members of Congress.

Letter No. 3:

<name>, for your reading enjoyment. "Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others." [Ayn Rand]

Comment:

I had these shipped direct from Amazon, to lessen security concerns on the receiving end. Amazon allows a 240-character gift note.

Letter No. 4:

Dear President Obama:

Please stop the Socialization of our country and respect the rights of the individual. This book show the consequences of your current policies. I ask you to read it and change your direction.

Sincerely,

C. Jeffery Small

Comment:

I so liked my suggestion #6 on the Suggestions Page that I decided to go ahead and order 25 copies of Atlas Shrugged from Barnes & Noble and have them drop-shipped to President Obama at the White House. B&N allows a Gift Message of 250 characters (all on one line) or 5 short lines of text. So I had to remove the breaks in the above message to have it accepted.

Letter No. 5:

Comment:

I'm sending out 20 copies, including some to news sources. [Note from CJS: That's great! Please don't forget to register your books using the form on the main page. Thanks.]

Letter No. 6:

Atlas Shrugged letter, go-galt project

Dear Senator _____________,

The present moment is one history will unquestionably record as important to the fate of America. Believing that, I am sending you a copy of Ayn Rand’s novel, Atlas Shrugged. Let me explain why.

The founding of America was an unprecedented political phenomenon because America institutionalized the protection of individuals’ rights. Now, throughout the world, America means freedom. America also proved to be phenomenal in its unprecedented growth of productivity and inventiveness. Now, throughout the world, America means prosperity.

In the present crisis, both of these things about America have come to be in question. That they have come to be in question at the same time is not a coincidence. A country’s economic vitality depends on its political freedom. The truth of that precept underlies the story in Atlas Shrugged.

--------------------------------

[The following is an un-organized set of paragraphs. I'm posting them because some of them might resonate with others preparing letters. Feel free to use or borrow from them.]


The theme of Atlas Shrugged is that it is productive people, productive thinking, and productive efforts that create an economy. The message of Atlas Shrugged is that the mind of man gives him his economic success. The lesson of Atlas Shrugged is that the mind cannot be commandeered. The warning of Atlas Shrugged is that, without freedom, the best within men is lost to mankind.

-------

Rand’s great novel dramatizes the philosophical relationship between freedom and prosperity. Its message is one millions of people, young people especially, have already heard and understood. The view of life that sees man as politically free and personally successful is a view all true Americans share, whether or not they call themselves Objectivists.

---------

As a cautionary tale, Atlas Shrugged teaches that while political freedom is necessary for prosperity, it is not politics that may ever take credit for such prosperity. A pre-condition is not what it precedes. The key relationship between between means and end is perverted, and the desirable effect is outright prevented when government takes steps to stimulate, regulate, or in whatever measure, dictate people’s economic actions or choices.

Letter No. 7:

Letter 1 (from me): In case you have not read Atlas Shrugged, please accept this copy.

It may be the antidote to the poison now permeating our country.



Letter 2 (from a friend) : You may have read this powerful work of fiction, which unfortunately seems to be coming true.

If you have not read it, please do -- it may help you decide to try to reverse the current policies being implemented.

Comment:

We decided to explain briefly why we're sending the book, rather than a long letter about the book itself. I think it's just the idea of them getting piles of books that will/may have an effect. Also, one other lovely dilemma this could put them in, especially if there is publicity about this. They won't be keeping all the books, but what will they do? Destroy them? Oh dear - sounds like book burning. Donate them to a school? Oh dear -- they're endorsing Atlas?

Letter No. 8:

As a US & WY citizen, I am extremely concerned about the direction in which President Obama and the Congress are leading this country.

Letter No. 9:

Enclosed find a copy of the novel Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. I am sending this copy as part of a broader effort both to draw attention to the importance of recognizing individual rights and responsibilities, and to protest the expanding and destructive socialism to be found in national, state, and local governments.
The novel focuses on what happens when production - and people who produce - are manipulated by government for political goals. It promotes the values of self-reliance, personal responsibility, and rational self interest. It opposes the view that a government, or any group, could have any right that is greater than an individual’s. If one abrogates an individual’s right, one abrogates the rights of all individuals that make up any group or society. It is simply a question of ethics, or morality.
I encourage you to read it. If you have already read the book, I hope you will consider reading it again. Otherwise, I would ask that you at least give it to a peer, or someone in your office, who will read it.
People do not have a right to cheap mortgages. They do not have a right to better education. They do not have a right to better health care, or a right to better jobs, or any of the plethora of entitlements that politicians commonly promise in order to get elected. These are not rights, and these were never rights - these are goals. These are things people have a right - and a personal responsibility - to work to achieve.
When a government usurps the people of their responsibilities, it usurps the core values which made those people great. It leaves behind a needy and irresponsible constituency, clamoring for more entitlements. It serves no benefit except the accrual of power by those politicians who so insultingly pander their citizens.

Comment:

Jeff, Does this seem too long? too critical? jt ---------------- Not at all! I think it is a brilliant letter that makes its point forcefully and respectfully. Great job. -- Jeff

Letter No. 10:

One copy to President Obama
One copy to Vice President Biden
One copy each to US Senator B. Mikulski (D-MD)
One copy to US Senator B. Cardin (D-MD)
One copy to Representative C. Van Hollen (D-MD)
One copy to Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley

Letter No. 11:

Comment:

Dropped them off in person to staffers while in DC this week. ---------------- That's great! Did you get any particular response or comments from the office staff? If so, you might recount your experience in on Suggestions page. -- Jeff

Letter No. 12:

the path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men
all of those who attempt to posion my brothers I will strike down at thee in great vengence and furious anger

Ezikeliel 25:17

Letter No. 13:

Comment:

I am sure I have given out more than 50 copies. I usually write a note on the inside cover with one request...if you like the book you must pass this copy on to someone else.