atlas shrugged

i was standing in my local bakery this morning when another expat came up to say hello. i was running late, so i declined to sit and have the cup of coffee i very much would have enjoyed. we stood there and talked for 20 minutes or so, the conversation went back and forth, but his basic thread was, “once you are here as long as i have been, you will understand the place. until then, you need to be careful.” this of course would be very true, if i found the country hard to understand. its not hard at all, its quite easy in fact, all you need to do is read “atlas shrugged”.

the comment that sparked this thought was when my expat friend said, “you need to know that business here is an extension of politics. it’s all about datuk so-and-so draining money off a project for their personal gain”. thankfully, my clients are back in the us, so i do not need to play these games, but i do see this happening. the larger question for me is, if after being here for such a short period of time i understand this is happening, how can people who live here not be up in arms over it? where is the outrage? i contend it’s there, its just that rather than speaking with their vote or voice, they are speaking with their feet.

"atlas shrugged" was written my ayn rand, and is both a description of her political philosophy and a critique of the systems of government she had experienced in russia and else where. it is a rejection of communism, and warning of the ways governments use people’s fears or desires to manipulate those within the society. this is a long and complex work that many people find themselves lost within. it is also thought provoking and interesting from any angles.

the general story is that rational, practical thought is the power of the world. it is what makes people prosper. the more intelligent and hard working someone is, the better they are able to compete in the world and the more they can expect to find happiness. the warning is that societies can begin to construct rules which take the ability to think or act in a purely rational way away from individuals for the “betterment” of society as a whole. this is a much, much deeper book which touches on many concepts core to politics, society, family and personal philosophy.

the interesting thing is that many american’s read works like this in high school. there are many books which challenge conservative standards that our educational system encourages, if not demands, talented children to read. reading is seen as the vehicle to an open mind, and to adulthood. before one can travel and meet people outside their social circle they can read about worlds different than their own.

i don’t see many people in malaysia reading. there are wonderful book stores, and people are there purchasing, but this is not a culture of reading. i wonder if that has to do with the education system, and the political system that drives it, which does not teach the young to read or think in a critical way. the newspapers here have nothing close to an open op-ed page, and when you talk to people here consensus is don’t speak ones mind or you will end up in jail; the isa is ever present.

a major part of the plot of atlas shrugged is the departure from society of those that drive the economy. the people we meet though out the book are systematically being taken from society, of their free will, and brought together in a place where they are free to exercise their intellect, in a free and honest way. as they are removed, the society in the book begins to crumble because no one is left with the skill or drive to keep the society moving forward. innovation and growth stagnates and the people left behind begin to feel the stress of life without the work of those of whom they can no longer take advantage.

i can not tell you how many times i have been told by someone i meet here that they have begun or plan to start the process of emigration away from malaysia to another country. australia, new zealand and britain seem to be the favorites, but other countries are also benefiting by providing a place to live freely and fairly. the open corruption and lack of social equality, never mind the risk of political detention for speaking ones mind, are always admitted to be the cause for the decision. a friend just told me, “i need to do it for my children, i need to give them a place to grow up that is free and fair.”

i hope people begin to read books like atlas shrugged and understand what it means to them and their society, before it is too late. once the good are lost, it will be very hard to get them back. our wonderful malaysia deserves to have the best and the brightest here working for its future. if they are not given the chance here, they will be given one somewhere else. this is too important to just sit back and say, “who is john galt?”.