I read ATLAS SHRUGGED in the summer of 2006, and since then I've been looking at the front page news in horror. BTW, I thought for sure that Waffler would be posting rants against this quote.

China has 4 times our population, and an economy less than 1/3 our size, but you are right, as the government there loosens its grip, and gives the people some economic freedoms, its economy is growing in leaps and bounds (about 9-10% a year). And the US learns what lesson? Increase government regulations!

Waffler, you cite 1776 Philadelphia, which is interesting, since the Government at the time was British and was thrown out. The Royal Governors retreated, the Royal Magistrates and Judges-gone. And not just in Penn., but throughout the 13 colonies. And the people thrived, to the point of being able to successfully resist the British Empire. At the time, Edmund Burke was warning the British Parliment that they should end the War, before the people in Britian see how they can get along without government. I am reducing a star for this quote, for it does not flow off the tounge well.

Saturn is a division of GM. Plus, there is nothing to prevent Michigan and Detroit from providing the same incentives and tax breaks to the Big 3. These governmental agencies prefered to gut the golden goose.