Going Galt
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"Going Galt" is a catchphrase used by right-wing bloggers to describe a fantasy response to changes in American tax policy proposed by President Barack Obama. The idea is that having to pay 4.9% more in taxes on income above $250,000 per year constitutes such an intolerable burden that affected people should deliberately cut back on their business to lower their income to $249,999 per year, or flee the U.S. altogether.[1]
It is largely promoted by idiots who can't do math, and by scaremongers trying to take advantage of idiots who can't do math.
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[edit] Who is John Galt?
As the name implies, this is inspired by the character of John Galt, the "hero" of Ayn Rand's Objectivist doorstopper, Atlas Shrugged, who destroys civilization to avoid paying taxes.[2] They apparently think this is a good idea, and hope to follow in his footsteps.
In the novel, John Galt declared his opposition to collectivism by starting a community called Galt's Gulch.[3] He expressed his opposition to organized labor by organizing (what else?) a strike.
In real life, John Galt[wp] was a notable Scottish novelist and biographer of Byron, and a figure in 19th century Canadian history. That is not the answer most readers expect.
[edit] How it usually ends up
Eric Dondero, a man deemed too crazy for the Ron Paul campaign, has proposed going Galt, going so far as to recommend people should quit their jobs if they work for a Democratic voter.[4] So much for capitalism, eh?
In practice, though, if anyone has actually gone Galt, it's had no measurable effect. As a result, the usual response to a Galt-going threat is "so go already." In 2013, however, a Galt's Gulch in Chile was announced by anarcho-capitalist Jeff Berwick.[5] You too can reserve a spot today (Unless you're a dirty collectivist, that is)! Turns out all is not well in Rand's realized Capitalist paradise—seems good old-fashioned greed got in the way of idealism.[6]
[edit] Gone Galt?
A number of US companies and individuals are already based abroad, or have bank accounts in the Cayman Islands, Switzerland etc. Most of these are megarich people, not well-off wannabes. The results of dozens of corporations gone Galt can be seen in the US economy today.
As any U.S. passport will remind one, though, "All U.S. citizens working and residing abroad are required to file and report on their worldwide income." Expatriating citizens must have been tax compliant for the past five years and must pay exit taxes and fees before they can renounce their U.S. citizenship.[7]
On a happier note, some survivalists who have disappeared into the wilds have done civilized society a great favor. Enjoy the undercooked bear burger folks!
[edit] See also
- The Citadel
- Men Going Their Own Way, for the MRA version of this concept.
- Rapture, for the supernatural woo version of this concept. Not to be confused with the city in BioShock, a better supernatural woo version of this concept.
- Tax protester
- We Surround Them
- Seasteading one method of going galt.
[edit] External links
- Who Is John Galt? We don't know!
- Atlas Pouted
- You're in the high-rent district
- Where the Rawlsian Rubber meets the Randian Road.
- Going Galt
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ "Ask Dr. Helen: Is It Time to ‘Go John Galt’?" Oh, Pajamas...
- ↑ "Atlas Shrugged 2: Shrug Harder"
- ↑ Ayn Rand also had an organization of devoted followers.
- ↑ The end of liberty in 'Merca!
- ↑ "Ayn Rand's Vision of Galt's Gulch Has Become Reality as of Today"
- ↑ "Ayn Rand's Capitalist Paradise Is Now a Greedy Land-Grabbing Shitstorm"
- ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2014/08/28/u-s-hikes-fee-to-renounce-citizenship-by-422/