Changes

== Harold Leinedecker ==

== Harold Leinedecker ==

Harold Leinedecker's essay, for the ASPEC Writers' Workshop, is more recent and, as it happens, more favorable. He suggests that the work succeeds magnificently in demonstrating that reason and productivity are two human virtues that have been unfairly maligned.<ref name=leinedecker/> Also, in marked contrast to Chambers (see above), Leinedecker finds no fault with the dialog, having observed that many characters do in fact talk and act after the manner of the novel's villains. He does, however, suggest that many of the situations in the novel are excessively contrived. The most striking contrivance, of course, is the incongruous suggestion that the government officials would actually put John Galt to torture in order to force him to accept a position of dictatorial authority. (This might, however, be an example of what [[Rush Limbaugh]] has often called "to illustrate absurdity by being absurd.") Leinedecker also criticizes Rand for suggesting that a certain character might stand for election to the [[United States Senate]] from a State in which he had no history as a resident. (That he wrote his essay prior to the successful Senate candidacy of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] should, of course, be obvious.) Lastly he denounces as heavy-handed the symbolism of the dollar sign, and especially John Galt's tracing of that symbol in the air as he tells Dagny that "the road is cleared" and that the strike is now settled, if only by default.

Harold Leinedecker's essay, for the ASPEC Writers' Workshop, is more recent and, as it happens, more favorable. He suggests that the work succeeds magnificently in demonstrating that reason and productivity are two human virtues that have been unfairly maligned.<ref name=Leinedecker/> Also, in marked contrast to Chambers (see above), Leinedecker finds no fault with the dialog, having observed that many characters do in fact talk and act after the manner of the novel's villains. He does, however, suggest that many of the situations in the novel are excessively contrived. The most striking contrivance, of course, is the incongruous suggestion that the government officials would actually put John Galt to torture in order to force him to accept a position of dictatorial authority. (This might, however, be an example of what [[Rush Limbaugh]] has often called "to illustrate absurdity by being absurd.") Leinedecker also criticizes Rand for suggesting that a certain character might stand for election to the [[United States Senate]] from a State in which he had no history as a resident. (That he wrote his essay prior to the successful Senate candidacy of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] should, of course, be obvious.) Lastly he denounces as heavy-handed the symbolism of the dollar sign, and especially John Galt's tracing of that symbol in the air as he tells Dagny that "the road is cleared" and that the strike is now settled, if only by default.

Concerning the characters, Leinedecker found the villains remarkably true to life, and the heroes and anti-villains less so. In fact, "stilted" was his word for much of the dialog, and especially monologs, of the heroes and anti-villains. But the villains spoke in a manner that he found readily recognizable.

Concerning the characters, Leinedecker found the villains remarkably true to life, and the heroes and anti-villains less so. In fact, "stilted" was his word for much of the dialog, and especially monologs, of the heroes and anti-villains. But the villains spoke in a manner that he found readily recognizable.