Atlas Fell

Okay, a TL based on a story inspired by another TL, which in turn was inspired by one of my insane ASB ideas. I'm honestly not sure where this fits - if a mod moves it to ASB, it's okay.

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'John Sebastian Taggart. The name is engraved on the psyches of millions of Mexicans, Americans, and Canadians as one of the greatest monsters history has known. Whether you were in the Resistance, were imprisoned in a Loyalty Camp, or had family members lost in the Civil War, Taggart is the face of evil. His ideology, Randism, killed millions. His cruelty is beyond all other 21st Century dictators. And yet, he rose to power in a state that was proud of its liberty, its commitment to human rights. What does this say about humanity, that monsters may take lead of it so easily?'

From 'John S. Taggart - The Ultimate Biography'

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'VOTE TAGGART: RANDISM IS THE ANSWER'

Slogan on election poster, 2000

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'I had just gotten home from school when the news hit, the Twin Towers had been destroyed. More than that, they said the Pentagon had been hit by a plane, the Capitol gassed. I was so terrified, scared for my life. I was only fifteen at the time, Taggart was soon on TV, his words calmed me down. It took a while for me to realise that Taggart was providing a false reassurance.'

From 'God Makes No Mistakes', the autobiography of Stefani Germanotta, Resistance fighter and politician.

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From AH.Com Forums. Dated 2011


Who would you sympathise with? Taggart or the Resistance.

Alien Space Tortoise

Not usually one for these threads, but oh well...

So, who would you sympathise with in the Second American Civil War(2007-2008)? Taggart's regime or the Resistance against him? And why?
Illiad

Taggart definitely:mad:. He was lawfully elected. The 'Resistance' was immoral and unlawful, and committed numerous Crimes against humanity (read up on Albany, will you?). Germanotta's 'courage' was a fraud, so were the Loyalty Camps.

Taggart's occupation of Canada was justified both legally and morally. Everything you heard about the 'atrocities' of his troops was a lie (read up on real history, not the dreck the UNLAWFUL 'Government' believes, you fool).

LONG LIVE RANDISM!!1!1!
(Several posts more by Illiad, filled with abuse)
Kelenas

Wow, that was crazy:eek:. Going to miss our pet Randist:rolleyes:, but then all good things come to an end. Goodbye!
 
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'Taggart...no analyst expected him to win the election. Sure the Randist Party looked viable, but no Third Party candidate had won in decades. Taggart had been planning this since 1992. He was a populist, definitely, and a skilled public speaker. I think he was running on sheer charisma for much of the runup to the election. Next to him, Bush and Gore looked like buffoons.'

From an interview in 'Rise Of Evil: The American Election of 2000'

'BUSH, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SUFFERS STROKE'

Headline of the New York Times, 2 November 2000

'TAGGART WINS ELECTION WITH CLEAR MAJORITY'

Headline on many newspapers, 5 November 2000

'I believe in a higher Power that has singled me, the person John Sebastian Taggart, out to restore this great nation to its full glory, and that He has chosen the ideology of Randism, headed by me, to rule this world forever and always. I believe this because I know, in my heart of hearts, that is the case.'

Taggart's Inauguration Speech, 2001.

'Christianity, with its creed of mercy to the weak, is a disease that we must eradicate. But let the Mexicans have their faith. We'll be the only ones immunised against the disease, by our faith in Randism and its mortal prophet, me.'

Attributed to John Sebastian Taggart by former Secretary of Moral and Cultural Protection Daniel J. Goodkind (the post was abolished)

'Randism says this: the parasites, the drug addicts, the illegal immigrants, the homeless, the criminals, they all have to go. By force if need be, for the world is not a charitable institution.'

From Taggart's 'My Struggle: America's War'
 
The words you're putting into Taggert's mouth are utterly inconsistent with some very basic ideas espoused by Ayn Rand. But I assume you must know that and have a very good explanation for it, since you're premising your TL on an ideology you're calling "Randism."
 

loughery111

Banned
'Taggart...no analyst expected him to win the election. Sure the Randist Party looked viable, but no Third Party candidate had won in decades. Taggart had been planning this since 1992. He was a populist, definitely, and a skilled public speaker. I think he was running on sheer charisma for much of the runup to the election. Next to him, Bush and Gore looked like buffoons.'

From an interview in 'Rise Of Evil: The American Election of 2000'

'BUSH, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SUFFERS STROKE'

Headline of the New York Times, 2 November 2000

'TAGGART WINS ELECTION WITH CLEAR MAJORITY'

Headline on many newspapers, 5 November 2000

'I believe in a higher Power that has singled me, the person John Sebastian Taggart, out to restore this great nation to its full glory, and that He has chosen the ideology of Randism, headed by me, to rule this world forever and always. I believe this because I know, in my heart of hearts, that is the case.'

Taggart's Inauguration Speech, 2001.

'Christianity, with its creed of mercy to the weak, is a disease that we must eradicate. But let the Mexicans have their faith. We'll be the only ones immunised against the disease, by our faith in Randism and its mortal prophet, me.'

Attributed to John Sebastian Taggart by former Secretary of Moral and Cultural Protection Daniel J. Goodkind (the post was abolished)

'Randism says this: the parasites, the drug addicts, the illegal immigrants, the homeless, the criminals, they all have to go. By force if need be, for the world is not a charitable institution.'

From Taggart's 'My Struggle: America's War'

If you're going to rip on Rand, which I'm mostly fine with, you might want to try using her own positions, rather than putting words in her mouth from whatever other ideologies you happen not to like. Otherwise, this is just another poorly researched "I hate this political figure and will show how bad the world would be if they got what they want" TL. If you must do one of those TL's, at least attack the woman based on what she actually wanted rather than some kind of racist, populist drivel that she never espoused...

I know... research. The horror. :rolleyes:
 
The words you're putting into Taggert's mouth are utterly inconsistent with some very basic ideas espoused by Ayn Rand. But I assume you must know that and have a very good explanation for it, since you're premising your TL on an ideology you're calling "Randism."

Well, Taggart's ideology is a hodgepodge of ideas. His religion is a theatre he puts on for the public, but his hatred for 'parasites' is very, very real. Taggart is very unscrupulous - he'll lie, cheat and steal, do anything for the tiniest scrap of power. Trust me, you'll see more of this later.

Oh, and loughery, don't worry, this won't just be a bludgeoning assault on Rand. I have some evil plans for later.
 
Hmmmm... Perhaps Rand's books could get rewritten... ;)
As for Lady Gaga in the resistance, that is more ASB than my idea...but cool...
 
Well, Taggart's ideology is a hodgepodge of ideas. His religion is a theatre he puts on for the public, but his hatred for 'parasites' is very, very real. Taggart is very unscrupulous - he'll lie, cheat and steal, do anything for the tiniest scrap of power. Trust me, you'll see more of this later.

Oh, and loughery, don't worry, this won't just be a bludgeoning assault on Rand. I have some evil plans for later.

Indeed.

It has to be said that Rand was a horrible serial-killer groupie, whose writings are open to a degree of creative interpretation and ran her own movement/circle of followers. Like an outright ‘’leader cult’’.
 
Some time ago, you expressed surprise that I associated you with Lady Gaga (and Nazis). This is why. You constantly use her as a protagonist in your stories, and almost always with the same characterization: Angry heroine fighting nasty bad guy.

It is, I would argue, an Author Tract* of sorts, and not one that is beneficial to your work in general.

As a writer, I find this detracts from your craft; as you write more and more, I want to see you grow as an author and get a good handle for creating and developing new characters, rather than relying on one stock character not of your making.

As a reader, I find it detracts from my enjoyment of your work. Your enthusiasm for writing and your ability to conjure interesting concepts are both obvious, but are being negated by my puzzlement/irritation about seeing Lady Gaga again.

Sincerely,

T



*There may be some more suitable Trope out there but I am not familiar enough with TVTropes to offer one offhand.
 
I don't necessarily think it's important to have Lady Gaga appear in TTL at all, no less as a crusader against Rand. It's a rather odd idea but I shall await for an update. Hopefully it gets a lot more interesting. :)
 
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