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Freedom Isn't Free

Freedom Isn't Free

4 Mins
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April 27, 2020

The Atlas Society has been fighting for liberty for over three decades, persevering against many challenges –– 9/11, the Great Recession, hurricanes, floods and fires.  We’re stronger, leaner, more focused and more determined to face not just the current crisis, but the even greater threat to America embodied by those who seek to take advantage of the pandemic to cripple capitalism, crush civil liberties and promote socialism on American soil. We must do that with a sound philosophical defense of individualism, reason and free enterprise.  

At The Atlas Society we do that through creative animated videos, graphic novels, provocative social media and Pocket Guides aimed at engaging young people with the ideas of Ayn Rand.

As all who revere liberty know, FREEDOM isn’t FREE. Money doesn’t grow on trees.  And the greatest innovations, products and services aren’t funded by Santa Claus –– or his evil reincarnation in the politicians’ FREE STUFF. To revisit Ayn Rand’s famous refrain: “Paid for by whom?” The Atlas Society’s contributions to advancing liberty are paid for by capital investment via our DONORS –– the thousands of generous supporters who make tax-deductible donations to keep our non-profit productive, creative and aggressive in sharing the ideas they so deeply cherish.  

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Unlike other organizations in the liberty space, we have REFUSED on principle to seek government bailouts. We have also voluntarily cut all salaries in our small staff by 20%.   In response, our long-term supporters have stepped up –– and we invite you to join them. Our Board Chairman has GENEROUSLY committed to matching ALL donations from NEW donors –– therefore, your support will double the impact of The Atlas Society’s work.

While we recognize the important role of federal, state and local governments to protect individuals –– including from highly contagious diseases for which there is yet to be an effective inoculation and cure –– the coronavirus must NOT become an excuse to violate our civil rights. Fathers are getting arrested for playing baseball with family members, citizens are being banned from peaceful protest –– and maybe worst of all –– people are encouraged to report on their neighbors for something as menial as gathering on a basketball court. Additionally, we are being told that if we do not follow the rules, no matter how arbitrary, that we are the enemy of humankind. We remember reading about similar measures instituted in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s during Hitler's rise to power… Do you?

The Atlas Society works relentlessly to fight historical amnesia –– but we recognize that no amount of facts can correct utopian delusions. Only philosophy, only a creative appeal to the moral ideals of reason and individualism, can fight the immoral appeals to envy, entitlement and victimhood.  Indeed, while we are all focused now on stopping the spread of a highly infectious biological virus –– an equally dangerous psychological virus, panic, has paralyzed our citizenry. Government powers are expanding without any checks or balances, across political lines, without regard to our Constitution. Crushing debt is being heaped on future generations, and the left is salivating over the prospect of enacting massive new tax increases and redistribution schemes. It is essential that we highlight the rising powers of our local and national governments and the negative implications it will have on our individual liberties now, and in the future.  And no one can do that as imaginatively, and as cost-effectively, as The Atlas Society.

Our animated videos have exceeded a combined viewing of over 10 million and counting, including our highly popular Draw My Life series which dramatizes, in narrative fashion, villains like Envy, Socialism, and Victimhood and heroes like America, Gratitude, even Frederick Douglass, Chip Wilson, and Hong Kong. Our newest Draw My Life video, My Name is Coronavirus –– working script here ––  illustrates the spread of a highly contagious disease that is infecting not only the physical body, but the body politic as well as our individual minds. How did this villain get here? Who helped him along the way? Who are his adversaries? And what’s his long-term plan?

Additionally, leveraging your followers and existing relationships on social media is also a great way to spread our mission and promote engagement with our videos, especially our newest –– My Name is Coronavirus video –– which is scheduled for release on May 6th! Your investment will help us fund its promotion to a larger audience through ads and additional translations.

The Atlas Society is asking for your help to maximize our impact. Make your contribution here. Whether that means donating $5, $20 or maybe even $100, an online donation is vital to supporting our ESSENTIAL WORK. We appreciate your continued enthusiasm for our work and thank you for your consideration to support our organization at a time when our liberty is in dire need of a strong voice.

Jennifer A. Grossman
About the author:
Jennifer A. Grossman

Jennifer Anju Grossman -- JAG-- became the CEO of the Atlas Society in March of 2016. Since then she’s shifted the organization's focus to engage young people with the ideas of Ayn Rand in creative ways. Prior to joining The Atlas Society, she served as Senior Vice President of Dole Food Company, launching the Dole Nutrition Institute — a research and education organization— at the behest of Dole Chairman David H. Murdock. She also served as Director of Education at the Cato Institute, and worked closely with the late philanthropist Theodore J. Forstmann to launch the Children's Scholarship Fund. A speechwriter for President George H. W. Bush, Grossman has written for both national and local publications.  She graduated with honors from Harvard.

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History of Philosophy