The Editors

The Value of Atlas Shrugged
August 26, 2010
Originally published in 1957, Atlas Shrugged, one of the most controversial novels in American fiction, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Annual sales have been growing for years and may grow even faster when the film adaptation is released. Atlas Shrugged is routinely included on “favorite books” surveys. It is not uncommon to hear a businessman, a teacher, a truck driver, or a musician say, “Atlas changed my life.” How is it that a fifty-year-old, 1200-page novel about industrialists and inventors can have such an effect on so many people?
Rhodes Scholars take the Road to Wall Street
December 17, 2009
Elliot Gerson, secretary of the Rhodes trust, points to an interesting trend: In the past thirty or so years, Rhodes Scholars have disproportionately chosen to go into Wall Street careers. He writes:
Staff Editorial, Fall 2009
September 15, 2009
Ayn Rand called her philosophy Objectivism because of the central importance she placed on the concept of objectivity. To be objective, she held, means to consciously commit oneself to seeking the facts as one’s only standard of truth. Being objective does not mean being omniscient—it does not mean one is always correct in one’s understanding. Rather, the concept names the state of mind of someone who is honestly striving to logically comprehend the world around him.
Is Health Care a Right? Answer the question, Congressmen!
July 28, 2009
Of the many specials on health care that have been taking place these past few weeks,
Staff Editorial
June 27, 2009
The purpose of The Undercurrent's summer issue is to provide those attending Tea Parties with a deeper moral perspective on the government's increasing attack on individual freedom. It is our belief that the nascent Tea Party movement, if it is to achieve enduring change, must advocate change in terms of fundamentals. You will see our focus on fundamentals throughout the articles contained herein.
FDA Snuffs Out Safer Smoking Alternative
May 19, 2009
Millions of Americans choose to continue smoking despite known health risks. Presumably, the value they get from smoking is (rightly or wrongly) worth the risk to them. But for a short time, it appeared that smokers had a healthy third alternative: electronic cigarettes.
FDA Keeps Smokers At Risk
May 19, 2009
Millions of Americans choose to continue smoking despite known health risks. Presumably, the value they get from smoking is (rightly or wrongly) worth the risk to them.
Undercurrent Blog Writing Meeting
April 17, 2009
Would you like to write for The Undercurrent but aren’t sure how to get started? If so, consider attending our first blog writing meeting on Sunday, April 19th! For those of you who attended our blog information session in February and are interested in writing for us, this meeting will help you develop your first topic. Perhaps you already have some great ideas in mind but do not know how to delimit them into something manageable. Just come to our meeting prepared to discuss your article ideas.
National Service Bill Makes 'Volunteerism' Compulsory
March 31, 2009
The Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News recently published an excellent op-ed on the national service bill by TU editor Lucy Hugel. Hugel writes, Thursday, the U.S. Senate sent back to the House an amended bill to "expand and improve opportunities for service," legislation modeled on President Obama's campaign promise to establish "universal voluntary citizen service." If passed, this act will produce an explosion in the number of service programs.
Ayn Rand's Non-Religious Conception of Morality
February 22, 2009
In our parents’ generation, academia was a bastion of secularism, and a threat to religion. Amid peace and love, political activism, one small step for man and several giant leaps in science and technology, college campuses had little room for faith.