My theme of corporate independence is playing a bit long, but here goes another chapter.
As I mentioned in my last “Corner,” there are self-appointed and self-important eco-hall monitors who insist on knowing our trade secrets, ahem, in the interest of consumer safety.
Our strict adherence to federal regulations and 15 years of women cleaning old textile machines with our Charlie’s without so much as red hands to show for their labors is, somehow, not enough.
Which brings me to John Galt.
Who is John Galt?
He’s the anti-villain in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged who everybody hates. He’s also the man who’s trying to save everyone from the mediocrity and would-be egalitarianism in a collectivist economic society. Think Batman without the cape.
But before Galt saves the day, consider these borrowed lines from Atlas Shrugged. Feel free to replace Rearden Metal with Charlie’s Soap as you read from Page 172:
Government bureaucrat trying to drive Rearden out of business in the guise of fairness: “We are offering you a blank check on what is, as you realize, an unlimited account. What else can you want? Name your price.”
Hank Rearden: “The sale of the rights to Rearden Metal is not open to discussion. If you have anything else to say, please say it and leave.”
The man leaned back, looked at Rearden incredulously and asked, “What are you after?”
“I? What do you mean?”
“You’re in business to make money, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
“You want to make as big a profit as possible, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Then why do you want to struggle for years, squeezing out your gains in the form of pennies per ton — rather than accept a fortune for Rearden Metal? Why?”
“Because it’s mine. Do you understand the word?”
The happy truth at Charlie’s Soap is that our loyal customers are not Chicken Littles eager to buy “green” junk that doesn’t work. Those silly look-at-me-I’m-extra-extra-extra-green marketeers must believe people buy products just to get a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Our loyal customers know they can wash clothes for pennies per load. They know our cleaners do what they are intended to do without using harsh chemicals. And they know we’ll stand behind everything we make at Charlie’s Soap.
Many, many thanks for all you thinking people.
– Charlie
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