I-95 John Galt billboard mystery solved
Friday, July 17, 2009 at 02:14PM 
Georgia businessman Craig Root provided this shot of the billboard he erected.Exclusive from The US Report
In a previous column I issued a call for information about the ‘Who is John Galt?’ billboard near the St. Mary’s, Ga. exit, visible to travelers heading south on I-95. Many curious readers found the story by way of search engines. I conjured ideas about the person responsible for the billboard. I told my husband the person had to be a small business owner, a successful one, to have both the fortitude and resources to erect such a billboard.
Ayn Rand’s novel ‘Atlas Shrugged’ made the character of John Galt perfectly fitting for this time in our history, as politicos in charge of our government adopt tactics similar to those of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt whose enabler was President Herbert Hoover.
Small businesses, which create the vast majority of private sector jobs, will be especially hard hit as the Democrat-controlled government aggressively seeks sources for new tax revenue.
A late afternoon email on Thursday confirmed my theory—the creator of the billboard came forward. He is a small business owner, operating Vista Outdoor since the early 1980s. Craig Root wrote, "I am the man who placed the billboard on I-95 near the GA/ FL border.”
I thanked Root, who lives in Georgia, and told him for me, the billboard stands as an icon of liberty. The fact it’s nonpolitical makes it doubly charming.
“If people will read Rand’s book,” Root responded, “or even just a short such as ‘Anthem,’ they can draw their own political conclusions. I think ‘Atlas Shrugged’ would perhaps be even more powerful without her atheist tenet but in any event, I am one of those who consider their first read as life-changing.”
Root’s response to Rand is universal—most who read and understand the validity of Rand’s value of individualism experience an awakening when reading her novels. The book focuses on individual worth rather than collectivism. Society reaps benefits, on Rand's terms, as a direct effect of a truly free market. An effort to save society, the poor or the world is not part of the scheme of things. Rand is reaching a whole new platform of readers. The Ayn Rand Institute said in a recent news release, "Penguin USA, publisher of the four American editions of Ayn Rand’s 'Atlas Shrugged,' has reported that in the first half of 2009 it shipped well over 300,000 copies of 'Atlas Shrugged'..." This represents an increase of approximately 250 percent over the entire previous year.
I spoke to Root by phone on Friday. Like many of us he is concerned about government spending. But he went one better. He did something tangible about his convictions.
As for the public’s response to the billboard, Root said, “I’ve received only positive comments. Of course, only those of us who know the book and Ayn Rand would get the reference but it’s been great to rekindle the notion in our current atmosphere. I’ve also convinced some people to read the book just based on the sign. If 50 people read the book because of the billboard, that will meet my primary objective.”
Ayn Rand would likely admire the man who created a billboard devoted to one of her most complicated characters. And Root isn’t quite finished.
“I’ll probably add a northbound version soon,” he said.
I-95 John Galt billboard mystery solved
by Kay B. Day
The US Report (Jul. 17, 2009)
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (20)
The billboard should have addressed to 0bama with John Galt's demand:
"Get the hell out of my way!"
Alan, thanks for commenting. I love that billboard. best, KBD
We just drove by the billboard for the first time and googles it immediately. Thank you to Mr Root!!! If only Atlas Shrugged were required reading.......
We just passed the "northbound" sign yesterday on our way north from Jacksonville to Atlanta! Keep up the good work.
Thank you Mr. Root for your excellent work in advertising Ayn Rand's greatest fictional hero, John Galt, whose revolutionary and daring feats in her greatest novel-Atlas Shrugged-can return America and the world to civilization.
“If people will read Rand’s book,” Root responded, “or even just a short such as ‘Anthem,’ they can draw their own political conclusions. I think ‘Atlas Shrugged’ would perhaps be even more powerful without her atheist tenet but in any event, I am one of those who consider their first read as life-changing.”
Although Ayn Rand's atheism is a part of her philosophy the essence of her philosophy is man's mind must be used to discover the facts of reality. It's the ethical code of altruism or self-sacrifice that Atlas needs to shrug off or rebel against. It's the ethical code of egoism or selfishness that Ayn Rand advocated. With this moral foundation the politics of limited government, individual rights, and freedom will not stand. I refer the reader to Ayn Rand's The Virtue of Selfishness for further investigation into her moral ideas.
I too just finished reading Atlas Shrugged and have already purchased Fountainhead, another novel by Ayn Rand. They should be required reading in our public schools. In answer to the question about a movie, it is in the works. Check out the following link http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480239/fullcredits#writers
I look forward to seeing the movie. It is set for release in 2011, just prior to the next Presidential election.
I have just emailed Nancy Fletcher, President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, informing her of Mr. Root's billboard. I have requested her association, at the very least, run an article about Mr. Root and his billboard in their trade magazine, which might lead other billboard owners to do the same thing across this country. I would encourage others to email Ms. Fletcher at nfletcher@oaaa.org and share your opinions as well.
We CAN make a difference......
Lee, that's an excellent idea. best, kayday/ed
Kay,
Thank you for your kind comment. Please contact me directly at CEO@TransformU.com; I have some additional ideas on how to increase exposure to Atlas Shrugged and would like to share them off-line.
BTW, Ms. Fletcher replied back within a matter of minutes (and on a Saturday) thanking me for sharing the information. I hope she will now follow up after having a chance to digest the information.
Does anyone know how to get in touch with Mr Root? I would like to start posting these all over the country. Mr Root did a great job starting this, but if we can group together (as Francisco, Hank Rearden, Dagny, etc did), I think we can do a great thing here and get a WONDERFUL message to the masses!!!
does anyone have a web page, email address, etc of Mr Root?? or would anyone be interested in starting a small web page/chain email that we can all link to? I'd create one if there was enough interest!! please email me or message me here!!
Thanks!!
"Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think that you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong."
pavlick@email.com
I LOVE the fact that Ayn Rand was an atheist. It throws a spanner right into the brains of people who like to have their philosophy, ideas and opinions spoon-fed to them. There are too many people who jump on the Ayn Rand bandwagon without fully considering all the ideas (or ludicrously, in many cases, without even bothering to read her books). Ayn Rand's great contribution to the world was her articulation of objectivism and rationality. Big government does not stand up to objective analysis; neither does religion.
Yes - we love to see your heads spin as you try to reconcile those two facts, hating the nasty liberals but yet still clinging to your irrational religious beliefs. You don't understand (yet) that collectivism is evil in all its forms - not just political but religious too. Who is John Galt? Not a Christian, that's for SURE.
The billboard owner's comment about Rand's atheism suggests that he is religious. It's probable that he's a Christian. He must lack a thorough understanding either of Rand's ideas or of Christ's, because they are profoundly incompatible.
Simply Inspirational, I was blown away when I saw the billboard last week. I have always been a huge fan of Rand's work and was so impressed with the message this billboards give to those who understand it, or the curiosity it might invoke to those who don't know about John Galt. Thank you Mr. Root. Thank you very much. Let's spread the word before we need to build our secret society in the Rockies.
I about flipped my sh*t when I saw that billboard last week travelling south to FL with some friends. We all went berserk! ... That kind of thing gives me hope for the future. THANK YOU to Mr. Craig Root!!!!
I just discovered a number of new comments.
I don't believe it matters what your faith is or isn't when you discover Rand. You can still appreciate aspects of her philosophy. And I'd also add Christianity doesn't endorse slovenly or lazy behavior either. Some might revisit the Bible if you think it's all about human self-sacrifice.
Note to others: I'm removing the nonsensical code that was left by a reader.
Please don' t take up bandwidth with such messages that mean nothing to other guests.
when you start erecting billboards, and force feeding things to the masses, and forming groups, isnt that a form of collectivism? maybe you should practice a little individualism. you all think youre something youre just not.
Well, CP, I think we have the choice to ignore the billboard.
I just drove to Florida and for this drive I chose to listen to the audio book "Atlas Shrugged." I broke out laughing when I saw the billboard!! It was perfect! Thank you, Craig Root!
[I'm sure many are now saying, "who is Craig Root?"]