Enlightened Self-Interest Fails to Fill Area Pothole

Grass Valley, CA — A large Grass Valley pothole has gone unrepaired despite the claims of some neighbors that “enlightened self-interest” would fix it.  Rhode Island Street resident Dominic Roark was adamant that volunteers driven by free will would repair the road in front of his house when the pothole appeared four years ago.

“In a free economy, where no man or group of men can use physical coercion against anyone,” said Mr. Roark lecturing a group of children in front of his home. “Economic power can be achieved only by voluntary means: by the voluntary choice and agreement of all those who participate in production and trade. So we should not force others via taxation or guns or anything else to fix that pothole.”

When asked if he had contacted the city regarding the repairs, Mr. Roark bristled.

“This kid listens better than you do,” continued Mr. Roark, tilting his head back. “The passive man is found on every level of society, in mansions and slums, and his identification mark is his dread of independence. He is a parasite who expects to be taken care of by others, who wishes to be given directives, obey, submit, regulate, and tell. He welcomes collectivism, which eliminates any chance that he might have to think or act on his initiative. This is what the government does. It makes us passive, and we wait for some government lackey to come and fill the pothole.”

According to Mr. Roark, he did attempt to fix the pothole by filling it with several Ayn Rand novels, but according to him, some ‘moochers’ stole them. He said this had happened at least six times over the past four years.

“Look,” said Mr. Roark raising his voice, “collectivism is not the ‘New Order of Tomorrow.’ It is the order of a very dark yesterday. But there is a New Order of Tomorrow. It belongs to Individual Man;  the only creator of any tomorrows humanity has ever been granted.”

The City of Grass Valley said it knew nothing of the pothole but dispatched a crew to investigate.