This quote is from the infamous ‘Atlas Shrugged’ by Ayn Rand. Regardless of one’s views on Ayn Rand or capitalism, which I hear this book had a big influence on, this metaphor for the institution of America as The Great Oak Tree always stuck with me. Big and mighty on the outside, revealed by a bolt of lightening to be an already dead hollow shell, rotten on the inside. Whoa. It resonated with me years ago when I first read it, it resonates even more today. Feels like it’s time to speak about it.