DavidMcK

Congratulations Rich.

I agree and who was it that warned us about the conservatives most sincerely and astutely? Ayn Rand. Read the thread 'Rewrite Squad' and see how often the 'editing' is watering down Ayn Rand's critique of conservatism. Remember the title of her book on politics: "The Unknown Ideal" ? Like many of her titles there is irony in it; the irony is that Capitalism is unknown as an ideal by the very people claiming to be advocating Capitalism, i.e. the conservatives. I hope to god this website doesn't become the Glenn Beck Living website.

"Moreover, almost all the sects of the United States are comprised within the great unity of Christianity, and Christian morality is everywhere the same. In the United States the sovereign authority is religious, and consequently hypocrisy must be common; but there is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth. The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other; and with them this conviction does not spring from that barren traditionary faith which seems to vegetate in the soul rather than to live. There are certain populations in Europe whose unbelief is only equaled by their ignorance and their debasement, while in America one of the freest and most enlightened nations in the world fulfills all the outward duties of religion with fervor. Upon my arrival in the United States, the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer I stayed there, the more did I perceive the great political consequences resulting from this state of things, to which I was unaccustomed. In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom pursuing courses diametrically opposed to each other; but in America I found that they were intimately united, and that they reigned in common over the same country." This is an interesting quote too, and there is much more about this fascinating thinker on wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville After reading the article he seems that he stumbled on the truth in George's quote just more or less by accident; more because he was a member of aristocracy more than because he was a protoobjectivist.

Health Care Personnel Delivery System On December 1, 1989, Congress ordered the Selective Service System to put in place a system capable of drafting "persons qualified for practice or employment in a health care and professional occupation", if such a special-skills draft should be ordered by Congress.[47] In response, Selective Service published plans for the "Health Care Personnel Delivery System " (HCPDS) in 1989 and has had them ready ever since. The concept underwent a preliminary field exercise in Fiscal Year 1998, followed by a more extensive nationwide readiness exercise in Fiscal Year 1999. The HCPDS plans include women and men ages 20–54 in 57 different job categories.[48] As of May 2003, the Defense Department has said the most likely form of draft is a special skills draft, probably of health care workers.[49] from Conscription in the U.S. (wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_the_United_States

About the worst thing that could happen next is the Obama administration could take over the hole plugging which would probably mean it would never get plugged. I'm surprised too that there wasn't some kind of backup plan for if this happens, everything seems improvised right now. The next step is to lower a custom built cap to channel the oil flow, after that (if it doesn't work) is to put another blowout preventer on top of the one that didn't work. Then a relief well will be drilled and the holes plugged from the relief well. Very difficult stuff I wish BP and Gulf Coast residents the best. Remember that 11 people died with the explosion and that is the real tragedy.

The White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel sought to stop Sestak from running against Specter using former Pres. Bill Clinton. This is the same guy (Emanuel) that poked NY congressman Massa in the chest during the Health Care debate. This administration plays hardball.

Somebody please tell me it wasn't the donkey from 'Shrek' (Eddie Murphy). I'll be heartbroken if it is.

I don't think she really cared about money that much, just appreciated it almost philosophically. Many people would find that strange given the Francisco speech about money in AS and the dollar symbol; notice that people that claim to detest money grubbing always think that money is all that anybody thinks about..projection perhaps?

You have to use the right kind of math (non-linear). If you put an equation that basically just extrapolates from the past to the future: GIGO.

I'm not calling for a revolution either but as a matter of fact the government has enormous disadvantages in a fight including a reluctance of the police/military to fire on its own citizenry; it is questionable whether the government could use the military in a revolution at home; an underground revolutionary movement could have stealth on its side. It isn't for nothing that totalitarian governments have such massive spy networks: they are vulnerable. The reason secession didn't succeed is that the Southern states were too organized, they had specific targets and positions that could be attacked by a superior and better armed force that would make them lose (and did). How do you fight ghosts in the night? My point isn't that we need to start fighting violently it is that 'powerful' governments are weaker than you think, which is the point of 'Atlas' after all.

Robert, When you finish your article would you please inform members of OL and tell us where we might find it?

Orlis and his wife attended some parties in Inglewood (Ca) that were hosted by my girlfriend and me. When I told Orlis that I enjoyed his writing, he related an incredible story. Orlis was illiterate until young adulthood. While Orlis was working in a factory, a friend and co-worker taught him to read (and write) by using Atlas Shrugged as a text. A great story George, and a reminder of how much hidden influence Rand has had.

Jean, the essay on racism that is in 'The Virtue of Selfishness' is the most important essay on race that I've ever read. As someone who was raised in the South this helped correct a lot of stupidity that I had picked up along the way.

Thanks Michael

Interesting take on Dominique Brant, and re-read the bomb scene with reference to Dominique in the car cutting herself with glass almost to the point of killing herself.

I still think the difference between government initiated force and a private voluntary contract is important with respect to the use of the word 'censor'. A publisher is saying 'I agree to publish your book if I deem the content is consistent with my editorial standards. If you disagree with my standards find another publisher.' This is a voluntary contract, not force. Also one of the definitions I saw at dictionary.com : ( 4. in the ancient Roman republic) either of two officials who kept the register or census of the citizens, awarded public contracts, and supervised manners and morals.)Implies government control. Objectivists are suppose to be more meticulous than others.

Fantastic post! I love your decision and how purposeful you are and hope you write back after you start with N.B. to tell us how it is going. One note of caution: Your plan might not fit into N. Branden's plan so he might not be accepting new clients right now (I noticed his website advertises for his services as a 'Life Coach' for people who are beyond traumatizing experiences). If you asked him to suggest an alternative psychologist to work with as your back-up plan his knowledge of psychologists in the area might be very helpful.

Isn't that typical though? They don't have a category or enough concepts in their model to assimilate a new idea so it must be irrational.

Stephen, do you know of any Objectivist oriented folks who have attempted to assimilate Chaos theory into an objectivist framework? I'm reading 'Chaos Theory Tamed' right now which is pretty heavy duty for a non-mathematician.

Shouldn't we use the word 'censored' more carefully? Censored means the forced control of a media's content usually by government. You can no more 'censor' your own newspaper, blog, mouth or television show than you can violate your own property.

Since I went through something similar than you (but not as bad) I can tell you that the problem isn't between you and your parents any longer, it is between you and you. That can be hard to accept but I find it impressive how you can write and read about all this, plus your discovery of N.B. I have to echo others who recommend Branden, (which you know already) but it helps I think to hear people say: You are on the right track. The sentence completion method is helpful, but I wasn't helped much till I worked my way all the way through one set of exercises. I wish all you describe hadn't happened to you; can you say to yourself when bullies are around "This is not my father." ? Wishing you all the best.

Ok, I read the silver article you referred to even though there wasn't any mention of a whistle blower or anything like that. I find his understanding of how futures contracts work very limited. For a reply here is this link (by a silver bull): http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article5353.html

I don't think you have to be super sensitive to totalitarianism to be aware that things are getting strange, and I thought Wolf's 10 steps are very interesting and many of them have been taken already, my comment was just on a limited issue, precious metal manipulation. I'm not super aware of what is going on exactly but if the government thinks it has inflation under control it might very well sell its stock of metals to raise money and meet the cash crunch...it is more symptomatic of stupidity than some sinister conspiracy (I haven't read the article yet). I'm concerned too, why else would I be on here reading every day? It's just that I get tired of all the gloom and doom of 1984, Ojectivist, Atlas Shrugged, The Ominous Parallels etc. that predict Armageddon. I keep thinking what a great novel Atlas Shrugged would be if it showed a people coming close to a dictatorship then rallying their resources, arguing vehemently, sorting things out and re-discovering their Constitution...an optimistic Objectivism. Without a doubt things are going to get worse than better but that is something different than saying that they will never get anything but worse.

I can't even find a link to the story, and I'm suspicious of stories about market manipulation. Most manipulations, if they are there at all are counter-productive. For example if the U.S. wanted to keep gold down short term it could sell gold from Ft. Knox, but it would reduce the assets of a bankruptcy bound government even quicker so in the long run the price of gold would go up even more. No one is bigger than the market; it isn't a matter of trusting the government it is a matter of trusting basic economics.

Reading the wikipedia entry for Battle Cry and Ron Luce are scary. It wouldn't surprise me to see O'ists become a special enemy of these people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Cry_Campaign