Peter

Michael wrote: “On membership, here's a basic question. I'm not being facetious or argumentative. I'm illustrating a human nature idea. Why would I want to belong to such a group?” I agree with Michael that the cultural phenomenon of “Make America Great Again,” will let the ship of state find the right direction for life, liberty, reason, and the pursuit of happiness . . . . and to survive. And that goes for the whole, currently existing, USA. Of course individual States, counties, cities, and towns tack on more laws. That is why many people leave the more restrictive areas. But States cannot contradict the U.S. Constitution. A few articles for an American / objectivist government. Always vote! Article One: America exists, covering a certain geographical location. The right of consent to be governed is automatically given by anyone who continues to live here. I know it gets a bit iffy when you consider that children do not say yea. Article Two: At some point, America may disband as did older Empires or more recently The Soviet Union. Occasionally, a new state may be created, with the consent of the governed, extending the geographical boundaries of America. A territory may decline the invitation, as did Puerto Rico. Article Three: An individual, within the geographical boundaries of The United States of America MAY NOT secede from The Union. While you live here, you give your consent to be governed and you will abide by the laws of the land. The Constitution is Forever. Welcome to America!

Here is a portion of an old letter I wrote to the objectivist site, “Atlantis.” Yikes, it was over twenty years ago! From: "Peter Taylor" To: atlantis Subject: Re: ATL: Atlantis Café Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 13:36:50 GMT . . . . However, why is anyone on Atlantis? To be with like-minded people, to not be alone, to gossip, to fuss with people and to settle old grudges, to learn, to contribute to every Objectivist's general knowledge, and to contribute to Consensus Objectivist Positions (If there can be such a thing.) I would say the main reason we are on Atlantis, is to interact with other people in a non-threatening way. Can you imagine having the arguments we have in person? No way. A letter can always be ignored or deleted. You may Never have to meet the people you talk to, or you can meet them at any time . . . .

“You’ve got to put the past behind you, before you can move on.” – Forrest Gump Unless your hypothetical society is on a separate plot of land outside of all the presently existing countries you will still be troubled by drug, gang, and random or targeted, shooting deaths. The residing culture including all of its ills cannot be avoided. You mentioned societies like the Amish or Mennonites but they are usually “out of the way” though not gated. I like the idea of gated communities and the rich usually have them, or they own a large, gated estate. But unless you cut yourself off, you are still part of the society with all its bad points. I see problems within America, but we are one of the “freer” countries that can still have a MAGA movement. I suggest you join the MAGA universe. And that's all I got to say about that.

Charges Brought Against Alleged Military Documents Leaker—With Each Offense Carrying Up to 10 Years in Prison By Jennifer Bowers Bahney Apr 14th, 2023, 12:34 pm . . . Teixeira is charged with unlawfully copying and possessing classified defense records, and knowingly removing classified records. Each offense can carry up to 10 years in prison, according to Reuters. He did not enter a plea.

His motives or lack of motives won't help him. He may be charged with espionage or maybe even treason. He may end up in military prison which I have heard is worse than regular prison, with being forced to run everywhere as one extra punishment. My recollections of this may be out of date because my Dad who was in the Navy told me about it.

I tried to cut and paste and avoid “pictures” so this may be a bit of a mashup. From Fox News. Hunter Biden had to explain a child's question to his father, President Joe Biden, during the president's trip to Ireland Wednesday, shocking social media users. The apparent confusion came after the elder Biden struggled to answer the child's question about success. "What’s the top step to success?" the child asked the president. "What’s the top what?" Biden responded. "Step — steps — step to success," the child answered. Biden responded that the way to be successful is to stop COVID-19 from spreading . . . At this point, Hunter Biden intervened. "If you can — what’s the — what’s the key to success?" the president's son asked, attempting to clarify the child's question. "Oh, what’s the key to success? You know what I found out is the key to success is? And I’m not sure I’m the best guy to explain it; these guys can tell you," the president responded. He then talked about the importance of not personally attacking people with whom you disagree. "Oh, well, making sure that we don’t all have COVID. What — why — what are we talking about here?" he asked.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is showing his true colors. Medically and philosophically I think abortions are terrible but should be allowed until the baby inside is around 26 weeks old when sentience occurs. Peter From ABC News. A six-week abortion ban that replaces Florida's 15-week ban was signed into law Thursday night by Gov. Ron DeSantis, after the state House of Representatives passed the bill earlier in the day. "We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida," DeSantis said in a statement. "I applaud the Legislature for passing the Heartbeat Protection Act that expands pro-life protections and provides additional resources for young mothers and families." . . . The White House on Thursday called the bill "extreme and dangerous," adding that the ban "flies in the face of fundamental freedoms and is out of step with the views of the vast majority of the people of Florida and of all the United States." The ban prohibits all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, before most women know they are pregnant. The ban makes exceptions for when the woman's life or health is at risk and cases of rape or incest, under certain conditions. Even with its current ban in place, Florida has fewer restrictions compared to nearby states . . . .

Ruh Roh, as Scooby Doo says. Has someone already mentioned this? I just saw a bit of the ad below with the sound off, on Greg Gutfeld’s show on Fox News. Since it says it is from MAGA, Inc I assume it is Trump sanctioned. Peter Pro-Trump super PAC launches ad attacking Ron DeSantis. The group has reserved at least $1.3 million in airtime so far, per AdImpact. March 30, 2023, 4:21 PM EDT By Bridget Bowman A super PAC supporting former President Donald Trump is hitting the TV airwaves with a new ad targeting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, focusing on DeSantis' past votes to reform entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security, as well as to raise the retirement age. “The more you learn about DeSantis the more you learn he doesn’t share our values. He’s just not ready to be president,” a narrator says in the ad from MAGA, Inc. DeSantis is widely expected to launch a presidential run, but he has not yet officially jumped into the race . . . .

That might (might not?) be a good fit, though I don't know much about Kennedy's democratic party leanings. I still give Marco Rubio and DeSantis some liking for VEEP. Who else? I think Trump will announce something about six months before his re-election. Ted Cruz? That and Marco as VEEP would get some Hispanic, democratic voters. Who brings in the biggest electoral college votes? Nicky Hailey? Female. First generation American. And who would be the best President if President Trump is not around or ill? It's a tough guess to me.

Canadian Gordon LIghtfoot is looking older. Hmmm? Maybe he should change his last name to Litefoot? I just listened to his version of "That's what you get for lovin' me" and Peter, Paul, and Mary's version . . . and then a young Waylon Jennings version. They have some interesting differences.

I agree with much of what is said, but I think they are too disliked in general. I actually had to look up the initials MTG to find out who it was. How many people can actually figure out who MTG is?

The California Weather Channel is showing a special: Switching to an electric vehicle / highway through hell.

Would he make a good Vice - Presidential candidate?

I saw an interesting story on Fox, from Denmark. The blind can now use a device about the size of a smartphone to read text for them. Say you wanted to make dinner. Hold the device to scan the container and it will read out loud the instructions in the language you use. It was very rad, dude.

The internet rides a rollercoaster. Here are two examples. 1 - These Republican Politicians All Do Not Support Donald Trump! Some of Them May Surprise You! Story by Basil Neal • Yesterday 12:21 PM Of course, it’s the usual suspects like Mitt Romney, Hogan and a lot of Rino’s who left office recently. 2 - Democrats dealt another blow: third lawmaker leaves party, switches to Republican within a month Story by Brandon Gillespie • Yesterday 6:11 PM Yippee? And I saw another insight that said even President Biden can beat President Trump, I think Trump will get a huge turnout of his supporters, while Biden’s supporters will be yawning. Wait until the end of the year and then gauge things in the summer of 2023. That is what I will do. We recently received a call from the Republican Party looking for donations but there was no mention of President Trump, just Republicans in general. I didn’t donate.

Actors. Debutants. Hangers on. There have always been social climbers or people who marry into money. It’s a very human trait to seek security and the good life. And the daily grind is not for everyone, like Howard Roark. Anyone who doesn’t marry into money but wants to make money off their looks, public persona, or talent needs publicity. They need a “source of funds” like everyone else, so the high-end applicants don’t check the want ads. Like Stormy, they need their pictures taken or their videos broadcast to make a decent (or indecent) living. In that picture of her and President Trump she is flaunting her assets and like any male he is appreciating the view. So, I am still not convinced he cheated but what about the hush money? His dubious lawyer wanted to “serve his client” and make money himself so perhaps the alleged, trivial hush money from Trump was to keep her from pretending to know a famous and rich person and to let the lawyer get his cut. But the semi grifter’s needed more loot and publicity. This may just be Hollywood, gossip columnist, or novelist talk but aren’t people like Stormy supposed to have some code of conduct to not blab or make things public? Who knows? But I do know I am sick of hearing about this BS for political reasons (the DA) or for illicit financial reasons. (And are there any more floozies out there) looking to gain?

Wednesday April 5, 2023. Rasmussen Reports. General Election. Trump 47, Biden 40. Trump plus 7. DeSantis 46. Biden 38. Direction of Country. Right Direction 27. Wrong Track 63. edit. I found another one. Wednesday April 5, 2023. Rasmussen Reports. General Election. Nicky Haley up by four over Joe Biden.

I hope the election is monitored closely by those who want a fair and legal election. I hope Melania sticks with him, but she sounded quite angry on a phone call someone taped as she expressed her anger about Cloudy Daniels (though Stormy seems apt too.)

Fox News had an interesting take on this "adventure." Trump isn't going to be "prosecuted." He will be "persecuted." And the timing of this BS allows those with TDS to influence the 2024 campaign . . . . and possibly the outcome of the election. I smell a rat.

What do you call a second hearing? An echo.

Fox News is outside Trump Tower hoping for a glimpse at 1:04. I wonder if President Trump will sneak out the back in a limo? There are plenty of police protecting him in the front.

Another mass killing occurred. I am thinking about supporting the ideas of banning certain weapons, and putting crazy people into institutions. Is there an actual thing that is evil or only a person willfully acting in an evil way? From Goddess of the Market, Ayn Rand and the American Right” by Jennifer Burns, page 100: “When she arrived in California she was working on her first non-fiction book, a project she eventually abandoned in favor of her third novel. Much as “The Fountainhead” had showcased her ideas about individualism, this book would reflect Rand’s growing fealty to reason and rationality. After three years in California Rand had redefined the goal of her writing. Once Individualism had been the motive power of her work; now she explained to a correspondent, “Do you know that my personal crusade in life, (in the philosophical sense) is not merely to fight collectivism, nor to fight altruism? These are only consequences, effects, and not causes. I am out after the real cause, the real root of evil on earth – the irrational.” Objectivism and Rage by Barbara Branden. A lecture presented at the TAS 2006 Summer Seminar, July 4, 2006, Chapman University, Orange, CA. One cannot avoid recognizing that we live in a very angry age. At one time, people spoke to “My worthy opponent” when addressing someone who disagreed with their views. That attitude of respecting differences has long disappeared. Today, in discussions of politics, of religion, of environmentalism, of war and peace, of abortion—of all the issues that concern and often divide us—we hear little but raised voices and enraged insults coming from all sides of every issue. Speak to an opponent of the Iraq war and suggest that it might have been a good idea—and a torrent of abuse washes over you. Say that Israel is morally superior to the Palestinians—and statistics about Israel’s supposed “atrocities” of the last 2,000 years fly furiously at your head. Say a kind word about George W. Bush—and you had better take to the hills at once. Objectivists are by no means immune to this rage. On the contrary, I find it to be increasingly prevalent among Objectivists. We see everywhere—particularly on the Internet—the spectacle of supposed supporters of reason and free inquiry erupting in fury at the least provocation and hurling abuse at anyone who opposes—even questions—their convictions. But what I call “Objectivist Rage” has a peculiar twist to it, unlikely to be found anywhere else except, paradoxically, in religion. It is almost always morally tinged. Those who question our ideas and those who oppose them, we are told, are not merely unintelligent, ignorant, uninformed; they are evil, they are moral monsters to be cast out and forever damned.

From Business Insider, Donald Trump said: . . . "What kind of person can charge another person, in this case a former President of the United States, who got more votes than any sitting President in history, and leading candidate (by far!) for the Republican Party nomination, with a Crime, when it is known by all that NO Crime has been committed, & also known that potential death & destruction in such a false charge could be catastrophic for our Country?" Trump wrote on his Twitter-like website. "Why & who would do such a thing?" he added. "Only a degenerate psychopath that truly hates the USA!" . . . Bragg, Trump wrote in the all-caps Truth Social post, "IS JUST CARRYING OUT THE PLANS OF THE RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS. OUR COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED, AS THEY TELL US TO BE PEACEFUL!"

Guyau quoted from CNN: ”And 79% say the government is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses, just a touch below the share who felt that way at the height of the Tea Party movement during Barack Obama’s presidency.” We need a hero! I had not thought of the Secret Service being involved in this local arrest matter, but they protect the ex-President. Would they “be there” for President Trump if some local officials try to put him in a cell for obvious political reasons? Would they allow handcuffs to be put on President Trump? Hell no! Peter From Newsweek: Former President Donald Trump is facing potential charges from the Manhattan District Attorney's office related to an alleged 2016 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Dave Aronberg, the state attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, said that the Secret Service would not allow local law enforcement to put their hands on Trump if he is arrested. Trump's lawyer Joseph Tacopina has said that he will surrender to face charges if he's indicted.

He sits there in court waiting and waiting. Three different camera angles observe the scene. The Judge finally enters, walks to his seat and bangs the gavel. Mister Trump, stand up! You are guilty. Bailiff! Handcuff him and take him to his cell!