Recently, I spoke to a representative from the university attended about their Alumni Oral History Project. The rep asked me to relate my experience there and other questions such as the most influential books I have read. I told him that it was "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand, there was a pause then the interviewer stumbled in his response stating that it is a heady book. I continued to talk about the relevance of the book and he politely asked other questions. After the phone call, I mused over the interviewer's momentary loss of communication and if my oral presentation would go into their project?

I think that's a great question. I can tell you that, as a father, I'm trying to teach my kids this. One has autism so he's a crapshoot. That said, when he hears a stupid argument he's able to point it out. The very first fact I taught him as a little guy was, "The most important thing in the world is THINKING." I'll know in 10 years if I had any success in trying to ensure my kids made it into the 15%. I THINK that I might be in the 15% because I'm fairly well read. Also, my college education emphasized philosophy and ethics.

Disturbing

I don't disagree with what you are saying but is the 15/85 division a natural occurrence for humans or is it somehow drummed in prior to adulthood? Can a school system be put into play that changes the ratio?

Big Brother is out of control, especially in California and NY is right behind.

I agree. Many years ago I came up with the theory that only 15% of the people are capable of understanding cause and effect. The rest can't tie the validity of an idea to its benefit or burden on society...They just can't do it. Then...just a few years ago I was listening to an interview of Louis Farrakhan, of all people. I heard him say, "Mohamad said that 85% of the people can't decipher cause and effect." I almost fell our of my chair. Same ratio I came up with. Maybe we're both full of hot air... I also, around that same time, came to the horrifying realization that most people can't understand the concept of "some" or "a little". This was horrifying. They think that all vaccines are good - every one of them. That investing in gold means you sell everything you've got and put all the proceeds in gold. That you either hate or love the police, or the military. These are just a few, somewhat weak examples. But, it's amazing how many people struggle in this.

I can relate. In short - People are lazy. Almost nobody has ever read a book as long as Atlas Shrugged. And, as you point out, people really don't know what they want. Here in the U.S. I'd put them in the neocon or RINO camps. They claim to like liberty in one sentence and in the next say we should have a military draft again. Tough talkers...you know. A major problem is that real Randian thought doesn't make it into FOX News broadcasts. And, that's where these types get their ideas...McDonald's version of philosophy, I suppose...spoon fed to the addled masses and passed on as conservatism. Kinda funny, really.

Vaccines are their path. They have been for well over a decade now. I could write a book on this. Now, at least in California for starters, they will be making he C19 vaccines mandatory for babies...possibly even newborns. Don't get your kid the jab (and any boosters we deem necessary) and you lose your state-constitutional right to a free public education. They might even just start taking the kids away. They've already signed laws to vaccinate in school without parental consent or knowledge. Yes...vaccines are "the path" to complete submission...

About, "...I could not close them." That's the curse. Once you know you can't forget it. You can only cease to care - as the alternative.

No. They don’t understand the connection between ideology and practical results. That’s why we are where we are now!!

"The only thing is that once my eyes were opened, I could not close them. It could not be undone." True words, Jstork!

Too many people want to take the blue pill because it feels so good. They don't care if it enslaves them in an artificial comfort zone. The problem is they want to force everyone else to take the blue pill, too. Red pill advocates must be destroyed to reach an artificial utopia promised in the blue pill high.

yes Atlas Shrugged is not just a novel it is the truth and rational reality of obejctive life

Many won't even put in the effort.
They would rather follow some dangerous mindless anarchists who want change but have no clue as to what it should look like or where to properly begin.

The novel changed my life for the better.
The only thing is that once my eyes were opened, I could not close them. It could not be undone.
Watching the world around me progress like the novel, or the "Twentieth Century Motor Company" is an almost constant source of frustration.

They would rather focus on the point that he has not been vaccinated rather than what he could offer the people. Who cares what he does with his own life as long as he does a good job and "does the right thing."
Frustrating

Sorry for the long spiel and rant, but I am frustrated.

I am trying my best to spread the word, but only a small few have investigated. One person I know has actually read the novel after I mentioned it and only a couple have even watched the three part movie.

Many of the people I encounter in the area I live want liberty and freedom, but don't understand it in an Objectivist, rational, Capitalist sense as presented in the novel.

They seem to want liberty and freedom to do what they want, but only when it suits them. I don't believe they truly want to be fully responsible for their lives, and still want to be looked after by the government at their convenience.

They want change but don't really know what they want and won't put in the effort to become educated so that they know what Capitalism should look like as presented in the novel or movie.

An example of this is that many believe the government should increase taxes on the rich people and large conglomerates, but fail to understand that some of the wealthy people and businesses get that large because of government interference.

They won't even watch the short movie clip "The Trial of Hank Rearden," or listen to the video of the "Twentieth Century Motor Company."

I've had "Who Is John Galt?" stickers on all my vehicles for years and only three people have recognized it and given an appropriate response.

We had a radio talk show in my area that had a strong Randian as the host. She was a voice of reason. A few of her followers were also Randians. She is now trying to get back into politics for our province, but I fear the people are not ready for what she would really like to do and that her efforts will be stifled by the people and the rest of the government.

Here in Canada (under the hand of a minority government), the minority is able to vote away the rights of the rest of the population.

We are rapidly marching into a state of socialism in Canada.

Yes, especially if the person I'm talking to is making sense about the current state of things.

I don't have to. My "Who is John Galt" ballcap does it for me. Received comments are interesting!
Those who don't know are often offered a copy of
Atlas and The FountianHead. Most accept.

I find many lie

Gotten a few comments from my “who is John Galt” magnetic bumper sticker.

Agreed! I'm really tired of unelected and often unnamed bureaucrats making life decisions for me and the rest of the country.

Here's an example I heard on the radio while out and about yesterday and it actually made me yell at the radio. I'm a resident of NY and Andrew Giuliani has decided to run in the Republican primary for governor. Well, apparently, some consortium of "They" decided he should be disqualified because he has admitted to being unvaxed. Who the HELL are "THEY" to decide for ME whether or not I will be able to vote for an unvaxed individual for governor!? Also, whether or not I like Giuliani is irrelevant - who the HELL do THEY think they are to decide for me, or for Giuliani for that matter!?

My father was a builder. He influenced my life greatly. I thought someone wrote the song, 'I did it my way' with him in mind. He didn't tolerate fools. Once he showed up at the company I worked for (my boss was Executive V.P. and Chief Financial Officer). Dad stuck his head in the door of my office (hard hat still on his head) and said, 'You have to come see history in the making!' My boss heard him and joined us. Dad explained the most recent skyscraper being built in Houston was having the foundation poured and it was a 'floating foundation'. He went on to say all buildings in Houston will henceforth have these floating foundations. He was so excited, I looked at my boss and he said, "Let's go!' We hurried over to the boardwalk that was built around the site and got to see history! That man was in love with his work. He was GC on so many fantastic jobs I can't recall them all. He was sought out by the Federal Government to build Silos for rockets, housing projects in Arabia, atomic energy facilities, and things I wasn't allowed to hear of. He never lost his enthusiasm for his work.

Exactly....even those who lust after money are deluding themselves if they refuse to admit that it is FAKE. We may as well be trading in NFTs. They can erode our wealth by simply moving a decimal point. That’s not true wealth. The future of wealth is sanity.
Jerome Powell is on record saying he wants to see wages rolled back and is positioning the Fed to make that happen. The first reaction would be “How is that his call to make?! To determine what a man should sell his life for.” But the ugly truth is it IS his call. Because this “economy” is contrived. It’s not real. And he’s currently the one at the levers of power. Doling out the pellets to the hamsters.
There is no such thing as a free market anymore. At least not officially. True free markets are attacked and shut down by Armed Government Workers.
Why do we continue to prop up this fake system with our real efforts?

Where else but the proverbial printing press, LOL?