That's just a depressing question.

Good point Random. Watching how well Bernie Sanders is doing makes me wonder if we really can change enough minds to win. A flaw in my thinking perhaps.

I would hope longer but you may be right. Of we started teaching the proper philosophy at an early age then it may last longer.

Excellent points. If they had control of the educational system that would help immensely.

Doesn't saying that it will go back to the way it was mean that you accept the malevolent universe premise?

Rich, I've been traveling today, and now I can finally give you my answer!
In the ordinary turn of events, I think society would devolve steadily, probably being where we are today in 50 to 100 years.
EXCEPT: when John Galt and his compatriots returned to the world, they had made enormous sacrifices in order to join the Strike. They also had a complete understanding of philosophy and the principles of "life". So I think they would do absolutely everything, from rewriting the constitution, as The Judge was doing, to shaping the laws and the culture to prevent the ascendancy of collectivism. I think it would be possible for them to prevent our country from being destroyed again. I believe they would have the intelligence and strength of will to do so, and when they came back to the world they would be in control.

2, maybe 3 generations maximum. Then the unearned guilt is embraced again.

Sorry, but I already shrugged from that fight.

That was hard to watch.

And these people are considered educated.

" There was a time that the entire world did not have 2200 scientists -- or even 2200 literate people."
Thank you!! Why do Ayn Rand fans so often get caught up in how crappy things are? Some people take it the extreme and say things are so bad that a collapse of society is coming due to poverty and oppression. The notion is absurd in such prosperous and free times. People react to this claim as if we're condoning the gov't oppression that exists today. It's as if admitting incidents of rape and murder and gone way down makes us rapists or murders.

"you can still make a good living shoeing horses because today, they are a pastime for rich people"
Yes. Lightbulbs did that to candles/lanterns.

I think this is a pivotal time when technology is rapidly shaking up the world economy, sort of like what the industrial revolution or European mercantilism did. This could cause some sort of socialist backlash. But I agree with what you're saying that the moral arc of history bends away from that.

Excellent point. We have a hell of a fight ahead of us.

Did any other countries follow before? Not really. Mooching and looting are diseases of the mind, philosophically.

Infections...I like that. I doubt that the current crop of moochers and looters would change their thinking. They would just wait patiently for their next chance. If we embraced Freedom again would any other countries follow? The U.N. would be a huge obstacle.

Yes. We also have to remove the constant state of war.

Yes.

can we remove selective service requirements???

Not very long. Things happen so quickly now because of the Internet. Moreover, moochers and looters reproduce like bacterial infections, whereas producers reproduce like ... humans.

Can we raise the voting age???