From the article: “Oh you want to be Communist? Wonderful! You go ahead and enjoy that, and give us a call in 20 years once you’re totally impoverished…” This quote deserves to be a viral YouTube video.
I miss fellow believer Robbie, but he got mad over CircuitGuy being allowed to stick around. He told me so himself. Me? I value different opinions. It's called freedom of speech.
hey allosaur, he was banned because he basically wigged out on Scott. I miss him too. enjoyed his offerings. he and db clashed HUGE though. that, however, was not his issue with scott. scott loves all of us. it's only when we go batshit. and even then, you likely get a phone call first. be well :)
He told me he was leaving because CircuitGuy was allowed to stick around. I didn't know the rest of the story. Someone tell me who says that~ "Now you know the rest of the story." Old Dino don't know everything. I recently bought two books to go figure what pragmatism was all about.
"CircuitGuy being allowed to stick around." You keep mentioning my screen-name. I remember Robbie. He was nasty to me. He lives near me but would not come by and talk like that to my face. He clearly disagreed with me on most things, but I'm not sure if he was nasty for that reason or just because he liked to be nasty. I think some people just like to be nasty, and policy and philosophy discussions are their vehicles to do that.
I've openly disagreed with you before. I'd do it to your face. And remain civilized! I'd even argue with you over beers but not at the White House. That's the home off a guy I really can't stand. Some have been nasty to me here too.
Well, you still show up once in a while. And your postings are still drawing large #'s of replies and are still interesting me--but yeah, I miss the old k. ;)
Where did you come up with that? Do we need a little 'whine' with our cheese today? LOL
I would stomp a mudhole in anyone that tried to call you stupid. ;)) But a little of the SNAP, SNAP used to provide fun and old man giggles to my days.
My wife comments that one of the clues of the coming end of the soviet union came when there was a rare interview with Gorbachev. The clue was that his secretary was proudly wearing a pair of blue jeans -- something that was running about a month's salary if I remember correctly.
Capitalism wins. Except on college campuses of course where it is considered hate speech.
Probably from the suitcase economy Poland was famous for but I fondly recall the merchant grain ships and taking duffle bag loads of jeans to St. Pete, Odessa, and Vladivostok. For a good read on what Shipley and wife witnessed find Moscow Casino by Brezezinski, Matthew.
"Rather than fight the war, the US government would have been a lot better off saying, Oh you want to be Communist? Wonderful! You go ahead an enjoy that, and give us a call in 20 years once you’re totally impoverished…" I agree. This applies to the American Civil War and Islamism too.
Actually, it would have been disastrous for the US in the civil war. England was supporting the South because they saw an opportunity in a Southern victory to conquer American during its division. That was one of the reasons the North engaged France - to keep the British honest.
And with all due respect, the problem with Islam won't be solved by capitalism either. They've had oil for sixty years now and it hasn't changed them. They have a dangerous mindset which not only condones but encourages enforcement of their ideas even by non-recognized entities, i.e. terrorists like the Orlando guy. Islam isn't a communist mindset - it is it's own category altogether. Remember, Afghanistan once belonged to Russia...
With the example of Viet Nam and all the myriad examples of socialistic failure, you'd think that would be a wake-up call to lefties. But, no soap. They remain asleep or with their heads in the clouds (or in the sand). So, will you miss me when I'm gone? "I hear de angels voices callin'..." an excerpt from the now politically incorrect song "Old Black Joe." The best way to remember those gone is to keep Objectivism going. It is one of the few hopes, perhaps even the only one, that will maintain civilization.
Hello khalling, Good article. It is always reassuring to read something optimistic. Of course the market and human nature eventually win out. It is only a question of how long and why we must suffer as history repeats, since so many are ignorant and insist on repeating it. Western society is still under too much influence from the likes of Plato and Kant.
I care. I am still observing and commenting occasionally, but I admit I have not been producing as I once did. I do miss many of our old friends. Regards, O.A.
When one combines the book “War Is A Lie” by Swanson and “On Killing” by Grossman, the terrible cost of war in terms of human loss, not only death but the lifetime physical and psychological effects suffered by the surviving soldiers and their families makes me turn off the news in disgust every time I see a “military expert” on the news saying we need more war.
Ayn Rand was correct when she said evil dies of its own weight. Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam are but three examples.
I know how to make a comment into a "Best Of". How does one make a discussion into a "Best Of"? This article epitomizes the values of Objectivism and why we are here in this forum!
Good article. And history shows the error in trying to combat ideas with bombs. All that does is build their organism's immune system for stronger resistance. We should leave them alone to harvest their own consequences while setting them a good example of peaceful trade as the best road to happiness and prosperity. They'll come around sooner.
I don't consider weapons and articles of war as suitable goods for trade. Beyond for our own self-defense, I'd like to see our arms manufacturers retool for civilian production. Swords into plowshares.
hey lady. haven't heard from you lately. missing your comments. shared my puzzle with a six yr old yesterday. he nailed the thing in like maybe 10 minutes. he loved the colors.
Thanks, K. It's remarkable, actually, for a 6-year-old to stick with a puzzle for 10 minutes, or even longer. My puzzles have that effect of building persistence and holding interest. Check the booklet for further challenges.
Oh, I've been commenting occasionally, with longish rants. Others may come and go. I'm always here. With being on the road a lot, I often come in at the end. Does your forum allow accessing just one writer's input? Then you could find any of mine you may have missed.
Vietnam was my war...some of those unexploded bombs could be my fellow Air Force pilots...although everyone from my pilot training class who went to Vietnam were killed...years later i was hired by American Airlines, was flying on company business in 1st and was seated next to Henry Kissinger...we talked...he talked about to the U.S. govt determination to kill as many American g.i.s as the communists were determined to send Vietnamese to their deaths...
last year i worked part time at CarMax...got a call from Hanoi to buy a RangeRover....we both profited from the transaction...
Very interesting idea- let them go communist. The only problem is that Russia could snap up whatever wealth is there for its own nefarious purposes and then bomb us. That part isnt great either.
Develop star wars so we are protected , and then let the socialists go for it and fail like in Venezuela.
Really, communism isn't really distribution of wealth. It's elitism and oligarchy. The Soviet Union at its height was all about elitism with the Politburo and the KGB/GRU enforcers. Communist nations love to see other nations collapse - especially when those nations are resource rich - because it gives them a chance to step in under the guise of friendship and offer help - in exchange for rights to those resources.
I remember how shocked I was that Russia collapsed so quickly, and how it really was hollow. I had expected that at least they believed the commune thing- only to find out it was oligarchy and rule by the powerful. Very disappointing that all those years we were fighting a system which was internally hollow.
It was the meme of the paradigm at the time. It's easy now as our vision looking back with 20/20 eyes. It's history now and we should learn from it. I am surprised to learn that they have.
But have we?
You can lead a people, a country or a government to prosperity and freedom but you can not Make them drink. Everyone grows at their own pace. Our battles today, are for the Minds of Men, no proper example will do, no drug will do the trick and no trick will wake them up...they simply need to be uncomfortable in their ignorance.
"how many gulchers are gone?" There are plenty of people left to tell us you shouldn't post about capitalism winning because unless you're talking about how miserable things are in the world, you're an apologist of the world's evils.
Things are better than ever for humankind. Capitalism and reason deliver the goods.
He told me so himself.
Me? I value different opinions.
It's called freedom of speech.
I didn't know the rest of the story.
Someone tell me who says that~
"Now you know the rest of the story."
Old Dino don't know everything.
I recently bought two books to go figure what pragmatism was all about.
You keep mentioning my screen-name. I remember Robbie. He was nasty to me. He lives near me but would not come by and talk like that to my face. He clearly disagreed with me on most things, but I'm not sure if he was nasty for that reason or just because he liked to be nasty. I think some people just like to be nasty, and policy and philosophy discussions are their vehicles to do that.
I'd do it to your face. And remain civilized!
I'd even argue with you over beers but not at the White House.
That's the home off a guy I really can't stand.
Some have been nasty to me here too.
Thank you. It would truly be boring and counter-productive to live in a group-think bubble. :)
I would stomp a mudhole in anyone that tried to call you stupid. ;)) But a little of the SNAP, SNAP used to provide fun and old man giggles to my days.
Enjoyed the article k!
Capitalism wins. Except on college campuses of course where it is considered hate speech.
I agree. This applies to the American Civil War and Islamism too.
And with all due respect, the problem with Islam won't be solved by capitalism either. They've had oil for sixty years now and it hasn't changed them. They have a dangerous mindset which not only condones but encourages enforcement of their ideas even by non-recognized entities, i.e. terrorists like the Orlando guy. Islam isn't a communist mindset - it is it's own category altogether. Remember, Afghanistan once belonged to Russia...
Tell that to Hitlery and she'll just cackle and call the IRS like her hubby used to do.
So, will you miss me when I'm gone?
"I hear de angels voices callin'..." an excerpt from the now politically incorrect song "Old Black Joe."
The best way to remember those gone is to keep Objectivism going. It is one of the few hopes, perhaps even the only one, that will maintain civilization.
Good article. It is always reassuring to read something optimistic. Of course the market and human nature eventually win out. It is only a question of how long and why we must suffer as history repeats, since so many are ignorant and insist on repeating it.
Western society is still under too much influence from the likes of Plato and Kant.
I care. I am still observing and commenting occasionally, but I admit I have not been producing as I once did. I do miss many of our old friends.
Regards,
O.A.
Ayn Rand was correct when she said evil dies of its own weight. Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam are but three examples.
I don't consider weapons and articles of war as suitable goods for trade. Beyond for our own self-defense, I'd like to see our arms manufacturers retool for civilian production. Swords into plowshares.
Oh, I've been commenting occasionally, with longish rants. Others may come and go. I'm always here. With being on the road a lot, I often come in at the end. Does your forum allow accessing just one writer's input? Then you could find any of mine you may have missed.
See you in Las Vegas.
last year i worked part time at CarMax...got a call from Hanoi to buy a RangeRover....we both profited from the transaction...
Develop star wars so we are protected , and then let the socialists go for it and fail like in Venezuela.
Really, communism isn't really distribution of wealth. It's elitism and oligarchy. The Soviet Union at its height was all about elitism with the Politburo and the KGB/GRU enforcers. Communist nations love to see other nations collapse - especially when those nations are resource rich - because it gives them a chance to step in under the guise of friendship and offer help - in exchange for rights to those resources.
But have we?
You can lead a people, a country or a government to prosperity and freedom but you can not Make them drink. Everyone grows at their own pace.
Our battles today, are for the Minds of Men, no proper example will do, no drug will do the trick and no trick will wake them up...they simply need to be uncomfortable in their ignorance.
I guess that includes US as well.
There are plenty of people left to tell us you shouldn't post about capitalism winning because unless you're talking about how miserable things are in the world, you're an apologist of the world's evils.
Things are better than ever for humankind. Capitalism and reason deliver the goods.