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An article I wrote for NeoThink newsletter

Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 3 years, 11 months ago to News
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Collectivism vs Individualism in the age of pandemic panic.

“A “collective” mind does not exist. It is merely the sum of endless numbers of individual minds. If we have an endless number of individual minds who are weak, meek, submissive and impotent – who renounce their creative supremacy for the sake of the “whole” and accept humbly that the “whole’s” verdict – we don’t get a collective super-brain. We get only the weak, meek, submissive and impotent collective mind.”
― Ayn Rand, The Journals of Ayn Rand

As the pandemic changes, largely by government force, the way we live our lives now and possibly into the future I am amazed at the people who are willing to give up not only their freedoms, but those of future generations.

The government has made edicts, imposed or threatened to impose fines and penalties on citizens and businesses they deem non-essential and closed down commerce world-wide all in the name of keeping us safe. But can it be enforced without the peoples cooperation? If non-essential businesses say enough is enough and open despite state or local proclamations, what will ‘they’ do? What if the people decide to start patronizing their favorite restaurant and sit at a table within a few feet of another table? Go to the local mom and pop shoe store? Stop going to Walmart, Costco, Target etc., and instead shop only at the locally owned small businesses? Go out in public without wearing a mask? What can ‘they’ do? How many fines and penalties can be imposed, and will the prosecutors even prosecute so many business owners and patrons? If people stand up and defy the orders the system could be overwhelmed, unlike the hospitals which, except for a few in high density urban areas were not. Civil rights lawyers could have a field day.


The thing that alarms me the most is our fellow citizens that are turning in neighbors for not wearing masks, or playing ball in the park with their kids, or paddle boarding by themselves in the ocean without government permission. When did we become a nation of tattletales and scaredy cats? A nation of collectivist? As Ayn Rand stated, collectivism holds that individuals have no rights and man must be chained to the group action and thought for ‘the common good’. Only, the idea of a “common good” is a myth. It always boils down to the good of some individuals at the expense of others. Collectivism is built on a lie. Does the government, or my neighbor know what is better for me and my physical and financial health than I do? The answer is no. I have a right to make my own choices, just as you have a right to make your own. Want to wear a mask, do it. Don’t want to, then don’t. Your choice. My choice. Not the government’s or my neighbor’s business or choice.

I agree that the vulnerable in our society should be protected, but not at the expense of making the rest of us vulnerable to financial destitution.

I agree with Ayn Rand; “An individualist is a man who says: “I will not run anyone’s life—nor let anyone run mine. I will not rule nor be ruled. I will not be a master nor a slave. I will not sacrifice myself to anyone—nor sacrifice anyone to myself.”

Are you a thinking individual or a non-thinking collectivist? Choose well.


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  • Posted by edweaver 3 years, 11 months ago
    Fantastic article! The vulnerable in our society should protect themselves, not be protected. That's my only argument. Ayn Rand's quote fits me well. In addition to this one. I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine. Good to hear from you pirate!
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  • Posted by $ 25n56il4 3 years, 11 months ago
    I find it interesting to see the fear showing on people when I shop in my local grocery stores. They are wearing masks and distancing from others. It is really sad to see.
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    • Posted by $ 25n56il4 3 years, 11 months ago
      Unfortunately their little masks won't protect them from anything. In my dental clinic when we had a patient that had a prior history of something fearful, I had my dentists double-glove, mask, put on a hygienists head/face shield and gown. Unfortunately these folks who are gloving a masking don't even know how to remove same safely.
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      • Posted by $ 3 years, 11 months ago
        I had to go to the lab in my local hospital 2 weeks ago. I was required to wear a mask, they wiped down the counter between the patient before me and presumable after me. They were all wearing masks, yet gave me the pen the patient before me used without cleaning it. Saturday I went thru a drive-thru, the girl wearing gloves, made my drink, gave it to me, took my credit card, handed it back on the clipboard to be signed, and again, no clean pen nor did she change her gloves. Smoke and mirrors.
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        • Posted by Mamaemma 3 years, 11 months ago
          Smoke and mirrors. It’s sad and kind of funny to see people using masks and gloves incorrectly, which no idea of infection control. Driving alone in the car with a mask on! And the personnel at the grocery store have become rude. Stand behind that line! But there’s no one in front of me. Stand behind that line!! The whole world has gone crazy. I’m sorry that Trump took the advice of the people who were considered “experts”.
          Most important, it’s great to hear from you, Pirate!
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  • Posted by preimert1 3 years, 11 months ago
    Pirate! Glad to see you're still around--and feisty as ever. Your article made my day. I envision you as an "Unsinkable Molly Brown" person that we need a lot more of.
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  • Posted by mia767ca 3 years, 11 months ago
    your article would be strengthened by pointing to alternatives to mitigation such as Taiwan, Iceland, Sweden, and Singapore which went with the "herd immunity" approach...and the fact that the mitigation approach was based on a British model that was 96% inaccurate...

    loved your article...
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  • Posted by $ blarman 3 years, 11 months ago
    I liked the definition: we don't have a collective mind, just a whole bunch of weak minds who allow themselves to be controlled by one strong one.
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  • Posted by rhfinle 3 years, 11 months ago
    When I was a kid, the most horrible thing I heard about the Soviet system was that kids would sometimes turn in their parents if they heard them saying things that didn't toe the party line.
    By the time I was in college, I heard of kids in the US turning in their parents for smoking pot. I realized at that time (early 1980's) how much of a police state the US has become. the neighbor tattling you refer to is just more of the same. There is a prevailing attitude among liberals that the government is somehow higher, more 'right' and more all-knowing than individuals, companies, churches and even families, and it sets a very dangerous precedent.
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  • Posted by $ Stormi 3 years, 11 months ago
    This also was apparent in Mike DeWine's new conference yesterday. He kept defending the need for masks, as what we needed to do for the other person. It was something Amy said we had to get used to. Really, who says, but two collectivists.
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  • Posted by Owlsrayne 3 years, 11 months ago
    This whole shut down has become a Field of Irresponsibility, quite a few of us older citizens are wearing masks when we go to the the supermarket and hardware store. Unfortunately, living in a resort area there are still visitors who don't wear masks and give strange stares to those of us who do. Due to the heat this city had an inundation of young daytrippers parking illegally and hiking into closed state park areas in large crowds. When my wife came though that area on the way home from work, the same situation persisted. Illegal parking in the road way and crowds of people hiking into and out of closed areas. I wonder what happened to the Park Service Rangers? These day trippers don't seem to care about the community they're infringing on and not realizing a good portion of the people living here are retired 65+ years old.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 3 years, 11 months ago
    Didn't know anyone here was a Neothink[er] like myself.
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    • Posted by UncleAlbert 3 years, 11 months ago
      Yeah, me neither, Olduglycarl...I own several manuscripts from Mark Hamilton but have so far hesitated on ordering any more or taking the plunge into full-on memberships...
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      • Posted by $ 3 years, 11 months ago
        Do you guys get on the Sunday night calls? I'm usually on. Sometimes on the Thursday call also. We do need to spread the word more. I'm also on the reach out list.
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        • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 3 years, 11 months ago
          I am a bit up the latter...been a member for 20 years and now on my own journey expanding the knowledge and applications.

          I am the author of "The Fight for Conscious Human Life", Although it was my first book and not perfect,.. it all came from deeper insights into Mark's work. My next book will be worthy. "Conscience, Those That Have and Those That Have Not."

          I thank him in the beginning of the book and later give an expanded and proper definition to "Wide Scope Accountability".

          Do either of you guys remember or heard of: The late Steve Fagan?
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          • Posted by $ 3 years, 11 months ago
            I have heard of Steve. Charlie Moore mentions him every once in awhile. The get together last month in San Diego was rescheduled for Sept I believe.
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            • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 3 years, 11 months ago
              Did you guys have the opportunity to be personally mentored by Mark?
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              • Posted by $ 3 years, 11 months ago
                No, despite what his letters say. I get the impression Charlie Moore is running the show, but I could be wrong. Mark wasn't even going to show up at the event in San Diego, just write a letter to be read there was my take. The 12 Visions will never take off without more participation, and it may be to late now.
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                • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 3 years, 11 months ago
                  Shame, it was a tremendous experience...we had extraordinary conversations...at a time when I didn't even know I was capable of that!
                  At one time, we thought and observed that the 12 visions party really had a shot...I think the electorate is far too gone to comprehend these days.
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          • Posted by UncleAlbert 3 years, 11 months ago
            No, I do not recall Steve Fagan...a little more background would be helpful...I am young enough at age 69 to have probably seen him mentioned somewhere though...
            rockymountainpirate:
            Thanking you for that article
            Are you referring to NeoThink Conf. calls?
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            • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 3 years, 11 months ago
              He worked with/for Mark in the beginning of Neothink going public and maybe before that.

              Being from the East Coast, he was at many of our meetings...quite a talker and quite a guy.

              PS...I'm 68 and even though I seem to have my health and still do a lot of physical work around the house; working at a Hospice Hospital as an off shift engineer...being old... SUCKS!
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