I confess that my most beneficial learnings came from mistakes. Ever heard: "Experience is when you recognize the mistake you made for the third time?"

I used to trust the military, when the constitutionally-
required civilian leadership was present. and I used
to trust some of the courts, until Roberts turned on
us. I used to trust the patent office, until I awoke
with the Hallings' help. there isn't much left. -- j

NIH was one of my customers. I wholesaled electrical distribution products. NIH leads the charge about lead poisoning, yet they employ thousands of feet of PILC (Paper Insulated Lead Cable) throughout their facility in Bethesda, MD. I know, because I sold it to them many times. The entire campus is contaminated with various toxins. I even saw a "sterile room" which had been used for HIV research, balled-up and sitting on their loading dock with no warnings or safe keeping. I could go on forever about them, but to stay on point, I will reiterate, ABSOLUTELY, NO! You cannot trust the government. They violate all the laws, and procedures that they force us to adhere to.

Nice to see somebody here respond to me mentioning the NIH. I have presented to the NIH. You can't trust them. I trust the mafia more.

Recently, you probably missed that a CDC PhD, Dr. Bill Thompson, came out and blew the whistle on how they fraudulently altered data in a campaign to convince the public that vaccines don't cause autism. He should know. He did the study on the MMR when the data was altered. About 7 years ago, about 5 years after Bill's adventure, I found out that vaccines were causing an epidemic of encephalitis in children (you can call it "autism"). Clearly, finding such information and then seeing those in government tasked with health covering it up did a lot to bolster my own position that the government can't be trusted. The fact that vaccination, as it's prescribed to infants per the CDC schedule, is dangerous actually isn't a secret. It is a topic whispered between pediatricians...an understood truth.

I have been annoyed by what I see as a religious dedication to any government person in a lab coat, or any department they may represent. It is clear to me that the general public, as a whole, is just one big, fat easy mark.

A couple of years ago I asked a group of people who called themselves Objectivists if they were in favor of forced vaccination. I was surprised to see that at least half were. I remain curious by that result. If you can't trust them to control our borders, fix roads in a timely manner, or prevent payola in Congress...how could you trust them with this?

"In times like these, when their fat little comforts are threatened, you may be sure that science is the first thing men will sacrifice." Dr. Stadler in Atlas Shrugged. I can't think of truer words.

I trust that they will not stop at anything at which gives them a gain at anything. They are corrupt, inept and evil. If they have a wish or a need they will create the chaos to control anything.

IIRC, Ronald Reagan (someone with whom I frequently disagree, especially with his religious bent) once said (and I'm paraphrasing); "The most chilling words ever spoken are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'".

There was a time when I trusted government to take care of the national defense. Sadly, they cause more wars than they handle, and if we do win a war, we pay the loser forever.
No, I cannot think of one thing I trust government with or to do. The members of government have become looters and parasites themselves. Where once I trusted them to defend us from foreign invasion, I now know they will serve their own power and greed above the the interests of the country. I know they want to relieve us of our property rights, lie to us about climate change, and worst, steal the hearts and minds of our children with Common Core. There really is nothing done best by government. They can't even run a post office!

They are just paying you with worthless paper. Convert it as quickly as you can!

I ask about all of the shots that I get. Most of what the government issues have too much heavy metal and I decline to take them. I purchase my own with no mercury or aluminum. Also check with NIH, to see what they have developed. Many of their so called "vaccines" are worthless and will not treat the specific strains that are currently proliferating in the environment.

My heart will eventually get over you, but then again I'm happily married too although my third time, this time 37 years so far so I think it just might work out. I have friends in NZ and Australia that are angry about their governments take on arms. These friends were issued arms back in the late 60's and sent to Vietnam where we met and now they are not allowed to have them. Now where am I going to move?

I said I trust the government to lie, didn't I? LOL
That was advertised. The sad thing is the people left the building on a drill after the first plane hit and then they were told go go back because the building was safe. To me, that is murder. Though at the level of guards and janitors it would be at the direction of a higher level administrator.

Who's to say they told you the truth about only losing 3500 in the war effort?

As long as they are 100 different mistakes, you have learned 100 new things and added greatly to your facility with life.

I can't - I'm already married (and happily so!) (Sorry!!)

While I love NZ, the firearm thing makes it not plausible for me. Sadly, Australia is even worse - they want you to register and lock up all your "simulated" (read air-soft and cap-gun) firearms, as if they were actual firearms.

To just stay out of my way. Trust is earned not forced upon all. Wink Wink.

So, then...do you trust them when they tell you that vaccines are safe?

I ask because most of my friends who consider themselves to be conservatives make an exception on this one item.

Once again...I'll explain more later.

I've got enough money. My skills are used up, retired forever, now I consume what ever I can for cash. I did forget about the last thing you mentioned, and my reply is "No Way". I've been to NZ twice, it's a fantastic place, good people, I'd go back in a minute but it's not in the cards for me right now.

Have you given any more thought to my proposal? Oh, never mind, I guess it wasn't really a proposal after all. But I do like your sense of the government.

I trust the government to:
1Shred the Constitution/ ignore the Constitution.
2Congress refuse Constitutional enumerated powers
3Refuse checks / balances extending unwarranted power to the President / Supreme Court / Government Agencies.
4 Rob me through the FED / IRS banking system
5Tax excessively because the FED stole my sovereignty when FDR made gold ownership illegal and when JFK was murdered for re-trying bi-metalism.
6 Ceaseless foreign aid gifts to foreign nations, forbidden by the Constitution.
7Prosecution of make believe wars since LBJ Great Society, War on Poverty, War on Drugs etc.
8 Prosecution of endless "hot" wars globally. Korea,Vietnam,Grenada,Desert Storm,WMD war of Iraq.
9 The murder of 3500 of my fellow Americans to provide excuse for GW Bush to invade Iraq and finish up his daddy's war.
10 Invent phony crisis like global warming and border illegal alien swamping.
11.To lie about every issue that will expose or tarnish officers due for reelection. Benghazi!
12 Enslave future generations of Tribute Slave Chattel to the Global Banking Cartel FOREVER.
YES, JA SURE, YOU BET! I TRUST MY GOVERNMENT.

I do NOT trust the government to do anything efficiently, effectively, and in the best interests of it's citizenry. But.... it ALWAYS goes back to the MONEY. Take control of our money, and we can begin to take back control of our country. Repeal the Federal Reserve Act, and restore a gold and silver standard. An ounce of gold or silver will remain constant, and will always purchase relatively the same amount throughout time. Besides, if we take the money away from the government, then where would they get jurisdiction to pry and steal?

the only thing I trust them to do is pay me for my products when they buy them from me. otherwise I can't think of anything else can you?

You are absolutely right. I just did not think straight while writing. It is rational self-interest that I had in mind.
Thank you for pointing out my mistake. I actually call it a good day when I make less than 100 of them.

Because even small government attracts the incompetent and the irreputable we will never have a system without them. There are certain things that we must rely upon government to provide and these are well identified in our constitution; Creation of fighting forces, police, laws and courts and the establishment of reliable currency would be on the list. But even in these few areas of responsibility it is dangerous to trust that government will remain faithful to the task. Governments and especially politicians bear constant watching by a wary populace simply because of the intoxicating influence of political office and the power derived therefrom. I think it was George Washington that said "Government like fire is a dangerous servant and fearsome master".

Please do not confuse "Selfish", with "Rational Self Interest". I do not recall Rand ever talking about selfish (self-interest) without using the word rational somewhere in context., she used the term "Rational Self Interest", there is a HUGE difference.
<Mirriam-Wesbster>
Selfish
1: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others
2: arising from concern with one's own welfare or advantage in disregard of others &amp;amp;lt;a selfish act&amp;amp;gt;


Now lets look at "Rational Self-Interest". This indicates and has been described as a long term strategy. Example: If I run an auto repair shop and am totally selfish, my customers will very quickly learn I do not care about the quality of the work only the profit I can extract. In short order I will not have any customers and this would not be in my "Rational Self-Interest" especially since I might bet prosecuted for negligence in the event of an accident due to the poor quality of work.

If I were "Rationally Self-Interested" I would charge what I could, provide a quality job, to satisfy the customer to generate more business. Am I being Selfish? No. Do I have my personal Self-Interest in first place yes? Is the customer happy? Yes. Let's look at it from the customer. Rational Self-Interest" I take my car to the most reputable shop, pay a higher price maybe, but I am assured I am getting the best my money can buy. Am I happy with the cost, maybe not, but my "Rational Self-Interest" from the consumer side dictates that in the end I will not have to bring my car back in for the same repair and I am now driving a safe vehicle.

"Rational Self-Interest" is not now nor ever predatory in nature, or "Selfish" in the sense the word is being used, nor is it altruistic where one is "sacrificing" ones self for the perceived "greater good."
If we wanted to take this "Rational Self-Interest" to its most extreme level, let's look at Jesus and his death.
Biblical Facts:
1)Jesus had to die to "cover human sins"
2)Jesus, suffered greatly prior to his death
3)Jesus did not want to die, but said, "let not my will but yours take place."
4)God and Jesus loved the world greatly and to the point "God gave his only begotten son."

"Rational Self-Interest"
1)Jesus would be placed at the right hand of God and his name would be elevated above all others.
2)Humans would have the opportunity to live forever
3)Jesus and his "Kings and Priests" would rule to time indefinite.

Now I could go into the result has Jesus decided not to die, but the point is "Rational Self-Interest" is not selfish in nature, one benefits in the end from rational self-interest. Jesus knew way ahead of time what would happen during his time on earth, he also knew ahead of time if he failed, or did not complete his mission. The altruism would have meant that in the end Jesus would have received no reward, no benefit from the suffering he received. Job new God, God's punishments and rewards, and new if he remained faithful he would be rewarded even when all his friends said CURSE GOD and DIE.
From what I can see, looking at this all factually is that "Rational Self-Interest" is a very biblical principal in the context Ayn Rand dcescribes.