Captain,
I agree with all you say and as Objectivists, we must realize there is no John Galt and the culture is moved by the binary choice in elections. While we all agree with the three essays DriveTrain suggests, they remain essential principles. Unfortunately, many Objectivists went down the anti-Trump rabbit hole early on, without full knowledge, context, or proper assessment of the existing evils of the bureaucratic state, and climbed to hide in the “ivory tower.” Rand always said her philosophy was made for living in the real world and a more apropos essay is, “The New Fascism: Rule by Consensus” demonstrating the effects of not applying the proper fundamentals. This is the real world of a mixed quasi-Fascist system that we devolved to. Any leader must play the cards they’re dealt, accept the given, and navigate through the many layers of unidentified malevolence that have become embedded over the last century.

There is one crucial hierarchical principle that many anti-Trump Objectivists failed to integrate. Rand continually wrote that America will never alter its “destined destruction” until she changes its underlying ethics of altruism. The “America First” platform moves us towards that end, objectively identifying the historically misguided altruistic policies, foreign and domestic. It has been mislabeled by many as a blind nationalistic “America right or wrong” mentality, but I have not seen any evidence of that.

Now that Trump is out of office, the divided country is being led very quickly by a small group of vocal radicals away from the TDS of the last 6 years where anything Trump is “evil” and anything anti-Trump is “good,” shifting to a pro or anti America stance. Just look at the daily headlines. Their goal is to undermine our great country’s founding principles, rugged individualism, innovative creativity, and its general sense of life. This is the vital issue that needs to be identified and condemned with proper moral renunciation, as all the specific policy banter is secondary.

Remnants of “Operation Paperclip”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHs5M...

The good fight is happening all across the country.

The election audits and the tightening of election laws is the first order of business. It is happening.
Well over a dozen state legislators went to observe the AZ forensic audit.

If we don’t have fair elections we don’t have a country.

Trump knows this and the people are proving the fraud.....optics are important when the MSM is in the enemies back pocket. Trump has taken all the correct and legal paths and will be replacing Biden before this year is done, buckle up it will be a wild ride as the demons won’t go with out false flags and other shenanigans.

I agree with Mccannon01, Trump has been low-key more than usual. It seems that there is an underground movement in regards to Trump and associates plus the people who voted for him. The swamp had also put considerable resistance to Trumps administration I read an article that Pompeo came out stating that State Department employees constantly worked against him. Maybe, that's what was happening during Trump's last month in office. The swamp slowed down the wheels of government to push him out.

Agreed, far too many people we're desperate for hope and took the first thing that looked promising. I grew up in NY seeing Trump at pretty much every event. He was the toast of the town. When people began championing him as a conservative I cringed. At best Trump is a pro-business NY moderate who seeks every opportunity to profit. I do believe a rising tide lifts all boats so his desire to profit doesn't really bother me. Still, how he profits (Jab?), and I'm not entirely sure he did directly or indirectly, is very disturbing.

Time will tell if my suspicions are correct or not. As of now we are way worse of as a country and Trump left the card table without turning over his cards with a Royal Flush, why?

The damage being done to this country is too severe and in too many foundational ways to sit and wait for all the players to reveal themselves.To simply walk away raises suspicion for someone who loved hugging the flag as a photo-op.

My 2 bits.

I never thought he was a conservative, just that many thought he was.

Maybe they got the message that they're as good as dead if they do those things. But, that's just a guess.

And, you're saying he should have stood his ground and fought? I understand. I think it's too late for that now. America will collapse probably in my lifetime. It may not be an overnight collapse but it certainly seems to be quickening. I don't think anybody will fight the good fight anymore...other than perhaps a few isolated militias who will fight once the fight comes to them.

Thank you, AJ. In my case I started out as a conservative and refined that worldview into objectivism later - primarily because once I stumbled onto Rand's work I was unable (and still am,) to refute any major point she proposed. As an objectivist I absolutely refuse to flop into blind bandwagon mode on any given politician, as so many Trump supporters have. Actually it doesn't really even get to the point of refusal - the very idea should be considered immature and silly by any thinking person who presumes to be a conscientious voter. These presidential politicians expect us to support them as holders of a political office upon which our lives literally depend. To just kick back, hoist a brewski and shout an unthinking, uncritical, fratboy-macho "Hell yeah!" at the mere mention of a politician's name, is not conscientious voting - or conscientious anything. And just don't get me started with the cheap-shot "derogatory name-inventions" like "Buy-dem" or "Repugnicans" or any of that juvenility. (IOW, we need orders-of-magnitude better quality in the way of persuasive arguments than Beavis/Butthead ad hominems.)

So as an objectivist I've been hammering away all along, like from the moment Trump bellyflopped right smack into the middle of what had been the single best lineup of "Reagan Republicans" to show up on a GOP primary roster since... well 1984, on the idea that we must hold his feet to the fire - the fire of principle. Because Trump seems oblivious to the entire breadth, length and depth of Republican principle. I keep thinking I'd give anything just to take him - or any politician who aspires to the GOP Presidential nomination - and sit him down at a desk with a minimum of three of Rand's essays: "Man's Rights," "The Nature of Government," and "Collectivized Rights." Carry those ideas around in your head with full, cognizant understanding and recall, and you'd be maybe the best politician anybody could ask for. Absent those ideas.... not so much.

I will grant to Trump credit for having done a lot of worthwhile things while in office. But he also did a whole lot of foolish things, and more egregiously, as AJ points out he failed to do a number of crucial things that absolutely needed to be done, like at least two decades ago (no thanks to GWB, yet another "placeholder at best.")

IMO America hasn't had a President worthy of the office since 1988. And 33 years is a long-arse time for the ostensible leader of the semi-free world to bump along with an empty Presidency.

We need better than Bush, better than Dole, better than Bush II, better than McCain, better than Romney, better than Trump.

So, we are to judge a president by how fast the deep state undoes their strides?

NO! We must judge him EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. By how GUNG HO the Deep State is to UNDO EVERYTHING He did.

We had ONE President, who in ONE Term:
- Stopped the Wars
- Brought Troops Home (while being lied to about Deployment)
- Exposed the Congress, Senate, And others of their Money Laundering Schemes
- Closed the borders
- Pointed out who the enemy was (Not Russia, but China)
- Started making other countries pay their fair share
- Made us ENERGY INDEPENDENT
- Drop the price of oil, while the economy was ROCKING
- BROKE ISIS
- Won re-election, only to DEMONSTRATE the crooked/corrupted lawyers and judges who could care not about our constitution.
- And did these things WITHIN the confines of the LAW, and while being resisted EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

And the next Faux-ident Biden, was reversing these things day 1.

He was NOT PERFECT! But he WAS the Best President EVER. Especially in these times!
Personally, I feel I could do a better job than MOST of our past Presidents. I do NOT think I could have outdone this guy!

=======

Yes. we are better off... Because we FINALLY KNOW THY ENEMY!
Our Great Country has gone Sour!

HCQ is a great example of WHY Trump had to back off.

Once he was for it. STATES BANNED IT. Doctors were attacked for supporting it. It becomes untenable, after a while, to watch people denied life saving drugs because of PURE GREED.

What could he have done?

I can't fault him for not doing enough. He did MORE in the right direction than ANY OTHER PRESIDENT in my life time!!!

WOW! I've not yet read the responses, but I think you NAILED IT! I think Trump entered a game where ALL the other players cheated collaboratively and didn't have a clue how to manage it. He was in over his head from the gitgo :-( Those of us who voted for him hoped he had a plan, but it turns out he didn't!

Newsflash Chad, Trump was never a conservative. Thinking he was and is an outright lie. I parted with the Tea Party over that statement. I be lost people because of the BS hype they applied to him, in some ways lying.

A Republic needs to be restored. Even now obhave to wonder if the character of contemporary society could fathom or handle it. We've had problem differment and acquiesce educated into our children in spite of the efforts of those of us who knewe better and tried to prevent it.

The only difference between the two controlling parties is the lie they will tell you to get your vote to acquire the office.
I have pointed this out before to the chagrin of those who believe that a 'conservative' would not do this and were conned by someone who pretends to be on their side. Don't refuse to challenge cognitive dissonance you may hold compare it to reality.
If Trump was playing 3D chess he was playing against those that believed in him.
Some of the principles he claimed while running for office; Get rid of Obamacare, build a wall on the southern border, prosecute the Clintons. After being elected and before being sworn in he was interviewed by Leslie Stahl of 60 minutes. She asked him if he were going to get rid of the ACA? He replied no, there were some good things in it. Was he going to build a wall? No, a fence is good enough in some places. Would he prosecute the Clintons? No, they were really good people.
It doesn't matter which party is in office. The country will always move toward statism.
On March 13, 2020 Trump signed an executive order implementing the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act, the executive order also gave the states billions of dollars to enforce the plan. Read the MSEHPA. It outlines what all of the governors did to enforce the lockdown and they had the resources to enforce it because of Trump. While the governors enforced it at different levels they all enforced it. Comparing the difference of enforcement and declaring that one is better than the other is akin to choosing a serial killer to be in your neighborhood. Which is better? Does it matter?
When Trumps failures are pointed out the 'conservatives' who support him point out that it wasn't his fault that he really tried and he truly cared. I got the same excuse from my communist daughter who voted for Barracula because he was going to stop the war and bring home the troops by March (of the first year of his first term). I told her he would never do it. When I pointed out that he didn't, that he expanded the number of troops, killed the leader of Libya (who was a criminal, but I digress), made it possible for Saudi Arabia to attack Yemen by providing air to air refueling her reply was; "I know, I was disappointed in that!" So What!
No matter who you vote for the wars continue and the country moves to statism.
Some conservative talk show hosts amuse me when they cry out that if we're not careful America is will become a socialist country! America is a country that put its people on house arrest, failed to prevent rioters from destroying property and murdering while arresting moms who took their children to 'closed' parks or an individual man while walking alone on the beach. Most businesses were closed, then allowed to open under specific guidelines of how many customers they could have, where they had to stand, what they had to wear. People may hold the title to their businesses and lives but if the government can dictate if you can work, support yourself, seek entertainment, enjoy religious affiliation only at the discretion of the government Gestapo, you are free in name only, you are communists!
The form of enslavement may be different between two competing dictators slavery is ensured.
One son-in-law pointed out that Trump complained about some governors going too far. That he stood up to the Davos crowd by proudly proclaiming that America would never be a socialist country! This proved he really did want to 'drain the swamp' and do what was right. All he had to do was issue a new Executive order dismantling the enforcement of the MSEHPA, rescinding the funds to the states for its enforcement. He didn't.
I have had only one person take the challenge to find and read MSEHPA to understand who implemented it, the excuse, that it still wasn't Trump's fault because he was depending on his staff to let him know and he truly wanted to do the right thing. Whether he is incompetent or complicit is irrelevant, the country was still destroyed. I had read the order and knew what it meant and what the results would be if declared law.
Yes, Buyden is open about his plans to move the country to totalitarianism and Trump was coy and pretended not to.
The Constitution of the United States was a contract binding the government, not the citizens. Read it with this in mind. Then find one president who did not abrogate it when it benefited him personally or at the least changed its meaning to define what rights would be left for the individuals to have of their own free will.
I am not saying there is no hope or way to be free. I am saying it is not where you are trying to find it. This is a socialist country. The people are bound by a million threads and undoing one of them is not helpful nor does it indicate a new dawn and a change of direction that can lead to freedom.

I joined the USAF during the JFK administration. After his assassination, my country went into a socialist downturn that has now increased to unstoppable destruction. I wish there was some authority to force those that do not honor their oath to the Constitution out of government.

the final question should have been:

WERE YOU BETTER OFF BEFORE BIDEN?

Now considering O'Biden's face. There's something missing behind those eyes.

Yes!

As if we didn't have so obvious a Clown-In-Chief right now.
There's a big difference between carnival clowns and Deep State clowns.
The image of Schumer's Star Wars villain for a face suddenly comes to mind.

My Doctor is involved in the research of the COVID-19. In the beginning, he was very negative towards the government/Fauchi and in favor of hydroxychloroquine. Later he just shut up--made us wear the mask in the office. A new Doctor I am seeing is very critical of the entire COVID-19 operation.

Trump would have to have been as blind as Ray Charles to not see his own party was clearly on the dark side. He was and remains one mortal man with very few loyal party members. He has been stabbed in the back more times than a voodoo doll and mostly by those who claim to be his friends and close associates.
If he ever does run again and wins back his seat in OUR WH, I would hope to hell he rolls in and fires every damn one of the department and agency heads including his DOJ, FBI, CIA and so many others who are lying bastards. We have to help as much as possible and get rid of the McConnells, Romneys, Murkowski's, Collins and so many other backstabbing creeps. 75 million American patriots must stand up and beat back the socialist, communists we are supporting.

I have had all of the exact same thoughts about our situation since Trump. Maybe history (?) will explain his actions.

AJn lot fo this is all part of the plan, one forensic audit done that shows the fraud, in n open and fair way, will be the start of every state doing it. Thats why they all went there last week to see how it is done. I am impatient to get rid of the evil creatures that took over, but I also see why it has to be done for the latest 2 generations to get it through their heads that the leaders they believed in were nazi style goons. Again, lots going on in the background,and lots never revealed to us that was there a long time. Its all in play. Just need to weigh evidence and see how much is consistent, The DUMB statements and the earthquakes all do seem to be proof something is happening, since it is impossible to have had those happen naturally, so I have that one small bit of real fact to hang on to. Meantime, prepare, if they are right, we will see a shutdown of all comms and internet soon, so no food, no gas not nothing, so get an emergency stock now, it never hurts to be prepared.

I didn't imply blame Trump for post Trump, but his quietly stepping aside did facilitate whats occurred as is continuing to occur in his absence. He had/has proof and yet instead of fighting the good fight he walked away and now endorses people.

What being deconstructed are too fundamental to who we are as a people. I've yet to see anyone with any degree of stature or authority stand in defense of the Constitutions not the SCOTUS, not the Military, and certainly not Trump. Why?

I can't blame Trump a lot for "post Trump".

I think some of his speeches were excellent.

He's just a man. Not perfect. Certainly self-absorbed to a curious level. He was a speedbump to the globalist agenda and, somehow, they didn't kill him (thank goodness). Remember that, though...if he had lost to Hillary we'd be in very deep kimchee.

The job doesn't pay enough. All of DC is run by special interests. We need term limits for the swamp. None of this will change and America will dearly suffer for it. As Ayn Rand said, "You can ignore reality, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality."

After the election and before he was sworn in I wrote a letter to Trump. Sent it to his office in Trump Tower. I imagine he never got it. In it I pointed out that he may have been the right guy at the right time to fix a couple major flaws in our nation. He didn't do it, bungled this last campaign, did horrible in the debates against a guy with no brain, and just seemed intent on stirring the shit at the end. STILL...I'm glad we didn't get Hillary...

Glad to see that! Thanks.