Rational Self-Interest vs. Self-Serving
I am having a little debate with an Objectivist, about this sentence in our book.
"He was being protected by the immoral, self-serving culture of Washington DC. Hank’s face flushed with anger.”
Do you see a problem with using "self-serving" next to "immoral" ? If so, what other word(s) might you use in place of "self-serving."
We were attempting to get across the 'we'll save our own tribe' culture of government. it's not crony-because we want to just focus on from within the government. We saw it last week, with many republicans like Sen. Rubio, backing McConnell's actions. Or I wonder how many park rangers relished the high handed tactics of keeping citizens from using their own property, etc.
I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
"He was being protected by the immoral, self-serving culture of Washington DC. Hank’s face flushed with anger.”
Do you see a problem with using "self-serving" next to "immoral" ? If so, what other word(s) might you use in place of "self-serving."
We were attempting to get across the 'we'll save our own tribe' culture of government. it's not crony-because we want to just focus on from within the government. We saw it last week, with many republicans like Sen. Rubio, backing McConnell's actions. Or I wonder how many park rangers relished the high handed tactics of keeping citizens from using their own property, etc.
I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
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Rearden didn't want to play dirty like politicians...he has integrity... Once they blackmailed him into giving up his patents he realized what he really wanted...to divorce his blood sucking wife who only wanted his money (and to condemn him for it at the same time). He was done playing nice, out of obligation, with leaches. By your comment you would say shrugging was playing dirty too... they broke the laws by leaving their businesses behind. (Playing 'dirty' to save yourself, while not taking from others, is different than politicians playing dirty to steal your wealth.) I don't think it was a "misunderstanding" on the politicians or Rearden's part about how either worked... One is corrupt while the other was trying to survive on it's own merit free of gov intervention and theft..he wasn't going to cave to coercion.
Now you elaborate...cuz I'm confused by your argument.
I'm not disagreeing with you, I just want elaboration.
One of the problems I had with the movies was that Rearden, in the 1st movie, refused to get "dirty" because he didn't understand the political world (so why condemn people who don't understand the business world, but I digress) , so he got hammered by those who do, then in the 2nd movie, he didn't care if his lawyers had to buy a judge to get him out of his contract with his wife.
As an example, if you find abortion immoral, but your constituents consistently by a measurable majority favor abortion-on-demand... then either vote as they would want you to vote, or leave office.
Remove the comma...
"He was being protected by the immorally self-serving culture of Washington DC. Hank’s face flushed with anger.”
?
Self-serving is immoral when it is at the expense of trading value for value, in my opinion.
Try self-catering in the sentence next to immoral and see if that sounds better to you.
Self serving is for oneself above others, but when you are elected into a position to serve others and protect their freedom by taking an oath to protect the law of the land, the Constitution, but serve yourself over fulfilling that promise, is criminal.
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