Thanks for your honest answer David. The forces of evil acting against us are real and prevalent, no doubt! But I have learned what it takes to overcome it and so have other "average" people too. Have you taken any steps or actions to overcome this challenge? (Other than joining this gulch online, which is definitely a step in the right direction). Thanks for more discussion!

I do inventing of mechanical and electrical devices. Currently working on LED lighting for off road uses. WE actually manufacture here in the USA currently.

Thanks for your honest answer here Zero. You can see that others want to give you encouragement or help, and I do too!
If it happened to be true that you would succeed eventually, even after lots of learning and struggle, do you know what type of subject or thing you would want to pursue? Let's talk about that.

That is fascinating, and encouraging. Thanks for the personal examples! I have a friend in the off road customization product development business. Maybe you want to connect with him? Unless he's a competitor...let me know.

Thanks for your answer Nick. This is a common and popular sentiment. I get the money issue, as term2 says below. But let me dig into this more with you please. Can you give us a specific example or story?

Thanks for your answer AJ. And kudos and congrats for writing your books and getting them out there into the market! That's awesome. I want to check out your books then I may come back to ask you more about them, and your process and challenges.

Thanks for your answer allosaur. So this makes me wonder, why aren't there more Objectivists who have started their own YouTube channels to create their own video platform? Anyone can essentially start their own tv show now today. Ever thought of doing that yourself?

What objectivism has to offer you, Flootus, is the ability to externalize the failure. You do not have to fall prey to the thought that you were 'doing something wrong'.

Many people blame 'others' for their own shortcomings, but you can validly say, "I had a good shot at a terrific enterprise, but my chance to excel was legislated out of existence by sage grouse regs."

Pretty slim, eh? It is all I can offer.

Government intervention may destroy the rest of the healthcare industry at any given moment...which would take Wm's and my company down. We all live on sufferance, at the government's whim.

Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?

Jan

Thanks for your answer RonJohnson. Let me dig a little more on this. Is it your job/business, your daily life, or geographic separation perhaps?

Isnt New Hanpshire pretty socialistic though?

Thanks VetteGuy. Glad you found some kindred souls here! Let me ask, is this online community enough for you or have you tried looking for a local group too? Or somehow finding people near you?

LOL. Thanks for your reply. Sometimes I feel your pain.

One place that has been mentioned is the state of New Hampshire. Unfortunately I'm allergic to snow ;-)

see https://freestateproject.org/

We should consider moving into certain areas of the country, and hiding in plain sight and enjoying the benefits of living with like minded people such as are on this forum.

To succeed in this atmosphere I think one has to hide in plain sight, and avoid opportunities that require a lot of investment that keeps you from dodging and weaving when the government does something like happened to you. I had a medical equipment business that I was fortunate to be able to sell it before the FDA became too powerful at regulating. Now I make off road accessories with minimal investment and reliance on chinese imports where THEY have the investments in equipment. The government is our biggest danger at this point.

I agree totally. The way I do this is to pursue my interests until I find I waste too much time on fighting government intrusions. I then move on to areas the government hasnt gotten powerful in. For example, I built ONE house in my lifetime, and that was enough. I will never do that again and have to spend hours and hours and $$ dealing with bureaucrats. I used to invent medical equipment and made good money at it until the FDA took over regulating medical devices. I sold my business and moved on to off-road equipment that isnt YET regulated.

What makes government dangerous is the money they have and are allowed to collect. We all should try to reduce the amount they get. Fight all new taxes, and try personally to reduce the amount you pay each year. Sales taxes, property taxes, and the other hundreds of taxes they collect.

I think we should start to move into areas close to each other, trade with each other wherever possible, and try to insulate ourselves from the socialism that is so rampant.

I totally agree with this. When I am surrounded by inconsistently socialist people it just gets depressing. Every so often I meet someone who brings up "Who is John Galt", and its like a breath of fresh air.

If I'm to be honest, my biggest #1 challenge is overcoming a lifetime of collectivist looter brainwashing. This included parents who thought that business profit is immoral, a history teacher who taught how capitalists love war because of its economic stimulus effects, and numerous governments who have gained their votes by pandering to looter mentality.

Almost as great a challenge is what others here have already mentioned - dealing with dimwits around them.

!!!! Love the imagery!

Well, this a very timely question. After 16 months of working on our gold property in Northern Nevada, we find it is subject to a regulatory takings with the sage grouse FEIS.

After working for the biggies for 30 years in the gold mining industry, this property was the chance of a lifetime. For a very small group of us, it was like our entire careers had led to this.

We were on the cusp in late May of raising several million dollars to test drill, and develop a mineral resource. The potential was fantastic. And then in the swoop of drawing a boundary line, federal agency bureaucrats changed the maps from low value habitat to priority habitat and recommending an historic mining district for locatable mineral withdrawal. This effectively cutoff any financing due to investment risk.

I am so angry, I cannot be anything approaching objective. The thoughts drift to the realm of retaliation - miners have lots of ordinance and explosives - but don't worry, no, I won't be on the news one evening. I can just see the fair and balanced treatment I would get.

So, what does objectivism have to contribute here? I am wide open to suggestions.

As one who has been an Objectivist for more than 50 years (yeah, I’m old), probably the system I recommend is a “modified Galt” as suggested by the late Harry Browne. Browne was not an Objectivist, but he figured out some things pretty well. “Freedom,” Browne points out, “is the opportunity to live your life as you want to live it." This is a definition I think most of us can agree with.

“The plans, the movements, the crusades — none of these things has worked. And so the unfree person continues to dream, to condemn, and to remain where he is.

“You can be free without changing the world. You can live your life as you want to live it — no matter what others decide to do with their lives."

Browne, Harry (2014-07-22). How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World (Kindle Locations 219-237). Kindle Edition.

I need to check that out as well. I'm a fan of SciFi, especially the classics (Asimov, Heinlien, Clarke) but I've already read most of that multiple times. I need some new material!

Thanks for the reviews, these sound like my kind of book!
VG

Getting people to stop bothering me with their nonsense. As I get older, I find I have less tolerance for idiots and their agendas. What I regret is that I have many people with whom I communicate who are not idiots but whose basic premises are skewed and screwed. I am beginning to lose my patience with them as well. Pretty soon the only people I'll tolerate to communicate with will be certain members of my family and Gulchers.