Illegals could throw the Electoral College towards Hillary

Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 6 months ago to Government
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though this is Newsmax (grab your salt shaker) there is
an important fact here::: most of the Electoral College votes
are derived from gross census, which includes illegals. -- j
.
SOURCE URL: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/clinton-illegal-immigrants-electoral/2015/10/03/id/694546/?ns_mail_uid=27255291&ns_mail_job=1638435_10032015&s=al&dkt_nbr=5e8mmvqd


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    Posted by $ jbrenner 8 years, 6 months ago
    This puts a new spin on the open borders argument. I am sure that Objectivists here will say that this is no reason to restrict the right to travel of non-citizens, and they are right. However, the Constitution needs amended to base the electoral college on the number of citizens, rather than including all residents, including "undocumented" ones. It is quite obviously a loophole in the Constitution that the founders never intended to be exploited, but today's demagogues are.
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    • Posted by $ jdg 8 years, 6 months ago
      If we're going to amend the Constitution, what we should do is require all states to have their electors vote in proportion to the popular vote, rather than a slight majority in the popular vote getting you ALL of that state's electors. This would dramatically reduce the effect of big states like California (which is 40% D, 31% R, 5% small parties and 24% independents by voter registration) on presidential elections.
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    • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
      this puts no new spin on the open borders debate. Identify the problem. Is the Constitution upheld or not? Who is your enemy? I am dog tired of this debate. You do not get the convenience of being for closed borders but no gun control. they are opposite sides of the same coin. be consistent. who is voting that is your enemy? well, ahem, women. should we remove their vote? 20somethings. should we say you can vote after you turn 30? own a house? do you "own" your house? make the bar j. set it. accident of birth.
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      • 10
        Posted by $ jbrenner 8 years, 6 months ago
        The problem here quite clearly is that the Democrat Party has been de facto encouraging (if not outright encouraging) illegal immigration so that they can maintain power. Have you ever seen such an active campaign for a census as happened in 2010?

        Many Texas Democrats have said openly that their goal is to import enough voters to turn the state "blue". The Democrat Party is exploiting this constitutional opening to their gain.

        Who is my enemy? All looters and moochers, period, regardless of where they come from, are my enemy. They outnumber me (and us). The so-called "bar" should be that no one taking a government handout should be allowed to vote.

        I despise the accident of birth argument. My birth was no accident, and neither was yours. It was the celebration of life and freedom of a couple who looked forward to a great future. Were I to live in some hellhole, I would not be having such a celebration, and I would not be having children. I would have risen to be a success in any culture, by the application of my mind, even if that meant that I had to go off into seclusion to invent for myself. At this rate, I may have to do just that.

        You say that you are dog tired of this debate. So am I. When a country has an open border, it is self-destructive. This is where Rand's arguments fail. Rand's statement of life is fine. If she and the rest of this forum realized that the same self-sustaining actions are also required for a nation that are required for an individual, then Objectivism would not be ultimately self-destructive.

        I am ... gone.
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        • Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 6 months ago
          Regarding “When a country has an open border, it is self-destructive. This is where Rand's arguments fail.” I think that Ayn Rand would not have supported open borders without government checkpoints, or an unlimited “right” to enter a country from abroad. Ayn Rand says, “Capitalism is a social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned.” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal) She also says a government has “the rights delegated to it by the citizens for a specific, delimited task.” (The Virtue of Selfishness.) She also says that “’public property’ is a collectivist fiction.” (Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal)

          Taken together, these statements by Ayn Rand strongly support the conclusion that no one can cross the border into an Objectivist country, unannounced and uninvited, without violating the property rights of one or more of that country’s citizens. He would be violating those rights simply by the act of crossing the border. This is a major reason why government border checkpoints would be necessary and appropriate even in a society based on Objectivist principles.

          Ayn Rand never said that immigration to America (or any other specific country) is a right. She never said that everybody is entitled to immigrate, regardless of criminal history, health status (such as having an infectious disease), ability to financially support oneself (or obtain support from a sponsor), or ties to terrorists or dictators. She never said that the government has no right (and no responsibility to its citizens) to investigate the background or current status of persons wishing to immigrate. She never said that the U.S. government assumes an unchosen obligation to uphold and protect the rights of anyone who shows up here, regardless of circumstances.

          Ayn Rand says, “A free nation—a nation that recognizes, respects and protects the individual rights of its citizens —has a right to its territorial integrity, its social system and its form of government.” This statement strongly supports the conclusion that the U.S. government’s first duty is to its citizens, and protection of their rights and property takes precedence over protection of the rights of non-citizens in its territory (except for instances in which the government has specifically taken on such obligations, for example through the issuance of visas). Objectivism does not permit unchosen obligations, either by citizens or by the governments that such citizens create and maintain.

          Considering everything we know about her personal history and political ideology, we can reasonably infer that Ayn Rand likely would have supported a system that would have encouraged legal immigration by anyone meeting reasonable qualifications following a thorough background check. However, she likely would not have supported a policy of wide-open borders without government checkpoints, especially since such a policy would have permitted unrestricted access to America by agents of the country from which she had escaped.

          For the above reasons, I don’t agree that “Rand’s arguments fail.” I consider myself an Objectivist and have derived my conclusions from Objectivist principles and from Ayn Rand’s published writings and speeches.
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          • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 6 months ago
            I think you have the ingredients of the real solution to the issue. The Constitution made a basic assumption that citizenship was a given. Everyone who came over on a boat then was considered a citizen. I am unaware of a definition contained in it, however, remember that other laws then did define a voter (money, sex, color). One of the things I could never understand was how we had a social system defined on Freedom, that turned around and took a fundamental part of it away from a majority of people in it. Clearly Ayn included citizenship as an integral portion of the definition of a free nation. I think that that does imply the need for clear controls on how you get that citizenship, otherwise it becomes a moot point. You could have a nation of a billion people and say they are all citizens, but you would not have a free nation (if contained within our current land area). So it seems some requirements must be inherent.
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            • Posted by 8 years, 6 months ago
              hasn't the u.s. substituted other criteria for voting -- no longer
              must we own land, be male, be of european heritage --
              but now, we must either be born here to citizens, or earn
              citizenship through a process defined by laws ... ?
              we've substituted laws for rules. . we still control voting.
              as we should, very responsibly!!! -- j
              .
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              • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 6 months ago
                John yes indeed. That system only works when the laws are universally enforced, which goes back to my refugee point: If you let your control of your government slip, and it becomes impossible to live in your land, why would another country have to give you a do over? You messed it up once, why not twice? Another reason why this country needs to wake up and wrestle power back before we all become refugees . Next thing we know, Mexico starts looking good....
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        • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
          I will ignore your last comment, which I hope you will edit out. example: there was a PA who worked on Atlas Shrugged III. HIs parents have dual citizenship with Canada. He was born in Canada.. He is contesting to become a US citizen. The hoops and the time and the money he has committed. Ask Scott-Scott-should Jeff not be allowed to be a US citizen? why the time? the hoops? the craziness? He is a productive member of US society. He works, he promotes, he wants to build a life in your country. why must he wait for years, when his folks are US citizens? but the border debaters don't want this discussion. they want a wall. I do not think you have had the privilege of coming back through that border. have you? was it pleasant? [edited to change where Jeff was born]
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          • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 6 months ago
            Khalling, maybe we are mixing a few things up here. It is the government burden that is making it so hard on him. I have no problem with someone who wants to come here who has some existing stake in the country, or who can bring in the skills or resources to take care of themselves. I do not think someone standing on the border in a tattered pair of jeans with 2 cents has that same right. It ends up with a herd of people here that become too tempting a target to be manipulated by the powerful for their own ends, which I think was the start of this discussion. Your jeff is a different animal from the people being described in the article. IMHO.
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            • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
              Nick, respectfully, then you do not understand what the word "right" means
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              • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 6 months ago
                Khalling, thank you for the reply, can you please let me know what I am missing? I know you are looking at this from a Objectivist view, and I think I am as well, but I am not as well versed in the philosophy as others. What would right consist of in this framework? Thanks.
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                • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
                  Your words; "I do not think someone standing on the border in a tattered pair of jeans with 2 cents has that same right."
                  As Zenphamy said; "Everybody has rights, or nobody has rights." When you decide to pick and choose, you have decided, by default, that nobody has rights.
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                  • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 6 months ago
                    I am not sure it is that simple, in that in granting the same rights to all, do you not abrogate the rights of others? Example: If a person is free to use guns anywhere, anytime, and they start shooting on your property line 25 feet from your house with large caliber guns, do you have a right to stop it? Or must you endure it to make sure he has his rights? I think Ayn was never so simple as to grant uninhibited rights to all, such that the implementation of them would necessarily infringe on the rights of others. To allow unfettered acess across borders is to inhibit the rights of those within. I agree that people have a right too petition for entrance, but if there is no controls, then you will suddenly have a huge population of people who then demand you pay for their existence, even subscribe to their religion: witness the efforts to try to get parts of the US to subscribe to Sharia law to appease certain Muslim groups.In a perfect world, yes, we could have no borders, but this world is far from perfect.
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                    • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
                      A right that infringes upon another's rights is not a right. Or it is not properly defined. A properly defined right does not infringe and cannot be infringed upon except by force. Which is the negation of rights. If you have a right that infringes upon the rights of another you have a contradiction. What must an Objectivist do when he encounters a contradiction? He must check his premises. Do some research on rights.

                      Some freedom oriented ideas have been suggested, on this post and a few previous posts, that address the concerns you stated. Nobody has suggested "no borders". I don't have time for a lengthy debate these days but if you're truly interested in a pro-freedom solution you might look those up and do some research and some serious thinking.
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          • Posted by 8 years, 6 months ago
            I will volunteer to help pay for Jeff's legal costs.

            I believe that we should have closed borders and
            that gun control is being able to hit your target. -- j
            .
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          • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
            You pretend that a Canadian immigrant and a Third World immigrant are the same.
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            • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
              most of the Syrian refugees fleeing into Europe have strong educational backgrounds and/or higher skills. Your comment is xenophobic/collectivist
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              • Posted by $ nickursis 8 years, 6 months ago
                But is not the whole idea of "refugee" meaning people who have left their own environment because they lost the ability to effect it, and others were inflicting harm on them? The real answer would be then to make those who are inflicting harm on them stop, then there is no need for them to become refugees. The whole refugee idea to me is something that is open to manipulation like crazy. If you have a tsunami or major earthquake, do you then pull up stakes and move to where there are none, whether those living there want you or not? Are you not then inflicting your problems on them? I think the world has taken the "kindness" idea too far to the point it is now an excuse for anyone to go move into your nation because they failed to control their own. The individual has to be responsible for their own society at some point, not just pull up stakes and move where others are because they didn't. Mexico has allowed corruption and drug lords to exist for many years, why do they now deserve to run where others did not? We have our own collection of political criminals we have to try to keep from inflicting themselves on us, I do not want a whole herd of people who failed in that same endeavor to come in and inflict their failure upon me. It isn't necessarily right, but I would rather we give them some guns to protect their own freedom than let them move into my front yard.
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              • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                Most Europeans aren’t afraid of Syrians, they just don’t want them in Europe. That is, except for the politicians.

                Europe isn’t Islam’s keeper. It’s neither Europe’s nor America’s responsibility to rescue men fleeing Islam’s latest civil war.

                To quote a British immigrant to the U.S.:
                “I decline to join in the screaming and fainting. I take the old-fashioned view that a nation has the right to admit for settlement whomever it pleases, on any grounds at all, rational or otherwise. It’s up to the people of that nation and their legislators to say who they want to settle. It’s not up to foreigners.”

                For a sarcastic take on “Where Should Syrian Refugees Settle?” see:
                http://Vdare.com/posts/where-should-s...

                We are looking at a group of people who do not assimilate well in the West. They are ugly and they commit crime – including terrorism – at a rate way above that of bona fide Europeans. I don’t see the evil of considering them as a collective. To echo the now absent-in-disgust jbrenner, Objectivism should not mean our self-immolation.
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                • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
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                  • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                    The article reports that the indigenous German birthrate is so low that the population of such Germans is decreasing.

                    What of it? Germany’s population density is several times that of the U.S. Doubtless many people there welcome a decrease. For one thing real estate become more affordable.

                    For sure replacing Germans with fecund Muslims or whatever is not the answer to anything.
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                    • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
                      decrease the population, collectivist thinking-many of these Syrians are NOT muslim. Why are ayou here? Did you like the movies? have you read much Rand?
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                      • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                        I post a lot on immigration because, like you, I think the subject extraordinarily important and timely. I’m on this thread to argue that mass Third World immigration is very much against our self-interest.

                        You claim Objectivist ethics is inconsistent with that position. I claim Objectivist ethics implies it.

                        One way to see the truth of my claim is to consider a distant future assuming 50 years of open immigration. Immigrants from Asia, Africa, Mexico, the Middle East, Central and South America have been pouring in for fifty years.

                        Tell me what England, Europe and America will be like then.
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                        • Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 6 months ago
                          Ayn Rand has written that in a capitalist society “all property is privately owned” and that “’public property’ is a collectivist fiction.” So the only way that someone could cross the border into an Objectivist country, unannounced and uninvited, would be either to enter “public (or collectivized) property” or to trespass onto private property. Since “public property” would not exist in an Objectivist country, and trespassing is an initiation of force,we can conclude that there is no “right to immigrate” without permission, and that existing property owners within the Objectivist country have the right to set the terms of entry.
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                          • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
                            While I am in agreement with you that all property should be privately owned, except as necessary for minimal, legitimate government operations, what you have just described would put control over who enters the country into the hands of a very small number of people as the owners of the property the immigrants must cross.

                            Assuming there was a wall that could limit access to 3 or 4 points upon which we put government checkpoints (assuming this was a legitimate function), we still have 3 or 4 private roads with private owners who, according to your reasoning may refuse entry. To anybody, for any reason. Just like you do in your house or your yard. That is unless, of course, you mean to say that once the government has approved the person then a private owner cannot refuse their entry. Would that still apply to your house? Your yard?

                            Does it not make sense, then, that the private ownership of public thoroughfares must be treated differently than the private ownership of your home, or your restaurant or other business?
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                            • Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 6 months ago
                              The actual scenario in our hypothetical Objectivist country would likely play out differently than the situation you describe. I can give you a more complete response later, but here are a few of my thoughts on the matter:

                              A wall would not be practical for a border hundreds of miles long, since it would involve multiple property owners, all of whom would have to agree to build and maintain that wall. Individual property owners could build their own walls or enclosures if they wish.

                              Any government border checkpoint would involve an agreement between the government and the owner or owners of the road beyond that checkpoint, spelling out the terms of access for people crossing the border at that checkpoint.

                              Within a legal framework designed to protect lives and property, private covenants among existing property owners would govern the sale or lease of their property to prospective immigrants, and the uses to which such property could be put.

                              More later.
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                              • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
                                Again I am in agreement that a wall would not be a practical endeavor although Trump does claim he will make Mexico pay for it. And if your goal is to seal a border, how else would you do it? Build a train on a 50foot wall?

                                Also, we seem to be in agreement that the owners of roads would have different conditions guiding their ownership of the property than any other property owners. Speaking of roads in general, it follows, then, that the owner of a road could not suddenly change his mind and build a supermarket there instead. He would block everybody. Suddenly, his property rights are a little different than everybody else's. So where does this difference come from? And why is it right?
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                                • Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 6 months ago
                                  To respond to your points in no particular order:

                                  The owner of the road would have the same ownership rights as the owner of any other property. Restrictions on the owner’s use of that property would be by voluntary contract and agreement. In principle it would be no different from granting a long-term lease in exchange for monetary or other considerations. For example, if you granted someone the right to drill for oil on your property in exchange for a share of the profits, you could not suddenly decide to put a supermarket on that land if it would obstruct his ability to drill for oil. Most legal contracts of this scope are very precise as to what the owner and the lessee can and cannot do on the property. The owner retains ownership and the lessee acquires certain rights by virtue of the contract between them.

                                  My goal is not to “seal” the border, it is to provide reasonable protection by the government for those whose property is adjacent to the border as well as those whose property is further inland. This could include measures such as responding to a mass influx of border crossings with an increased police presence; prosecution of trespassers with appropriate penalties, rather than merely sending them back across the border to try again; voluntary covenants among property owners to not allow the use of their property by those who have entered the country illegally; and any other measures within the scope of the rights of property owners in our hypothetical Objectivist country. This would not prevent 100% of illegal crossings, but it would render unlikely the type of mass migration that exists on the southern U.S. border today.

                                  I would speculate that a considerable number of prospective immigrants without a history of crime, espionage or terrorism, would be offered jobs or access to property within an Objectivist country. The current immigration quota system would not exist, and immigrants would not be denied entry on the grounds that they were “stealing” jobs from local workers. Under such circumstances, the rate of immigration could conceivably be as high as, or higher than, the number currently coming across the southern U.S. border. And as long as reasonable efforts are made to allow productive people in and keep criminals out, that would be fine by me.
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                                  • kevinw replied 8 years, 6 months ago
                          • Posted by Zenphamy 8 years, 6 months ago
                            Why do you assume that all Objectivists owning land along the border would agree with your interpretation? And using the phrase 'existing property owners' implies a collective decision, rather than the individual's choices.
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                            • Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 6 months ago
                              I don’t assume that all Objectivists owning land across the border would agree with my interpretation. I’m simply pointing out what Ayn Rand clearly stated, and what conclusions I derived from her statements. And “existing property owners” can set the terms of entry either individually or by joint agreement. However, if one or more landowners in an Objectivist country decided to grant immigrants access to their land, those immigrants would not thereby acquire the right to enter neighboring properties without the permission of the owners.
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                • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
                  I am currently in Germany. Have talked with many Germans, some friends. They are welcoming for the high skilled labor and students. Only about 30% migrating in are Syrian. Everyone admits it is overload. If you are fleeing a war torn region, don't you think you would be in emergency mode too? Germany tends to grant political asylum more easily than other European countries. You do come in illegally, but that process can erase the status of illegal, once granted.
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                  • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                    Two things the matter with the question
                    “If you are fleeing a war torn region, don't you think you would be in emergency mode too?”
                    First, it takes the Syrian’s (or whatever Third World country) point of view. I think the Germans (and Swedes and Israelis and ... Americans) should rather ask “Does this benefit me and my country?” Second, many (most I’d wager – most are young men, where are the woman and children?) so-called refugees are not fleeing a war torn region, they are fleeing a safe haven they previously had fled to, for example Turkey.

                    The first is the more important objection. We should base immigration on what benefits us instead of what benefits foreigners.
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                    • Posted by Zenphamy 8 years, 6 months ago
                      You continue to attempt to apply words such as us while discussing this topic with Objectivists. There are no 'us' benefits except in a collectivist or socialist sense.
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                      • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                        Maybe you should write a novelette about a world where the word "we" is forbidden.

                        Actually it can be a useful word.

                        If what you said were true Ayn Rand would not be an Objectivist. See for example a post on this thread:
                        GaltsGulchOnline.com/posts/49ee0683/i...
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                        • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
                          I miss the point. Objectivism is a well thought out philosophy. It is not a club where a steering committee votes on who can follow the philosophy n their own life.
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                        • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
                          actually, I did a search on this post for the word "we." It was overwhelmingly used by those against open immigration. When Os used it, primarily, Zen, Kevin and me, it was used in quotes or to make an argument extending the logic used on the anti-immigration supporter side. I suggest you read Anthem. A novella that refreshingly uses the word "I."
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                    • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
                      again, you come from a collectivist point of view and others in here seem to agree with that view. However, this is an Objectivism site and I stick to those principles which clearly see every man as an individual, his reason his own
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                      • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                        Collectivism was originally a purely economic concept. It meant that the state – the commune, the collective – owned everything, an individual of the collective could possess no private property.

                        How is defending one’s country from conquest by immigration collectivist? In what new sense do you use the word?
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                        • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
                          Your words; "We should base immigration on what benefits us" - Collectivism. IE... "Us" has a collective right to use government to do something that benefits "us". Of course someone has to decide what benefits "us". What if what someone decides to do does not benefit ALL of "us"? Or is not what ALL of "us" want? Some of "us" must then be subordinated to the will of the collective. That is not any "new" sense of the word.

                          Better to create policy based upon the individual rights of all involved. We've already got the collectivist version.
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                          • -1
                            Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                            If your argument were valid it could be used to negate anything good for the country.

                            The following is from Rand’s “The Art of Smearing.” She is writing about the term “isolationism” introduced in the 1930s:
                            ------------------------------------
                            It was a derogatory term, suggesting something evil, and it had no clear, explicit definition. It was used to convey two meanings: one alleged, the other real – and to damn both.

                            The alleged meaning was defined approximately like this: “Isolationism is the attitude of a person who is interested only in his own country and is not concerned with the rest of the world.” The real meaning was: “Patriotism and national self-interest.”

                            What, exactly, is “concern with the rest of the world”? Since nobody did or could maintain the position that the state of the world is of no concern to this country, the term “isolationism” was a straw man used to misrepresent the position of those who were concerned with this country’s interests. The concept of patriotism was replaced by the term “isolationism” and vanished from public discussion.
                            ------------------------------------

                            Today “collectivism” is a similar bait and switch. The alleged meaning of “collectivism” is not precisely defined but goes something like this: “the attitude of a person who thinks that only groups matter, never individuals.” The real meaning is: “Patriotism and national self-interest.”

                            “Collectivism” is a straw man used to misrepresent the position of those who are concerned with this country’s interests. Some here are trying to replace the concept of patriotism by the term “isolationism” so we won’t talk about it anymore.
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                            • Posted by Zenphamy 8 years, 6 months ago
                              Aah, once again you take AR out of context in an attempt to distort the realities of Objectivism. AR was very precise in her use of words, concepts, context, and her knowledge of definitions, During the 30's of her discussion, there was a great deal of dissension in the US over involvement with European problems and proposed intervention by the US, particularly when war became imminent. FDR and most of the government wanted that involvement, a significant part of the population did not. The propagandists of the government contorted the language in order to downplay the 'patriotism' of the non-interventionist. And the national self-interest that AR described was that which derived from the self-interest of the individual US resident.

                              You represent the word collectivism on this site to be not precisely defined. That couldn't be further from the truth.
                              collectivism: noun
                              "the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.
                              • the theory and practice of the ownership of land and the means of production by the people or the state."

                              That definition is very well understood by the Objectivists of this site and is used very precisely to describe your sophistry. Trying to give a new definition (Patriotism and nation self-interest) to collectivism is to precisely describe your anti-Objectivism.
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                              • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                                Unlike “isolationist” – which has no clear definition – “collectivist” does have a valid definition, actually several. The economic one is quite clear (see my earlier post). One of the others is clear enough. Quoting AR: “Collectivism holds that the individual has no rights, that his life and work belong to the group ... and that the group may sacrifice him at its own whim to its own interests.” Then there is the following: Given a group defined by a common attribute, collectivism means assuming that everyone in the group is identical in any respect one chooses to consider (not just the attribute that defined the group in the first place).

                                Then there are those use the word “collectivism” in a hazy, meaningless, undefined sense, such as “the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.” “Priority” is undefined, so you can bandy “collectivism” about where it makes no sense at all.

                                In this immigration argument “collectivism” is used as a smear word, and what is being smeared is patriotism, the preservation of one’s culture and country.

                                Foreigners make up a group, a collective. The nation’s government regulates the entry of each individual in that collective as one of the government’s proper functions.

                                Then there is the question of which foreigners, if any, should be allowed in and how many per year. Since a foreigner has no right of entry, he can be kept out for any reason, a crazy reason, or no reason. The principal moral issue is that a country’s citizens have the right to decide, just as they have the right to decide who is the country’s president and congressmen. One decision is no more collectivist than the other.

                                When Ayn Rand refers to “national self-interest” and “the country’s interest” with evident praise, you call it collectivist. I call it common sense.

                                Those who value America will reject the Third World en masse and forever. You can call that collectivist until you’re black in the face. The alternative is the end of America as we now know its fading remains.
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                                • Posted by Zenphamy 8 years, 6 months ago
                                  You keep asserting that words 'have no clear meaning', now isolationist. Once again:
                                  Isolationist: noun
                                  "a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries"

                                  Then you say 'priority' is undefined. And agains:
                                  Priority: noun (pl. priorities)
                                  "a thing that is regarded as more important than another: housework didn't figure high on her list of priorities.
                                  • the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important: the safety of the country takes priority over any other matter.
                                  • the right to take precedence or to proceed before others: priority is given to those with press passes | [ as modifier ] : clear the left lane for priority traffic"

                                  You continue to find words you claim are undefined, when in fact they have very exact and clear definitions. Rational and logically reasoned thought requires a clear and exact understanding of concepts, context, and words. Only the irrational and/or the sophist refuse to accept a clear and common usage of a word, and attempt to spread their nonsensical interpretations.

                                  Then you purposely accuse me of calling AR's use of the phrases of "national self-interest" and "the country's interest" collectivist. I called you collectivist after I pointed out your mis-interpretation of AR's use and meaning of those phrases. A nation or country has no self-interest, it is not an entity, but is a creation of man.

                                  While I prefer to not think of you as irrational, (though your comments have that appearance), I think your intent of disruption and interference of those on a site identified as Objectivist is clear and is sophistry of the worst kind.
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                                  • MarkHunter replied 8 years, 6 months ago
                            • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
                              What my very valid argument does negate is your claim of being any kind of Objectivist.

                              Your argument only serves to verify my previous statement. You have just stated that the "Real meaning" of collectivism is "Patriotism and national self-interest." This should tell everybody all they need to know about your position. Ayn Rand was very specific about the evils of collectivism. The page on collectivism in the "Ayn Rand Lexicon" is a mile long and easy to find. And while you may be very patriotic it is not the "national self interest" of America that you have in mind.
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                              • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                                Naturally I meant “collectivism” as used by immigration enthusiasts such as yourself.

                                I think the analogy between “isolationist” and “collectivist” – the latter in the context of immigration – holds up quite well.

                                In any event, when Ayn Rand refers to “national self-interest” and “the country's interest” with evident praise, is she a collectivist?
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                                • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
                                  Attempt to twist it however you wish, your position has been exposed.
                                  You have repeatedly made it clear that your entire goal is to protect the purity of some definition of America that you have decided is best for everyone. You would use the might of the US government to pick and choose who may come here and you would choose based on race, country of origin, intelligence (measured how?), and, I would bet, physical attributes.

                                  History has shown us where that ideology eventually leads to. And it begins with the willingness to place the rights of one group of people beneath the imagined rights of others.
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                                  • MarkHunter replied 8 years, 6 months ago
                                  • MarkHunter replied 8 years, 6 months ago
                                • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
                                  " immigration enthusiasts." I am an individualist enthusiast and do not recognize accident of birth over man's rights. Nor does the Constitution, Mr. Hunter
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                                  • MarkHunter replied 8 years, 6 months ago
                                  • Zenphamy replied 8 years, 6 months ago
                        • Posted by Zenphamy 8 years, 6 months ago
                          Collectivism is a tribal and clan concept--much more primitive than your description. It was Marx that moved collectivism and economics into common terminology for the simpler man that really didn't understand either.

                          Those are very attractive concepts for men of low self esteem that prefer to rely upon their associations rather than their own accomplishments and the ideas of their own mind.
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                          • -1
                            Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                            The word “collectivism” dates from the end of the 19th century, invented by socialist theorists. It was a purely economic concept. Yes, the concept can be extended, but care must be taken. As I’ve pointed out before, sometimes it’s perfectly OK to consider groups, and sometimes it’s perfectly OK to consider probabilities.

                            Don’t replace critical thought with a list of approved words.

                            You insinuate that immigration patriots – as guys like me sometimes call themselves – are collectivists, in which case you are mistaken.
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      • Posted by jpellone 8 years, 6 months ago
        kh, I almost always agree with you but on this one I have to totally disagree. Throwing gun control into this is wrong. No one is saying we should restrict voting of women or any other citizen!!!!

        I guess I was too stupid to realize what the Democrats have been doing all of these years and why they fight stopping illegal immigration. In the near future, Democrat states will have so many Electoral College votes that there can NEVER be a Conservative or Republican ever in the White House. That is why the Democrat states are all sanctuary cities/states.

        Count everyone in the census but only citizens for Electoral College!!!! I believe if this was changed, the Democrats would not be so happy about the influx of illegals.

        States like California are going broke to get more Electoral votes but they don't care as long as the Democrats win!!!!
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        • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
          I agree this is a political post and I brought in philosophy. and your comment is about political strategy. Which is more important? Policy: pro-reason, pro-objectivist, pro free market policies to solve this problem -none of which would include building a wall. making immigration harder than it is currently.
          1.eliminate welfare. this is the perfect time in our History to bring it up
          2. eliminate laws and agencies which feed on the War on Drugs
          3. eliminate the IRS and income tax

          that's a start. but gulchers in here, while giving lip service to some of these plans, are more content keeping "them" out
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          • -1
            Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
            Which would you say should come first, if either: (1) Abolish welfare, the War on Drugs, the IRS – or (2) institute open immigration?

            Have you ever posted: Foreigners have no right to U.S. citizenship because the U.S. has a welfare system. All I see is: Foreigners have a right to U.S. citizenship, period. Which is consistent, after all an authentic right doesn’t exist by whim of you and me.

            But even if you answer number 1 (abolish welfare as a precondition to open immigration), I would still disagree. This what you might call “Milton Friedman argument” is suicidal. Even if the U.S. were an entirely free country, open immigration would destroy it in a single lifetime.
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  • Posted by robertmbeard 8 years, 6 months ago
    The analysis is mostly correct, with 1 exception. The proposed solution is completely wrong.

    The flaw in the analysis is saying that the Electoral College vote is based, in part, on the census count of total population. The actual problem is that the apportionment of Congressman in the House is being unconstitutionally based on total population (including illegals), instead of on the total number of U.S. citizens.

    The proposed solution to base the presidential vote only on the popular vote is totally wrong. Democrats have been advocating this for decades, as one of the things they want to move us away from a Constitutional Republic (based on federalism) and toward a typical Democracy.

    Why did the Founding Fathers create the Electoral College to select the President? They wanted the President to represent both the will of the states and the will of the people. In our federated Republic, the U.S. Senate represents the sovereign states, with senators originally selected by state legislatures. The U.S. House of Representatives represents the people. The Electoral College represents the sum total of senators and representatives (plus 3 more for D.C.). It has a slightly more than 80% weighting towards the people (popular vote), with the rest representing the will of the states.

    Democrats have opposed federalism from the beginning and have been working tirelessly to empower Washington D.C. at the expense of the state governments. Dems prefer strong centralization of power (which produces more corruption and infringements on freedom).
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    • Posted by MinorLiberator 8 years, 6 months ago
      I agree. Excellent argument. And one "executive order", or something similar, "legalizing" current illegals and the popular vote would be "D" forever...why do we think they are getting such tolerance and "sanctuary" now?
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  • Posted by RonC 8 years, 6 months ago
    The key to all of this is getting the great silent majority off their asses and into the polls. Their population would dwarf any open border counter weights. I have longed for an election so interesting to the voters that we have 75%+ participation. This may be the time.
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    • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
      I just read about Trump’s latest speech, October 3rd in Tennessee. He made a good point relevant to what we’re discussing. As described in the article:
      ------------------------------------------
      Then there are the refugees.

      I couldn’t help but notice but “they are all men”, said Trump, and “strong” ones.

      “Why aren’t they back fighting for their country.”
      -------------------------------------------

      “All” is hyperbole, three-quarters would be more accurate:
      https://RefugeeResettlementWatch.word...
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  • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Nope, I had written that AR’s use of the phrases “national self-interest” and “the country’s interest” is perfectly valid, and my use is just as valid.
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  • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    khalling,

    Show me a contradiction between individualism and the territorial integrity of a nation.

    Please answer the question: When Ayn Rand refers to “national self-interest” and “the country’s interest” with evident praise, is she a collectivist?

    In reply to GaltsGulchOnline.com/posts/49ee0683/i...
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    • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
      she was clear that the national interest derives from individuals' rights in the nation. no individual should have the right to stop someone from freely traveling.
      the contradiction is that individual rights are not the same as "territorial integrity" which is inherently a isolationist position which violates individual rights. A proper govt shall not violate the rights of man. the only exception, Rand argues, is in time of war. the war on terror, the war on culture are anti-concepts.
      Dr. Ed Hudgin's on point:
      http://atlassociety.org/commentary/co...
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      • Posted by 8 years, 6 months ago
        Dr. Hudgins asserts that people have a "right to live
        where they choose." . that is not a right. . I may not
        choose to live in your house or on your property
        without your welcome.

        and the "war on terror" is misnamed;;; it is a war on
        terrorists. . and please, what is a war on culture? -- j

        p.s. "national defense," the primary requirement
        for a government, implies that property owners
        assent to being part of a nation, a place with
        geographic integrity = borders.
        .
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        • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
          Under the proper context Dr. Hudgin's asserts for a govt, living where one chooses does NOT mean a violation of YOUR property rights. There are no other ways to say that, yet many of you ignore that time and again. an international border is a political boundary. It is not private property that you own.
          even if you say a "war on terrorists" that is the same thing-it is a war on TACTICS, not a nation. You cannot have a war against tactics. You are a vet, John. You over many of us, know this. How many terrorist organizations have we added to our "war" arsenal since 9/11? The vast majority of refugees are just that-political refugees fleeing wars we keep making with no winner deciding a proper govt and fighting the real dangers to any proper society-ideas. Keep focused on the wall and Bernie Sanders will win the election.
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          • Posted by 8 years, 6 months ago
            sorry;;; I thought that we were discussing political boundaries
            which mark the edges of private property. . the fact that you and I
            gang together to own adjoining property which makes up a
            nation, for the defense of which we hire a goon named
            government, identifies a political union. . okay?

            and I can have a war on anyone who might choose to
            employ rape, as a tactic, or kidnapping, as a tactic;;; why not
            terror as a tactic? . I know, the "war on poverty" will come up,
            but that is a ruse for a campaign to seduce voters.

            and yes, the wall is a stupid crutch to make up for stupid laws
            which lure people here for the wrong reasons. . like welfare. -- j
            .
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            • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
              crutches never solve the underlying problem, they just make more problems. and you are correct, your post was in the political realm, I came in and tried to steer it other places. Nations should not declare "war" on criminals. Nations declare wars against nations or groups within nations. Note Jefferson and Barbary pirates. We already have plenty of laws on the books which deal with criminal behavior/tactics.
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      • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
        The answer to my question is that Rand was an individualist and approved of “national self-interest” and “the country’s interest.”

        Rand wrote nothing on immigration.
        http://ARIwatch.com/AynRandOnImmigrat...
        We’ve disagreed about this on another thread. I have nothing more to say about it. We’ll just have to disagree forever I guess.

        The Edward Hudgins article begins “In Jeb Bush ... we finally have a Republican who recognizes that illegal immigration can be a highly moral act.” and goes down from there:

        “Hispanics are a fast-growing portion of the population. Today nearly 17% of the nation’s citizens are Hispanic, [not counting illegals which also affects the Electoral College] with 30% [not counting illegals] projected by 2050.

        “... [They] see the anger directed by many Republicans at illegal Hispanic immigrants as a manifestation of bigotry. It is not enough for Republicans to trot out elected officials with Hispanic names to try to show that they are not anti-Hispanic.”

        Not enough to keep the Hispanics from voting Democrat. A mere insult is enough to make a Hispanic vote socialist?

        Most – way most – Hispanics will vote socialist regardless. Pandering to them does no good at all.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 8 years, 6 months ago
    They forgot also...dead people and multivoters...
    But truely...this is sick...

    Are there any other countries we can go to and screw up THEIR election?
    We need some social justice here!...again[sic]
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  • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    So we have a property owner who owns a road and who is under contract to allow people to use his road. And we have property owners along the border. Both of which, along with every other property owner in the US, may reasonably expect the government to protect their property by the retaliatory use of force. And no wall is necessary.

    Copied and pasted this part from another comment.
    "Of course we will have eliminated the income tax so that everybody will be included in the system, including immigrants. We will have put a stop to the war on drugs so that the criminal element is not drawn to us and we don't make criminals out of those already here. We will have eliminated welfare so they must support themselves when they come here. We will have eliminated the minimum wage so that the young and/or uneducated can get a job and get a start in life. We will welcome their hard work, productiveness and innovation. And we will have beaten the ever-lovin shit out of our enemies so badly that they will be afraid to show their heads out from under their rocks."


    At this point, who else is left? At this point the amount of criminals coming across our nations border is miniscule compared to the number of criminals crossing state borders within the country. We've already decided no wall is necessary. At this point, why do we need armed guards at the gates? At this point we can respect the rights of ALL individuals. Including our own.
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  • -1
    Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    kevinw,

    If I lived in the 19th century you could say I wanted to keep America pure. These days in some respects I want to turn back the clock. This position hasn’t been exposed by anyone, it has been proclaimed by me.

    You say that any foreigner has a right to enter my country, and I only imagine that I have a right to keep him out. Obviously both rights cannot exist. Since the first alleged right – in effect meaning no borders – leads to the demise of America, the second right must be the correct one.

    “History has shown us where that ideology eventually leads to.” Could you be more specific? Regarding your idea of the rights of foreigners, a useful historical analogy is the end of the Roman Empire, gradually undone by the at first peaceful immigration of barbarians.

    In reply to http://GaltsGulchOnline.com/posts/49e...
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    • Posted by khalling 8 years, 6 months ago
      with your twisted logic, women should not vote. Since women have gotten the vote in the US, they have consistently voted for welfare programs in large margins. HOw about young voters? They as well, tend to vote for welfare programs. kick out the women! :)
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    • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
      Keep on twisting. Keep on misrepresenting what has been said. Keep on reversing cause and effect. Keep on offering false alternatives.

      Your position is not based on right, it is based on whim. We already have a system based on whim. It just doesn't happen to be your whim so you just want to adjust the details. Well, half the country doesn't like your whim. More than half or we'd have a sealed border already. Does that make them right? No it doesn't. Might does not make right. Only the rights of individuals can be a proper basis for a government policy. Rights that you would uphold or deny based solely upon the good or bad fortune of one's birth.
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      • Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
        Can you clarify your statement: “History has shown us where that ideology eventually leads to.”

        In particular, immigration restrictionists are leading us to ... what?
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        • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
          Your position is well beyond the "immigration restrictionsist". You have entered supremacist territory.
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          • -1
            Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
            Supreme over whom? Stop talking in riddles.

            Instead of calling me these hard names please answer my question. Given the open borders you advocate, what will America be like after fifty years?

            If you’re still around then, do you think your individual rights will be respected when 90% of the population is Third World and can vote and/or affect the Electoral College?
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            • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
              Given the open immigration I advocate in 50 years America will be immensely wealthy and the third world (along with the rest) will be trying, again, to emulate us to make themselves wealthier.

              Of course we will have eliminated the income tax so that everybody will be included in the system, including immigrants. We will have put a stop to the war on drugs so that the criminal element is not drawn so heavily to us and we don't make criminals out of those already here. We will have eliminated welfare so they must support themselves when they come here. We will have eliminated the minimum wage so that the young and/or uneducated can get a job and get a start in life. We will welcome their hard work, productiveness and innovation. And we will have beaten the ever-lovin shit out of our enemies so badly that they will be afraid to show their heads out from under their rocks.

              But all this requires a morality that absolutely rejects the violation of the rights of an individual.There is no riddle. We cannot get there from where you stand.
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              • -2
                Posted by MarkHunter 8 years, 6 months ago
                With the politics reported in
                ARIwatch.com/ImmigrationEnthusiasts.htm
                modern immigrants will attain – and/or maintain – an Objectivist society.

                One absurd contention followed by another.
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                • Posted by kevinw 8 years, 6 months ago
                  Thank you for posting the link to that article. Now everyone interested can read it and figure out where you're coming from. You are no Objectivist in any way, shape or form. There's only one word and it is so overused as to be almost useless, but it fits. Racism. And you and your ariwatch are glowing examples of it.

                  In Ayn Rand's words; "Racism is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of collectivism. It is the notion of ascribing moral, social or political significance to a man’s genetic lineage—the notion that a man’s intellectual and characterological traits are produced and transmitted by his internal body chemistry."

                  This is what you have been pushing this whole time and trying to fault or blame Objectivism in the process.
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