Galt's Gulch

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  • Posted by mckenziecalhoun 12 years, 1 month ago
    Potentiality, not actuality.
    Not a right to happiness, but a right to, himself, pursue it.

    What a wonderful distinction from the ideals of Socialism, Communism and other ethically bankrupt ideologies.
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  • Posted by KYFHO 12 years, 1 month ago
    If you do some research on the founding documents and the arguments that led up to the final product it is interesting to note that the pursuit of happiness was not the original wordage. Many of the group wanted it to read "and the rights to your property" but were argued out of it mostly due to slavery. Though that did work out well for those times, it really sucks for our times. The government seems to think less and less of our property, real or intellectual, belongs to us.
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    • Posted by $ stargeezer 12 years, 1 month ago
      point given! I've gotten tired of being a serf and went on strike until the government that's supposed to insure I can pursue happiness stops afflicting the things that give me happiness.
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  • Posted by Notperfect 12 years, 1 month ago
    I heard a friend of mine one night quote "there is nothing wrong with a little socialism in this country". His pursuit was not his own God rest his soul. The night he said that the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. He was being lead down that road with his blinders on. He could not see any happiness without others intruding in his pursuit. I watched him and some of his ideas were great, but the union says this and the union says that. In the end Gary lost and so did we. Ideas that have since been in use.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 12 years, 1 month ago
    Well said. When one now has the responsibility to make someone else happy, two very important things occur. 1) Slavery now becomes the modus operandi of society and 2) self-determination and responsibility are now subjugated to impossible fantasy.
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  • Posted by Kath 12 years, 1 month ago
    Promising a guarantee of happiness at some point down the road is how statists get votes and power. For some reason, people don't notice that it doesn't work to have some lofty group plan your life for you. I can't see this changing any time soon.
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  • Posted by BradA 12 years, 1 month ago
    A right is different from its actualization. I heard a great point on the radio last night. If the government is supposed to make sure that we actualize all of our rights, then I demand that our government provide me with a fire arm because under the 2nd amendment, I have the right to bear arms.
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    • Posted by $ stargeezer 12 years, 1 month ago
      If that works out for you, let me know. I'm wanting that missile launcher the gov. taught me to use. LOL BUT, I'll settle for my m16 and m203 - and lets get a crate of ammo too.
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  • Posted by Ardeth 12 years, 1 month ago
    And it is not "money is the root of all evil", but it is the LOVE of money".
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    • Posted by $ jbrenner 12 years, 1 month ago
      That is NOT exactly what the Bible actually says either. In 1 Timothy 6:10, "the love of money is the root of all evil things ....". This is a nontrivial difference. What most people (including Ayn Rand) translate that as meaning is that money is evil or that the love of money is evil. Surely the love of money has been the root of much evil, but that does not necessarily make the money itself evil. Like a gun, money can be used for good or ill.

      As Francisco said, "Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to be the tool by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of men. Blood, whips and guns--or dollars. Take your choice--there is no other--and your time is running out."
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    • Posted by $ sjatkins 12 years, 1 month ago
      To love something requires knowing its nature and greatly valuing it. Read the Money Speech and then tell me that the love of money is evil.
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      • Posted by $ jbrenner 12 years, 1 month ago
        Furthermore, Jesus has a famous parable about men with 5000, 2000, and 1000 talents (a currency of the time). The enterprising men with 5000 and 2000 double their money and are rewarded with the 1000 that the lazy one buried in the ground. This is in Matthew 25:14-30.

        Or as Francisco said in the money speech, "Only the man who does not need it, is fit to inherit wealth–the man who would make his own fortune no matter where he started. If an heir is equal to his money, it serves him; if not, it destroys him."

        On this point, Christianity gets a bad rap. Jesus and Ayn Rand were actually not very different on the point of money, certainly much less than Ayn Rand thought.
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  • Posted by DaveM49 12 years, 1 month ago
    Amen to that. The distinction allows each individual to "pursue happiness" in his or her own way. Happiness for an artist or an inventor comes from a very different mindset and set of actions than happiness for someone for whom the highlight of the weekly was bowling night.
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    • Posted by $ stargeezer 12 years, 1 month ago
      I KNOW that there are many who don't share the happiness that I and my family find in our church and faith. Isn't it wonderful that our founding fathers were wise enough to insure that I can follow that aspect of pursuing my happiness, while insuring that any who choose not to follow my faith are just as much free citizens!. As for my playing in the mud, I find it an immensely fun time, but not everybody wants to be a potter.
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      • Posted by DaveM49 12 years, 1 month ago
        I entirely agree. The founders of this country went to great lengths to insure that there could not be an established state religion. Hence, we are all free to practice whatever faith we profess. Certainly "the pursuit of happiness" for many.
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  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 12 years, 1 month ago
    Perfetto! It is not my duty or responsibility to ensure the happiness of any other person but myself. I like to make my kids happy though. But that is a freely given, and enjoyable on my part, pleasure. But it's also not something I do above all else. I teach them, and piss them off, and explain to them that their happiness is not derived from any other person's toil. They are responsible for that themselves.
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