Indeed a valid point.

Well stated! +100

In the last two centuries of revolutions and upheavals, these have typically been for about 10 years or so. With today's faster communications, the upheaval process, as painful as it may be, will likely be shorter than 10 years. Better than generation after generation of looting.

The Objectivist message has no chance of success within a democratic process so long as the democratic process consists of looters and morons. We now have several generations of government-school dumbed down morons and over a 100 million full-time looters, with another 100 million part-time looters. To expect them to voluntarily give up the loot and to have them understand that the loot is not free is an expectation beyond Utopia. The collapse is the only option to stop the looting. Ayn Rand understood it back then. It should be obvious to us now.

Thanks for saying what many were thinking.

I wish I had your rosy glasses, but since I don’t, let’s look at the details:
“The average person can publish his ideas nearly for free.” – Yes, and to paraphrase Putin – Internet is like a big crown in the Red Square – scream all you want, no one will hear you.
As to realizing MLK’s dream, that’s actually Thomas More’s dream (not the first and only plagiarism by MLK), with the same result…
“LGBT rights are respected. We don't hear serious debate about whether women have the same rights as men.” The issue that we now have is that LGBT “rights” trump everyone else’s rights – when someone’s rights are more important than others’, they become privileges. When you have privileges, you lose rights. Same with women’s privileges, that come at the expense of others’ rights.
The current middle class tax rate is well above 60% when you add up all the taxes – local, state, sales, fees, federal and, most important, roll up the taxes that businesses pay and have to transfer to the consumer. Much over 60%! We are so intertwined with the government handouts and taxes that to separate the two is essentially impossible, which is exactly the way it was in the Soviet Union – and we all know how well that ended.
Violent crime is falling – true, though I do not think that it is because we are doing so well, but more to do with the fact that more and more people carry weapons and are willing to protect themselves. But let the Progressives have their way…
As to the middle class, its disappearance, or at least significant reduction, should be obvious. The poor, however, do live better than ever, but at a price – for two hundred years, America has provided an opportunity for unprecedented social mobility; today’s government-enslaved poor have no chance of ever getting out of the ghetto.
Lastly, regarding geographic boundaries, which you claim do not matter anymore – with the spread of Islam throughout yet unconquered territories, we will either see a very nationalistic shutting of the borders or Sharia takeover within a generation or two. Then you can unequivocally say goodbye to women’s and LGBT rights…

yet they may lose to HRC or Bernie in the process.
can they spell s t u p i d ? -- j
.

Oh, I long ago saw what the Democrats had become on the national stage, and I want no part of them. They would sell us out to the UN in a heartbeat. This thing with the Republicans trying so openly to dictate our votes is a bit newer. There are good candidates on both sicdes and way too many crooks, commies and manipulators on both sides. I have reached the point of not trusting any of them.

I said on the LOCAL level. In small town America, party is not really party, until they talk National candidates. I have found over the years that people migrate to local parties, openings exist to run for office, while the other party may have too many candidates, so they drift. On the small lown local level, you know more about the people, and party is a formality. As this year, the guy pulling the Republican strings locally is under investigation on several levels, leaving you not wanting to vote for any of his cronies. I once told him he was not a real Republican, but then, what is that when you see what the national leadership is up to.

The power brokers don't want to give up their power. It's disgusting actually

I would argue that politics follows philosophy. Objectivist political party can only succeed when the people are ready for the philosophy of objectivism. That is not the case now. If you look at AS, it took the collapse of the statist society before the populace was ready to adopt new ideas. I think one way to speed up the process is to bring the failures of the statists out of the shadows they hide in. That means we need anti establishment politicians to tell when the emperor has no clothes. Today that's Sanders on the left and trump on the right. Both are getting traction and bringing out how establishment politics is crooked today. Of the two you know who I would prefer

I am expecting that there will be a scurry to change
the convention rules at the last minute, to try to get
someone besides DT or Cruz. -- j

p.s. convention dates 18-21july16.
.

U mean if Sanders is elected along with Democratic Congress we get to venezuela fast

But the crash will be long and painful. I would rather it be a bit slower. The repair of the country could take 50 years easily AFTER it crashes

Indeed, yet they seem to view it as just as you said, a game. I think they really lost control a while back and it is spinning out of control, it just has not generated a crisis yet.

and they are spending millions trying to hold on to
their power and control. . it's fun watching them squirm,
but this is not a game, and our nation stands in the balance. -- j
.

Indeed, just remember, in Venezuela, it was toilet paper that was king. So, if he is elected, got to Costco and lay in pallets, you will become rich!

My point. There is no viable, good candidate. Third party does not count, because they cannot get elected. Best to start an Objectivist party, establish a political platform, and start running for local office, then state, then Federal. Only way we will ever see any change, that is not involving dark uniforms and maybe foreign accents...

And how do you propose the salvation? Most of the discussions have a single thread: The power of both parties to control the sheeple thoughts and voting makes any change impossible and any third party irrelevant.

Not trying to be contrary, but a workable method of change is whats is needed (and the Obamanation chant is not counted as workable).

Stormi, you are limiting your horizons if you just focus on Republicrats. The last 8 years of crappy laws, bad policy, illegal government actions and intrusions, Obamacare illegally enacted, a Supreme Court that has apparently forgotten what they are there for are all owned by Dumbocraps and Republicrats equally. At a local level, it gets more personal, and you have mor leverage. But it is still about money, and more "who you know". If you want to change it, you need to be voting for the libertarian/independent locally, then state, then federally. No other method will generate change, just insulate you, a little, from it's effects.

Excellent point, kinda picky are some people?

Sorry, but he is a manipulative lying political creature. To all the Senators running and bitching about what is wrong: Where were you the last 8 years? How many bills did you introduce that tried to proect our freedom and rights? How did you stop a Criminal Felony Pelosi from ramming an illegal tax bill down our throats with lies and threats? Answer: NONE. They are all fired, come on up, Donald. That is the feeling I get from most people.

No one, they have always felt they were the "anointed ones" and the party usually had total control. Reagan had to fight tooth and nail to get in the nomination, and it was because he came across so intelligent and caring. Trump is playing the same game, but since he does not need their money, he is just ignoring them, which really pisses off the masters.

I think you are on the right track. No one can take all his positions seriously, and I don't think they do, it is more the fact he is saying what they feel. He is riding a wave of "fed up with government" fervor and is just using it, and throwing gasoline on the fire when it gets too mellow.

Trump's anti PC is refreshing and needed, I agree. Other than that, and his stand against Islam, I find nothing in his methods, approach or standing as attractive or desirable. I wanted to mention his philosophy, but he has none. Trump is not only a loose cannon, but a very dangerous one. Being better than Bernie or Hillary is not much of an accomplishment. It is truly a sad state of the nation that the choice falls between the unabashed looters, liars, criminals and mafia bosses. Truly, the crash and collapse are overdue.