That's not an answer....that's a distracter. Still waiting for an answer.....

When I asked him what "deal" I agreed upon he went into a rant that included this line: "I say that you are demanding things without payment, and that makes you the 'looter'."

someone said the other day that this was not an Ayn Rand website. It was a John Galt website , which I found amusing. Besides promoting the movies AS, what are you looking for here? I mean this sincerely.

Alright.

You are now a 'Hooter'.

Every red blooded American dude loves a Hooter.

That means that I love you....

no one is trying to duplicate the Gulch. It's a metaphor, figurative, a literary construct. However, it is also an entree into the philosophy of Objectivism. it's why you're here, right?

Based upon your review, I have zero interest in going there.

I'll let the others that are reading this thread decide if I am the one that needs to 'flex' more! ;-)

where were you called a looter? I did not see that comment.

privatization can take over and perform better than any government system. governments do not undrstand business systems. many economists have received Nobels for their research in public choice economics. Basically, a government employee always works to increase their power as the main goal. First function of what they do-all the way to the top. In capitalism, this would be suicide, unless you had the govt as a partner. Monopolies are born out of regulatory structures. who regulates?

hmmm, you lost a point there.it was removed with a magic pen no doubt

Simple.

She is the creator of Galt's Gulch...their 'God', so to speak.

They play out their roles in her novel, as she sees fit. They have nothing to worry about, since they are actors in her mind, and they only read their parts. Any decision they make, will make sense by the ending...all by design.

'Ayn's got their back.'

Rand was giving us a parable to learn from...not to try to duplicate exactly. If that had been the cause, she surely had enough wealth to start a Gulch on her own private island.

But she didn't...and it seems to me that I witnessed her bless America, in all of it's collectivist debauchery.

You're making your point. Provide the "flexibility" in your responses and posts.I think you should check out some Objectivist forums and then come back and say some of us are inflexible. Most of the contributors on those sites will not touch this site with a ten foot pole

The intellectual gymnastics can be fun, but there are some in here that want to apply as much of Rand as possible to our real lives. When we try to discuss that, we get the 'black or white' answer.

Either Rand says this is rational, or it has to be irrational. There is no other way....

I love Ayn Rand, and I call for some flexibility in order to maybe see her vision become our reality.

You called me a looter. Why?

I guess logic is just a magical fantasy. We should open a sparkly, mystical amusement park and name it Logic Land and hang a plaque at the front gate that says, "Leave your premise behind."

I never talk about a fantasy world. If your idea of the real world is one defined by what's politically possible today, prepare for the barbarians to come in. There are real solutions to major issues such as Medicare and social security. but you have to be committed to reforming the entire system back to natural rights. for SS, other countries have transitioned from a govt ponzi scheme to a market system, still not exactly free but better for all involved and the country.
Yes, I work toward and advocate for and educate Rand's writings and philosophy. there is nothing magic about it.

You're IN my premise.
I misread nothing. You made false accusations about me and I'd like YOU to explain why you did that.

rocky, ultimately, this battle is an intellectual battle not a political battle.
1. education. Many in this site loved the movie but have not read the book, or know about Objectivism.In here, it's fair game to be quite rigid about the intellectual argument. In here, we owe it to ourselves to not compromise. Out there-do what you need to do, but I owe it to myself to not compromise my intellectual principles.
permalinked aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

You misread the entire thing, and I reject your premise.

Answer my questions.

lol

There you go again...expecting to 'snap' your fingers, and you awake in Galt's Gulch.

Reality is that this will take time, and there will be compromises during that trip. That was what I was trying to convey...that we can't expect to get anywhere if we are mired in some sort of 'Ayn Rand's way, or the highway' world view. We don't have the numbers, so we better have the patience and the ability to adapt!

Oh, yeah: Rand Paul would be a good beginning.

I'm praying for one

ose sight of the fact that we are all in love with a work of fiction, but that is 'what it is'...a fantasy world, where no one ever needs to worry about their role in life.

Ayn's 'got their back'.

I do not understand what you mean here. Please clarify with specifics.

Name one, present day, objectivist politician.

Cool.

I guess you missed where I suggested that you have always had a say in what you receive, and what you are charged for.