What would Ayn Rand think of the USA now?
In "Philosophy: Who Needs It", Rand writes, "I can say—not as a patriotic bromide, but with full knowledge of the necessary metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, political and esthetic roots—that the United States of America is the greatest, the noblest and, in its original founding principles, the only moral country in the history of the world."
I certainly agree that this was true regarding the original founding principles of the USA and that it was true at the time that she wrote it.
I certainly agree that this was true regarding the original founding principles of the USA and that it was true at the time that she wrote it.
SOURCE URL: http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/america.html
Trump might be able to slow down the decline a bit, so he has my vote for the little that is worth.
I believe she would say, read AS. I warned you.
Regards,
O.A.
I put it in this context... Had we fled the USA when I was young because it was being taken over by the communists (extrapolated ahead 50 years it actually seems pretty likely), and then watched as millions of "my people" were exterminated by a series of dictators while I watched from the safety of afar, I, too, would have not only been anti-communist, but would have been sharply pro-capitalist.
A lot of people forget Ayn came from a country (that was for all purposes a theocracy run by the Eastern Orthodox) in turmoil of revolution as a young child, and then watched from afar as, instead of healing itself, it went further and further into the morass of hell... it's no wonder she not only despised the premise and principles of socialist communism, but (from earlier in her life) was atheistic in her beliefs.
Taken thusly... it gives an insight to the MIND of Ayn Rand, Why she felt and believed as she did, and why she could write so eloquently and succinctly on the topics of her beliefs, commonly known as "Objectivism", and posit a reasonable and factual argument in support of these beliefs.
I'll give you the other side of this coin, however, as something ot think about... and it was the subject of a work of alternate reality science fiction - Had the early attempted assassination of FDR been successful, and Long became POTUS instead... and she, raised in aAmerica until she was 6 and fled the oppressive and potentially violent world here it could have become, say, to the safety of South America (I'll pick Colombia just for the sake of naming a place, not for any other good reason), and then wrote about it as a young-to-middle aged adult from that perspective - seeing Colombia as her place of refuge as a child, and the USA as the scene of turmoil, hatred, and brutality - it, too, would have been (from that alternate world / alternate reality view) evil, everything it stood for as being wrong and awful, and the system in Colombia as being ideal.
I'm not knocking her theory of Objectivism - far from it - but it's good to look at it occasionally, not as a faith system to blindly follow, but what brought about her conception of her reality to conceive of it, and to put it down into words.
And that she was able to build worlds - in her writings - around it; heroic works of heroic people worthy of legend, warning of the dangers of possibilities - exposes her brilliance. That those who disagree with her premises usually do so violently, forcefully, and with great emotion, says a lot about how well she could elucidate her positions.
Respectfully submitted for your perusal...
S
Sadly, even here on this list.
What can YOU do to stop the runaway train into the long dark night to the knights carrying the long dark knives? Or is it just too much work, or too much bother, or too much perceived risk?
Sigh of course the government will just keep getting worse because no one is serious enough to read the material there. Mostly everyone, including in the gulch, just like to talk.
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Without a proven philosophy by which to live all dies. We do have a proven philosophy by which to live "OBJECTIVISM" but we have an abysmally dumbed down populous who just don't have a clue to understanding the philosophy.
jbrenner if you think that America can change for the good is a pipe dream. It is changing for the bad and that process is as you say speeding up.
So what's the game plan now? Wait and see what Trump says....finally. They are Republicans at best and right wing of the left Rinos and Neocons. Go a bit further to the left you find leftists that were Democrats now are DINOS and asked to be called 'Socialists.
Breaking your heart over a bunch of leftists doesn't seem to accomplish very mouch. Objectively speaking. Wesley are you listening?
If the entire game plan is keep Hillary out and that's it i would ask "Is there nothing else to these meddlesome priests?"
While I disagree with Trump on quite a few things, he does get capitalism and gets Rand's concept of selfishness. I do not intend to vote for Trump, but he might be the last best hope for preserving a society in which Objectivism could flourish.
Let us suppose that Islam took over the world. Objectivists would get beheaded if taught in a Sharia-compliant country, just as Christian missionaries are. While it would be optimal for America to be Objectivist, one must have a society that is tolerant of dissent before alternative views can be presented. Think of all the police, military, and professors just fired in Turkey because their views are not in keeping with Erdogan.
If they do conflict, they will be mired in oceans of regulations and taxes which will either slow down or even stop their adoption.
I point to the 3d printing of guns as an example. Already anything deemed to be a medical device is controlled by FDA regulations such that small companies have a very difficult time launching new products (I know because I got out of the business entirely just because of that)/
This is the kind of field that students who participate in the Florida Tech Nanotechnology Minor Program that is advertised in the Galt's Gulch Marketplace will be prepared for.
just yesterday I heard on the news that the number of businesses that are opening in the USA is getting less and less. The idea that there are wonderful opportunities leaves quite a bit to be desired. We have 300 million people here and one sleeping bag company. That suggests more could open and be profitable, but that is not the case and will not happen anytime soon if ever.
those who came to the USA from Europe in the 1800's encouraged their off spring to get educations. for the next 100 years that attitude prevailed, however once the government got involved in the education of the populous things began to change and it has gotten to where we are today. so many, most of the apples are rotten.
look at the arab world versus the Israel world. in Israel they educate their off spring and there is progress. in the arab world they read the Koran and that is their education so again we see what the arab youth are exposed too. the Israelis see new warriors and kill the youth if necessary but the arabs see knowledge and that is more dangerous to them than bullets. apples do not fall far from trees.
in the USA we have the same lone wolf activity from our citizens because they have these detrimental examples to follow. apples do not fall far from trees.
the end result is what we are seeing almost daily with a government that as far as I am concerned does not care about the demise. maybe the historians will see what has been happening clearly but if they do and write about it who will they have that has the ability to not only read it but comprehend it. apples do not fall far from trees!