now see, fred, there you go insulting me and others on the site. I was just complying with your wishes. Enjoy your weekend.
K

Fred, we have had some interesting discussions in the past, and I appreciate your compliment.

Regarding the oath, we will agree to disagree on whether a Christian will be able to take Galt's oath. It could be reasonably argued that a Christian didn't ask Jesus to live his life for us, but a Christian who takes his/her faith seriously should be living their lives for Jesus.

ARI does not endorse political candidates and as a tax exempt 501(c)3 is not allowed to. (Don't we all have enough problems with tax agencies?) They also do not endorse the views of recipients of the BB&T grants, which are not controlled by ARI, and are only intended to put the moral foundations of capitalism into the curriculum with at least some inclusion of Ayn Rand as a serious alternative.

Whatever Brat's politics and improvement over Cantor, no one should be excited about Brat being an advocate of Ayn Rand's philosophy. Despite the reports claiming he loves Ayn Rand, etc., there has been no supporting evidence for that, only that he likes Atlas Shrugged and has been "influenced" by it in politics, that he "appreciates" her "case" for human freedom and markets, and that he is in deep with religion and has also been influenced by the likes of Calvin and Niebuhr.

He may be "appreciating" Ayn Rand's arguments only enough to get BT&T money used primarily to promote his religion as the alleged moral foundation of everything while only liking a few of Ayn Rand's formulations at the level of politics, which does more harm than good if that's what he is doing.

Until we see the one article he co-authored on Ayn Rand's moral philosophy we don't know explicitly what his position on it is or if he understands it at all. If someone finds a link to it, please post it on gg. Meanwhile be glad that Cantor is gone and watch your back.

The "faith in God" reference tells me that he understands that not all citizens can be counted on to use their own internal guide, via reasoning, to do the right thing. While the faith in God and heavenly rewards gives some folks an additional reason to behave themselves when dealing with their fellow man. My faith comes from looking around me every day for 70+ years and seeing wonders I can't explain with science.
The "needs", "economic justice", and "opportunities" are addressed by "responsibilities as citizens in a free society". To me that last phrase states folks are responsible for their own lives and the choices they make in pursuing their own needs, etc. I, nor the government via my taxes, are responsible for their poor choices.
For myself, I have no problem with his beliefs as stated. To me they are clear.

And a doff of the hat to you, too, conscious1978!

Thank you, 'Quentin'. ;) It's good to know we have 'islands' where we can recharge. A doff of the hat to you, sir.

Thanks for the reason.com link. It says he teaches Ayn Rand in the classroom!

"Brat has published papers titled 'Adam Smith’s God and the End of Economics,' 'An Analysis of the Moral Foundations in Ayn Rand,' 'God and Advanced Mammon—Can Theological Types Handle Usury and Capitalism?' and 'The Moral Foundations of Capitalism, From the Great Generation to Financial Crisis.' "
http://reason.com/24-7/2014/06/11/dave-b...

I have seen and enjoyed much of what you write as well, conscious1978. I like your moniker, too.

Brat has some different foundational principles than you do. I have seen several people here in the Gulch who share many Objectivist values other than atheism and yet remain Christian. As long as such Christians realize the burden of lordship that Christianity entails to go along with the questionable prospect of an eternal heavenly reward, people like Brat can have much in common with Objectivists and can live non-contradictory lifestyles. However, as I have said before, they cannot take Galt's oath.

Christians have one fundamentally different premise than Objectivists. Many of those who participate here in Galt's Gulch have checked such premises and are quite comfortable with the one fundamentally different premise that Objectivists do not share.

The battle will have to be waged on many fronts. I am in Florida at a non-tenure-granting engineering university in what many would consider a position of prestige and in a job I work quite hard at, but I still consider it a shrug job because I could have founded multiple companies or been a few levels below a Robert Stadler had I been willing to continue accepting the government gravy train.

I will battle from here during the academic year but want to start building a real Atlantis during the remainder of the time. I consider the shrug jobs we are in the battle positions, but we all need a vacation periodically.

JB, my point isn't ideological purity. I'm just weary of candidates that relinquish the foundations of their principles by accepting the fundamental premises of their opposition. Brat could do a lot better in what he publishes as a defense of free enterprise. My other questions are honest ones, even if Brat is a good candidate.

I've read many of your posts in the Gulch, and I agree with much of what you write. I also respect your knowledge and appreciate your efforts regarding a real Gulch, but I think that battle will need to be waged from multiple locations rather than one. ;)

Dave Brat considers himself a Christian, according to what he said on Hannity's radio program. In fact, he went to seminary and repeated the word "miracle" at least twice during his interview. Given how much he was outspent, while I wouldn't use the word "miracle", I would describe his win as possible but highly improbable. I will rejoice nonetheless.

We'll not get the "perfect" candidate in the foreseeable future, but this guy looks pretty good.

I am not going to disagree with anything you said, but if ideological purity is that important to you, then you should have already started building Atlantis. If it's any consolation to you, I am trying to serve as a nucleation site around which Atlantis can grow into a beautiful crystal.

Precisely my question. Any answers out there?