"... who believes he's libertarian"

Rand opposed libertarians, and some of the libertarians whined that she should support them. Well, Rand could see them for what they were, whim-worshipers proclaiming their faith in their own irrationality, but calling it reason. Indeed, the brilliant man who founded Reason magazine was a libertarian who felt himself to be very pro-Rand. The last words he spoke to me (shortly after he had sold Reason) were, "You should try some of this stuff. It's great." Sorry, I didn't need pot to think for me.

Libertarianism appeals to rebels. "You can tell we are individualists. We all dress the same sloppy way."

You can't fix stupid.

I am a female who was raised to believe all the things you attribute to males. She list seems to be soccer moms, as stereotypes. The difference is reason, which comes from observing the worlds and reading.You are absolutely right about kids being under the guidance of touchy feelie teachers, of both sexes. I can remember learning early on, and passing to our daughter, "There is no fairness in nature, it is a man made concept." Once ingrained, it is no longer a valid excuse. I don't trust people, they earn my trust through actions. Equality,? Does not exist, live with it, everyone has different, and must overcome weaknesses and pursue talents. You are, accept that and make the best of it.

Never underestimate the power of FREE. I've watched any number of my co-workers get intoxicated if there is a free bar. I manage to avoid that, but the free buffet brings me down.

Most of us will stand in line for free stuff.

“Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm; but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.” TS Elliot

I think seeking "external validation" plays a part in it, something that AR never did.

That's the one, opening seen JH is editing the news so the PC crowd won't get the real story, just like today. All the facts EXCEPT the key that would explain the issue.

There may be any number of reasons, but I'll give you one not mentioned: a lack of long-term priorities. Look at everything about the progressive Left. Everything is based on the short-term: power, money, etc. Until people start thinking long-term, honesty can be replaced by a few white lies, fidelity turns to promiscuity, and the pursuit of power becomes everything.

"smart" people....that is the wrong assumption...they are very ignorant and choose to speak with emotions rather that rational thought...when you challenge them with facts, they then claim their "opinion" is just as valid as yours...

rule #1...don't argue with a crazy person...

That version with John Hurt was very, very well done.

Brilliant quote, on the same subject
" Never try to teach a pig to sing,it will frustrate you and annoy the pig" Robert Heinlein

Wow, fantastic quote.

Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them. Leave them alone.
Ayn Rand

Thanks.

I'd like to add a little saying I've given my kids: "Freedom without responsibility is freedom corrupted and soon lost." Herd humans accept no responsibility for whatever they do (or don't do) and always seem to end up in chains - literally or figuratively.

Good thinking, DNA is powerful stuff, some run to the guns, most flee, others play dead. Natures way to insure some make it through the crisis. There was safety in the crowd.

Interesting to hear this. It really doesn't surprise me considering the flower power movements underpinnings and radical elements. Thanks for sharing.

Because the looters and moochers refuse to think. They deny that A = A.

I figure it is primeval and tribal still in mans survival mechanism. "We" as a whole may not be as far out of the jungle as we would like to think. Therefore, there is a familial feeling of comfort in the collective. It takes effort and risk to be a rational individual as opposed to being an instinctive herd animal. One can be "smart" in many ways and still be tribal. The true concept of individual liberty is extremely new on the historical scene and, arguably, the United States was the first massive effort towards creating a civilization comprised of free individuals. Maybe mankind still isn't ready for it, yet.

I believe it was Nikita Khrushchev, but can't recall the exact quote. He also stumped Eisenhower when he posed the question referring to capitalism "How can you defend a system based on greed?". Even then people, including Eisenhower, didn't really know what capitalism was. We've been losing that part of our history for a long time. I figure if it wasn't for Ayn Rand, it would be totally gone by now.

JFK was told by the then Russian Leader (Forget his name) that his Grandchildren will be begging for Communism...

JFK Laughed...
If he's watching, he's certainly crying now!

Thanks to all that replied, I have had all these thoughts from time to time as well. Edification or lack of it has to be a big part o the matter. Not teaching the founding documents or the reason for the American Revolution, History has been revised to avoid any conflicts with the nanny state. The courts ave been packed with jurists happy to ignore the law. And then the bureaucrats dug in like ticks bleeding the host dry.
Finally the "News media" I call them Democrats with cameras.
If one only gets information from te mainstream and I include Fox oter than a couple of shows it is impossible to reach valid conclusions.

AR said a thousand times " Check your premises" Garbage in garbage out. Gobles, Trotsky Engels Alinsky showed the way and the NYT is now the paper of record. Bugger me

Chilling , Dolfo had a way with words. I had not heard that one but it on the $

I watched 1984 again recently , he nailed it , same tone as today's left, just switch Glodstine to Trump.
Thanks for your reply

At the risk of upsetting my wife of 35 years , AGAIN, I agree with much of what you describe. We can't blame the ladies for the progressive revolution however. W Wilson, T Roosevelt his mad cus, FDR all came to power when men ran the show.
I recall Ron Paul's speech when he retired from congress and opined that freedom and liberty never seemed to generate any enthusiasm with the voters.
I came to te US in 79 from Australia and was often asked why I would leave such a great country. Rather than point out all the statist Utopian crap down under I would just say To come to "the land of the free and the home of the brave" I don't say that any more but I still hope it's true.
Thanks for taking the time to reply

I view the Left and the Right as concepts like Mother and Father... In a Traditional Sense...
I believe it is NATURE and a bunch of NURTURE (it is pushed into them).

This is a Generalization... Do not attack me, there are clearly lefty males and righty females and all of that... [That I have to say this, LOL]

For example, Women/Mothers/Leftists VALUE
- Fairness
- Equality (of outcome)
- Equality (of access... All kids should get to play)
- Nurturing and Coddling the WEAK
- Thinking People are GOOD, or WANT to be, we just have to love them enough
- People make mistakes, don't hold them against them!
- White Lies
- Feelings

Then, Men/Fathers/Conservatives VALUE
- Ability
- Desire
- Action (My dad could care less that I was acing my classes, he was concerned I was not trying to do BETTER than what was EASY, and not acing EVERY Class)
- Outcomes/Results
- Equality of Access
- Differentiation (Who is First, Second, Third)
- Relative Progress (yes son, you are on a last place team. But at the beginning of the season, you NEVER scored a point. Now you score 2-3 each game)
- Helping others WHO TAKE Responsibility
- AVOIDING Leeches
- Not Coddling
- Honesty
- Not Feelings... FACTS.

Follow Jordan Peterson. He makes it clear that WE NEED BOTH to thrive as society.
But we have let the Left take over. 90%+ of K-5 teachers are all women. They are the ones pushing "everything is normal", "everyone is a winner". BS!
And that is when it starts. I watched it with my daughter, she got a participation trophy for soccer... And looked at me and made a face and said "we sucked!"
LOL The kids know better than the Leftists.

Love and Coddling have a place with an infant. Even with a small child.
But that has to switch to competition, facts, truth, EFFORT, and accepting your own limitations and strengths!

And SHAME on the parents who let their kids take on $100,000 in debt to get a degree for a job that pays $30K or for a degree that has ZERO Hiring Prospects.

Anyways, this is how intelligent people can see things so differently. Values and Beliefs.
If you Value equality for everyone, you always feel bad for the kid in last place. You WANT to help him.
But think about the two ways to help him
1) Leftist: Hold Everyone else back so he has a "Fair" chance to win
2) Conservative: Help him train

And finally, WHY help him... Maybe he doesn't want to win AT THIS?

Americans, more and more, are entering the paradigm of Big Brother. I think that's about it. Many people, like those born in North Korea labor camps, don't really know anything different. They find comfort in it. It's insane, of course...