| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
>>> ...my 13 year-old boy was taking it all in as he has been reading/listening (going through that boy-to-man phase) to all the local and national news around us. Took me until my mid twenties to get near to that curious about politics. But we didn't have a bunch of communist revolutionaries advising the president at that time either. | ||
| Blake |
Steve, I think he's asking if the movie had good entertainment value. What say you? | ||
| Two_seasons |
I can't say if it has good entertainment value as I'm kind of weird about entertainment in general. Entertainment for me at times is just sitting in the garage and thinking. However, if you are a conservative and/or a capitalist, then I think you'll be entertained by the fact that the characters in the movie are probably just like the people you interact with in gov't. The twist here of course is that they never show us this side of them (and the power behind them) when we are standing in front of them doing business with them. The cost of a couple gallons of gasoline these days. BTW, #1 son says he may want to be an attorney. I've got a friend whose daughter goes to UofChicago at $56K a year, so he'll be doing more than shoveling snow to make ends meet! | ||
| Rocketsprink |
RAND'S PHILOSOPHY: The philosophy, such as it was, which Rand laid out in her novels and essays was a frightful concoction of hyper-egotism, power-worship and anarcho-capitalism. She opposed all forms of welfare, unemployment insurance, support for the poor and middle-class, regulation of industry and government provision for roads or other infrastructure. She also insisted that law enforcement, defense and the courts were the only appropriate arenas for government, and that all taxation should be p urely voluntary. Her view of economics starkly divided the world into a contest between "moochers" and "producers," with the small group making up the latter generally composed of the spectacularly wealthy, the successful, and the titans of industry. The "moochers" were more or less everyone else, leading TNR's Jonathan Chait to describe Rand's thinking as a kind of inverted Marxism. Marx considered wealth creation to result solely from the labor of the masses, and viewed the owners of capital and the economic elite to be parasites feeding off that labor. Rand simply reversed that value judgment, applying the role of "parasite" to everyday working people instead. On the level of personal behavior, the heroes in Rand's novels commit borderline rape, blow up buildings, and dynamite oil fields -- actions which Rand portrays as admirable and virtuous fulfillments of the characters' personal will and desires. Her early diaries gush with admiration for William Hickman, a serial killer who raped and murdered a young girl. Hickman showed no understanding of "the necessity, meaning or importance of other people," a trait Rand apparently found quite admirable. For good measure, Rand dismissed the feminist movement as "false" and "phony," denigrated both Arabs and Native Americans as "savages" (going so far as to say the latter had no rights and that Europeans were right to take North American lands by force) and expressed horror that taxpayer money was being spent on government programs aimed at educating "subnormal children" and helping the handicapped. Needless to say, when Rand told Mike Wallace in 1953 that altruism was evil, that selfishness is a virtue, and that anyone who succumbs to weakness or frailty is unworthy of love, she meant it. So this is the Republicans new idol? A Russian born, hardcore atheist, hardcore pro-choice woman that based her writings on a psychopathic murderer? Aren't all of you the moochers she hates? Unless there are millionaire posting on this thread. Sorry, but I find that hard to believe. Are you serious about following her philosophy? I am truly scared for this Country if that's the case. Really? You really believe in that shit? Wow. I promised myself not to comment on these threads anymore, but I really, honestly can't believe you guys buy into this crap. That's the kind of Country you want? PLEASE!! Move the f@#k out of the USA and go start your own on some island. You are beyond help if you buy into this shit. Maybe Glen Beck can be your leader as he lost his gig at Fox. Unfrickin' real. I hope none of you ever got any help in the form of welfare or unemployment. If so......PARASITE!!!!!!! | ||
| Brumbear |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs4y5si8DGs I may be from dirty JerZ but I know gospel when I hears it!!!  | ||
| Kenm123t |
Rocket We thought you couldnt stand us any more! Keep your hate to your self. I stopped caring what the looters and moochers think along time ago. Take your venom and go! | ||
| Blake |
Rocco, That is a very dishonest characterization of Ayn Rand's philosophy. For instance the statement that "The 'moochers' were more or less everyone else (besides the wealthy industrialists)" is a blatant lie. The moochers and looters were exactly what those words mean, those who don't provide any value, but either beg or game the system to obtain the fruits of other folks honorable efforts. Don't be a fool. Watch the movie or read the book. Education is good. (Message edited by Blake on April 21, 2011) (Message edited by Blake on April 21, 2011) | ||
| Blake |
Also Ayn Rand opposed abortion. | ||
| Reindog |
Rocco, You clearly did not write the first paragraph about Rand's philosophy (not enough obscenities) and it is disingenuous to not cite your source. Whose opinion are you citing? I encourage you to read the book and decide for yourself. You will find uncomfortable parallels with our burgeoning government and class warfare waged by this piece of Nothing who temporarily occupies the White House. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Wow, I better pull that book away from my 13 year old son. Don't want him to become a nazi or some other label the left would hang on him! | ||
| Glitch |
Power worship? really? Have you even read Fountainhead? If you had you surely wouldn't have quoted whoever you are quoting. Unless of course you're just one of those people that blindly follow the left no matter what. Or you're trolling. Rocco you obviously are reading vicariously through others. Which I guess is ok, if you don't mind your ignorance showing. | ||
| Glitch |
Why oh why am I not surprised? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/BeVeryAfraid/ obama-debt-reduction-plan_n_851374_85179609.html | ||
| Court |
Looks like we've had a visit from a White House Speech Writer . . . Always the type of things I feel I shouldn't have to tell my students . . . . and I actually flunked one nice young attorney last semester . . . what ticks me off the most is when I read something that quite obviously the proffering person didn't write . . was the time I waste trying to find the source. Fortunately we have the coolest software in the world to use now . . .two words from "Google" or "Wikipedia" and you're busted. But . . . in my experience . . .if they lack ethics and integrity when they arrive in my classsroom . . . there's not much I can do.  | ||
| Kenm123t |
Court didnt you say he was an attorney? What else did you expect? Blake your never going to get through to Rocco. He is a progressive activists dream person. He parrotts the progressive stance since he lacks the ability of critical thought. A follower never a leader or self directed. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
You're right guys. You're always right. Never claimed to have written the fist paragraph. Never read her books either. I'm not into science fiction. I believe it's a good idea to base our Government on a psychotic Russian woman's idea of the ultra wealthy being kings and the rest being subhuman. Anyone here ever get government aid? I know a few that posted on this thread that have. So it's okay for you, but not others? You are the very parasite you claim to hate. Ironic. And kemn, I'm more of a leader than you'll ever dream of becoming. Believe me. But if you believe in this ideology, you're already dreaming. Thank God you are the very small minority. I still can't believe this is your ideal America. Scary stuff indeed. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Taken right off the ARC site for Blake. Abortion is a right, and all rights are absolute and cannot be "balanced" away. Ayn Rand has explained: "A right is a moral principle defining and sanctioning a man's freedom of action in a social context." The moral standard to be applied, Ayn Rand has shown, is that of man's life and what is "required by man's nature for his proper survival." The fundamental condition for man's survival--the freedom to use his rational faculty to maintain and enjoy his life. Thus, a pregnant woman, like every other individual, has the right to determine her own destiny and the destiny of her body, to choose what constitutes her own best interest and private happiness and to work for its achievement, so long as she respects the same rights in others. These rights, and all rights, are absolute by their nature. It cannot be proper to negotiate moral principles. It cannot be proper to allow a man only a portion of the freedom he requires by his nature. What of the fetus? Does it have rights which must be respected? The concept of rights is based on man's nature and presupposes the existence of an actual, fully formed and separate human being. Fetuses and embryos are not actual human beings; they are potential human beings. They have no rights until they exist apart from the mother, i.e., at birth. This is not to condone the morality of arbitrarily delaying an abortion until the last months of pregnancy--when the fetus is approaching humanness. But the function of the law is to protect rights--not to dictate moral issues which involve no violation of rights. Seems pro choice to me. | ||
| Court |
>>>Thank God you are the very small minority. Not that small of a minority . . . | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Glitch, you blindly follow the right. Kinda like the pot calling the kettle black. But I'm used to it from you guys. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Much smaller than you think Court. I know THAT is an accurate statement. | ||
| Sifo |
And I had no idea Atlas Shrugged was about abortion.  | ||
| Crusty |
O.K., Atlas shrugged on April 15. So what? I shrug almost daily. Usually when I see political opinions. | ||
| Glitch |
Glitch, you blindly follow the right. Rocco, show one time that has me blindly following anything, and I'll apologize appropriately. I still believe in questioning authority, and am not from the left nor the right, I believe in my own values, if they parallel a left or right, it means not I'm blindly following, merely agreeing. If you've ever paid any attention to what I've written you, you'd know I have issues with both the left and right, mainly because I think for myself. Never claimed to have written the fist paragraph. Never read her books either. I'm not into science fiction. Your ignorance is showing again. I so wonder how someone can have such a hard lined view without taking the time to view what it is they're so opposed... | ||
| Reindog |
Ummm... then where are quotes or your citation? You disrespect and mislead your audience. Keep doing it and you lose them but you have achieved that with your copious use of obscenity. I am a Conservative and don't blindly follow anything. It took many years of experience and reading to transform myself from a Liberal Democrat. Rocco, you can awaken too but lay off the fisting.  | ||
| Slaughter |
You're all going to hell... except those who don't believe. Babies are a good source of protein - or fertilizer if you live too far inland to cost-effectively bring in fish by-products. Slavery is still in place - as evidenced in Professional Sports where players make this claim and expect to be taken seriously. | ||
| Sifo |
Never claimed to have written the fist paragraph. Originality is the assumption in all writing. | ||
| Sayitaintso |
Slavery is still in place - as evidenced in Professional Sports where players make this claim OT: I wouldn't call Albert Haynesworth a pro athelete.....more like a pro a-hole. I'm ashamed that he ever suited up for the 'Skins. (He's the one that made that comment last season) | ||
| Kenm123t |
Rocco you leadership or lack there of is evident. You do not prepare for debate by reading all of your oppositions writings. We do not agree with all of any ones writings save Gods. LOL you have to tell me what a leader you are reminds me of how the progressives tell me how smart Obama is when he hides his school transcripts. You not very inspiring in your postions and working with an angry leader is the path to destruction. Learn your first lesson if its not yours leave it alone. Do not covet what is not yours. When you get that one down we can work on the other nine. | ||
| Reindog |
I am one of those "parasites" that you claim, so let's look at your accusation with a little thought. Unemployment Insurance (UI) is not a voluntary program and is paid for by my employer and indirectly by me through decreased wages as a result of my employer's compliance. I did not choose to lose my job. There is no "looting nor mooching" wrong receiving a payment for an insurance claim. One becomes a looter or a moocher if one ceases to attempt to be a producer when living on the government largess. In my case, I looked for employment in the thirteen months that I was out. I have friends on UI that didn't lift a finger to look for a job until their benefits were coming to an end. I will let you make the call. That said, I actually agree with you. Government assistance even if it is well intentioned, tends to make slaves of us over time. It is like an addiction to black tar heroin as you get increasingly dependent on it as you look for your next fix. I was becoming that person. Luckily, I have secured employment at Broadcom where I can work sometimes 7/24 with no overtime nor a pension and I am loving it. Care to call me a parasite? If so, you have to buy the next round of beer when we finally meet each other. America is the most compassionate country in the history of countries. You mistake that generosity with the growing belief system that Americans are somehow "owed" something. T'aint so. Was never T'aint so. And will never be T'aint so. Those are the moochers and looters. Just read the damned book already. Jeesh. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Rein where did Chris Rock tell you to hide your Money? In a book robbers wont pick up a book! | ||
| Boltrider |
Respecting her for the work she's done isn't the same as agreeing with her philosophy 100%. I don't agree with EVERYTHING she believed, but I do agree on SOME of her views and she has my respect. I would be hard-pressed to name someone with whom I agree on everything. I don't think that person exists. Rand came from early 20th century Russia and that fact surely helped to shape her views. Having your property confiscated by the government would tend to do that. Read the damn book (I'm halfway through myself). After that, pick it apart. Don't jump on the backs of others because you lack the attention span to finish those pages. |
