tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post619214827899775391..comments2024-01-13T08:49:14.041-08:00Comments on Myrhaf: Random Thoughts the Day BeforeMyrhafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340507405537605164noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-37698065159332929802008-11-04T21:04:00.000-08:002008-11-04T21:04:00.000-08:00I hope he really is as wonderfully ignorant and me...I hope he really is as wonderfully ignorant and mediocre as some predict he will be. I hope congress can keep him at bay. I hope that the nation does learn from his term that government influence has always been the problem.Insighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471607960480880947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-62276019524758733062008-11-04T16:39:00.000-08:002008-11-04T16:39:00.000-08:00"But the idea of usurping and corrupting black cul..."But the idea of usurping and corrupting black culture to weld blacks into an insular mass of people ready to be used as a weapon via the threat of riot, has really gained traction since the riots in Los Angeles and other cities demonstrated what could be done with such a weapon."<BR/><BR/>This is an excellent point, one I have not seen other Objectivists make. The Left has preached collectivism to blacks and hispanics for so long that they have effectively killed any individual elements in either culture, and both cultures desperately need an individualist dynamic. The tragedy is that the only people other than Objectivists who are opposing Leftist multiculturalism are the racialists/race realists. And they are genuine racists who argue for the inferiority of non-whites and non-Asians (although they dislike Asians for other reasons). They're a small minority in American culture but I wonder if they might not grow in size under an Obama presidency. On a positive not in this area, I am pleased to see more black Objectivists in the last few years. It would be a great thing if blacks would draw inspiration from Ayn Rand instead of Martin Luther King or Malcolm X.madmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14375140131881725965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-13746479675378763772008-11-04T13:38:00.000-08:002008-11-04T13:38:00.000-08:00Do I detect wishful thinking among the liberals wh...<I>Do I detect wishful thinking among the liberals who make these predictions? Is this another form of intimidation? Hey, white people -- vote for Obama or else! </I><BR/><BR/>Oh HELL yes.<BR/><BR/>Collectivism has been endemic to blacks for a long time, and not entirely without reason. But the idea of usurping and corrupting black culture to weld blacks into an insular mass of people ready to be used as a weapon via the threat of riot, has really gained traction since the riots in Los Angeles and other cities demonstrated what could be done with such a weapon. They've been refining this weapon since then, to the great detriment of blacks all over the country.<BR/><BR/>I don't doubt for a moment that they are poised to test this weapon again if McCain pulls off the victory. Fortunately, I don't think that's going to happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-12872694313000566272008-11-03T15:39:00.000-08:002008-11-03T15:39:00.000-08:00So what you're hoping for is:"Obama hates Rand.""R...So what you're hoping for is:<BR/><BR/>"Obama hates Rand."<BR/>"Rand is the opposite of Obama."<BR/>"Obama is misery."<BR/>"Rand is prosperity."<BR/><BR/>Interesting. This situation (nightmare BHO + potential backlash vs less nightmarish JMC + potential blaming of Capitalism) would be intriguing to watch if it wasn't for real. I guess we're about to be taught a lesson in real life game theory?<BR/><BR/>L-CAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-62001951091880899302008-11-03T15:11:00.000-08:002008-11-03T15:11:00.000-08:00Has a major politician ever used Rand as a polemic...Has a major politician ever used Rand as a polemical attack on self-interest before? This in and of itself might be a significant event. Harry Binswanger once wrote that before Ayn Rand could be accepted she would have to be popular enough to be condemned. In essence it is better for her to be widely condemned for her ideas than for her to be completely ignored. The fact that Obama has used the phraseology he has suggests that he (and his speech writers) associate selfishness with her. That is a good thing for the culture.madmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14375140131881725965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-57329457360542516102008-11-03T15:07:00.000-08:002008-11-03T15:07:00.000-08:00Thanks, Justin. I predict McCain wins a squeaker.Thanks, Justin. I predict McCain wins a squeaker.Myrhafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16340507405537605164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-17435878592291307112008-11-03T14:50:00.000-08:002008-11-03T14:50:00.000-08:00Myrhaf,I agree with your last point. Clarity of a...Myrhaf,<BR/><BR/>I agree with your last point. Clarity of alignment of government purpose and policy will be beneficial to "The Case For Free Markets." An Obama presidency will at least allow us to easily identify statism as the cause of the forthcoming pain. <BR/><BR/>And no more confusion about Republican policy failures equating to "free market failures"!! <BR/><BR/>In the long-run, the ousting of the Republicans, and the ease with which criticism can then be leveled at the Democrats, may result in a faster turnaround. A humorously hopeful diagram of this prediction is in one of my blog posts:<BR/><BR/>http://deexma.blogspot.com/2008/10/sad-2008-presidential-candidates.html<BR/><BR/>Maybe it's just my current pessimism in this election season, but I'm already beginning to think that prediction is overly hopeful. It rests on three assumptions which may be overly optimistic:<BR/><BR/>1) There are enough fiscal conservatives around who can make a correctly principled stance against the Democrat's policies.<BR/>2) There are enough people in America who hear those arguments, appreciate their logic, and demand that their political leaders enact them.<BR/>3) The massive entrenched special interests which will develop under Obama do not deliver an insurmountable, death-lock voting constituency to the Democrats. Teacher's union members already favor Democrats. I don't want to imagine what a unionized healthcare industry will give them.<BR/><BR/>It's a tough prediction. McCain might give us a slower erosion of Capitalism--which could give us more time to turn things around. Or the shock of 'The Magnitude of Suck' under Obama might be what is needed to wake people from their apathetic acceptance of more statism.<BR/><BR/>Like you said though, we sure will have an infinite amount of material to work with under Obama. I'm just hoping there are enough people out there to hear us! <BR/><BR/>Thanks again for another great post!<BR/><BR/>- JustinJustincrediblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11751853133469049420noreply@blogger.com