That’s cool - and certainly during these very scary, very troubled, very complex times, you have a lot to be thankful for in terms of your position.
But these times won’t last forever. And if you consider yourself intelligent, a winner, a go-getter, whatever – and you clearly do – then by the time you get to be a bit older (I would peg you at your early 30’s from your posts - sorry if I have that wrong), you have to look in the mirror and what you’ve accomplished. And sure you’ve provided for your family, but, at some level, you prostituted yourself to do it. Don’t get me wrong - we ALL do - heck, I was a management consultant for over a decade, so I was right beside you at the Prostitution Trough™. But I stepped away as my values changed.
All I am saying is: making big, cocky pronouncements about how you’re all set and folks who made bad choices must suffer is typically not a good strategy over the long run - karma is a bitch.
Come to Texas. A large number of grown people have convinced themselves that it’s because we’ve moved so far away from Rand’s philosophy that our economy’s in the shitter rather than the fact that we have tried to implement all her ideas and it failed miserably. Libertarianism fits well with the Texas mind set so most of us forget that Rand’s work was not only fiction it is now completely anachronistic.
Atheism is not well represented here but her religious views aren’t what is most admired about her. I doubt most of the people here who espouse her philosophy as it applies to politics and public policy hold her atheism against her. Religion is big here but so is business. There is something seductive about The Virtue of Selfishness. Many here ascribe to the idea that large companies will do what is in their own best interest in the long run and investing in their workers if only the government would get out of big business and let the market handle itself. I had an argument this weekend in which I had to remind people that if the government didn’t get involved we would not have child labor laws.
I would say that parts of it fit Texas quite well, but not the godless part. People seem to take what they like from Rand’s books. I imagine that the libertarian and meritocratic ideas in Atlas Shrugged would appeal to what I know of how many Texans view themselves.
Everyone reads Atlas Shrugged and thinks they are Hank fucking Reardon (or Dagny Taggart if you are a woman I suppose). Dude, you are a fucking TAX ATTORNEY. You aren’t bending steel to your will or driving railroads accross the mountains. You are Reardon’s Wet Nurse advising him on what actions he should or should not take to not run afoul of the various incomprehensible regulations and acts implemented by the Looters and Moochers.
Count yourself lucky. Very, VERY lucky. Roland, trust me, I don’t judge libertarians-or all followers of Ayn Rand, by the assboil known as Rand Rover.
At least teachers are actually useful in this world-at least.
Now, don’t you have some work to be doing, so you can earn some more money, so you can buy that big shiny car? And then you can come here and brag about it?
I wouldn’t say it’s ridiculous. If there is any lesson to be learned from Rand’s teachings it is that no one owes you anything. I don’t think a purely Objectivist society could function properly. Rand doesn’t really mention how the schools and roads get paid for in the world of Atlas Shrugged. But I do think too many people have a sense of entitlement about what the world owes them.
I wouldn’t fault anyone for wanting to make money. I like making money. I also like being challenged in my job and working with bright, interesting people on interesting projects. Most people on their deathbed don’t wish they spent more time in the office because they work in the type of office that makes them wish they were on their deathbed.
Guin, you are now on my triple-secret ignore list. That’s where I tell you I am ignoring you but I don’t really put you on my ignore list and I tell you that too leaving you so confused that your little pointy head asplodes.
I’ve got no dog in this fight or anything, and this has been said in various forms already, but, dang!, Rand Rover, how do you find the time in a workday to read AND post this much?
This comment keeps coming up and it amazes me. Some things to think about:
I typically participate in one thread atr a time.
I make lots of typos becausew I don’t proofread.
I typically have lots of little poclets of time throughout the day where I can hit refresh, read new posts, and maybe write a post, all opf which takes 5 minutes. For instance, I am currently sitting in the room with funny furniture.
Huh, I do all that and spend every morning, evening and some lunches with my daughter; work a 8 hr. day; I even have a BlackBerry and do it all with a degree in Theatre. Guess some of us should have spent less time reading Rand and more time making better choices.
