- \n
- Materialism – \u00a0Objectivists believe there is nothing beyond that which exists as a physical object, \u00a0and those objects have intrinsic properties that are independent of other influences.<\/li>\n
- Realism – \u00a0Since everything has a material existence, \u00a0and properties, \u00a0 All that look at an item will see precisely the same thing.<\/li>\n
- Ethics – Objectivism believes in “Rational Self-Interest”. One’s own self interest is all that has importance, \u00a0and, \u00a0no person has the obligation to take any concern for the happiness, \u00a0needs, \u00a0etc, \u00a0of any other person.<\/li>\n
- Politics – The Objectivist does believe that there should be SOME government, \u00a0but it should be the minimum needed to provide for property rights, common defense and law. \u00a0 The government should have no powers outside of these three areas.<\/li>\n
- Business – Objectivists, \u00a0based on these other facets of their belief system, \u00a0prefer a laissez-faire capitalism, \u00a0where business men are allowed to do pretty much anything they want, \u00a0because they understand that becoming too extreme will lose them business and profits.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
A somewhat longer and\u00a0more detailed discussion of this philosophy<\/a>\u00a0and its failings is available here<\/a>..<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A major proponent of this philosophy was the author, Ayn Rand.\u00a0 (here is\u00a0 More information about her life)<\/a> \u00a0 Her two major books: \u00a0 “The Fountainhead<\/strong>” – published
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Ayn-Rand-300x300.jpg\")
in 1943, \u00a0and “Atlas Shrugged<\/strong>” – Published in 1957 have\u00a0 became quite wide-spread,\u00a0 best sellers.\u00a0 They have\u00a0 helped generate a movement that exists today.\u00a0 However,\u00a0 her main claim to fame is her creation of\u00a0 the philosophy of Objectivism<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 She used her books\u00a0 to expand and\u00a0 polish it to the point it exists today. \u00a0For those who have escaped reading Ayn Rand’s works, \u00a0here follows a synopsis of her two, \u00a0major novels.<\/p>\n- \n
- “The Fountainhead” tells the story of Howard Roark, who is an individualistic young architect who refuses to compromise his artistic and personal vision for worldly recognition and success. The story follows his battle to practice modern architecture while opposed by an establishment centered on tradition. Roark embodies what Rand believed to be the ideal man, and his struggle reflects Rand’s belief that individualism is superior to collectivism. here is a link to a \u00a0\u00a0Further discussion of this book<\/a><\/li>\n
- “Atlas Shrugged” depicts a dystopian United States, wherein many of society’s most prominent and successful industrialists abandon their fortunes and even the nation, in response to aggressive new regulations, whereupon most vital industries collapse. The title is a reference to Atlas, a Titan described in the novel as “the giant who holds the world on his shoulders”. The significance of this reference appears in a conversation between the characters Francisco d’Anconia and Hank Rearden, in which d’Anconia asks Rearden what advice he would give Atlas upon seeing that “the greater [the titan’s] effort, the heavier the world bore down on his shoulders”. With Rearden unable to answer, d’Anconia gives his own response: “To shrug”. \u00a0 This, \u00a0very lengthy tome (at 1000 pages) \u00a0provides a very complete examination of Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism<\/a>. \u00a0 Here are some\u00a0more information and links about the book<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/div>\nBased on the definition of Ethics used by the Objectivists, \u00a0 there is no call for society or individuals to provide aid to the disadvantaged. \u00a0 As a matter of fact, \u00a0Ms. Rand, \u00a0in “Atlas Shrugged” \u00a0expresses quite a bit of contempt for the poor and disabled…calling them \u00a0“parasites”, “looters”, and “moochers who demand the benefits of the heroes’ labor”. \u00a0 She hated the idea of any form of a welfare state, \u00a0decrying the very concept , \u00a0and saying that ALL Citizens should succeed on their own with out the help or support of the Government or any other citizen. \u00a0What caused this hardening of attitudes towards government and the needy? \u00a0 Let us look at her life to see if there is any insight there.<\/p>\n
Ayn Rand was born into a fairly privileged life in Russia. \u00a0During her Formative Years, \u00a0her father was a quite well off \u00a0Pharmacist, \u00a0who apparently had quite a gift for the profession, \u00a0and so garnered accolades and wealth. \u00a0 \u00a0However, In 1917, her father’s shop was seized by Bolshevik soldiers during the general upheaval of the Civil War that kicked out the Czars and installed the Leninists and the family was shipped off to the Crimea.\u00a0 In that event, they ended up \u00a0 losing all of their wealth, \u00a0and were forced to\u00a0 live in poverty until she managed to escape to the United States in 1926. \u00a0 These events, \u00a0at pivotal points in her life, \u00a0really solidified her dislike for Government and the power it wields. \u00a0 I suspect that the 9 years or so of living in the Crimea impacted her too, \u00a0as she and her family were one of many in the area who were stripped of wealth, \u00a0and likely heard quite a bit of complaining about how they deserved a better life, \u00a0and bitter comments\u00a0 about how the Czars had lived the high life, \u00a0and when the Communists, \u00a0led by Lenin, took over, \u00a0they failed to distribute the wealth evenly as promised, \u00a0and so kept most of it for themselves. \u00a0 If she had a bit too much “hero worship” for her father, \u00a0the conflict between the humiliation of being cast into poverty, \u00a0and the great life that his perfection had provided would have gone a long way towards killing off any Empathy she might have had for the downtrodden.\u00a0 it has been my observation over the years that unless a person has spent significant time in self-reflection,\u00a0 and worked on self-awareness,\u00a0\u00a0 that person will ALWAYS assume that everyone around them has a life and skill set that matches their own.<\/p>\n
.<\/p>\n
Does any of the above sound familiar? \u00a0 It should! \u00a0 Buried in the proceeding text are most, if not all,\u00a0 of the basic tenets of the Republican Party as it exists today!<\/p>\n
.<\/p>\n
Most, if not all, \u00a0of the Republicans in power now look upon themselves as “Ubermensch” \u00a0– \u00a0The Overlords – \u00a0who have started out with nothing, \u00a0but, through the dint of hard work, \u00a0persistence, \u00a0and their own innate excellence, \u00a0have been elevated to the Lofty Position of Leaders of the Citizens. \u00a0 Listen to their rhetoric. \u00a0It drips with the attitude of “I am smarter than you; \u00a0I am more educated than you; \u00a0I know what is best for you, \u00a0far better than what you could understand”. \u00a0 \u00a0Right Now, \u00a0the administration is working to eliminate \u00a0Health Care rules and regulations from the body of Law we live under…They are working to cut back, or eliminate programs such as Medicare\/Medicaid \u00a0and Social Security. \u00a0 They are working to build trade barriers that will give the manufacturers in America an advantage. \u00a0They are working to eliminate the tax burden that they have right now, \u00a0 so instead of having to support the parasites, \u00a0 they can keep all that lovely money for themselves.<\/p>\n
The adherents of Objectivism though,\u00a0 ignore the fact that their picture of their life story is, in most cases,\u00a0 a lie.\u00a0\u00a0 Look at the makeup of Congress and the Administration today.\u00a0\u00a0 A vast majority of the Republicans in that body were born to rich parents,\u00a0 have lived a life of privilege,\u00a0 and, have NO concept of how the huge majority of Americans live today.\u00a0\u00a0 Also,\u00a0 the fact is, as we are already seeing, they lack Empathy, or concern for anyone who is not themselves, or outside of their immediate family.\u00a0 Objectivism,\u00a0 as a basis for an entire society, \u00a0is doomed to abject failure. \u00a0 It fails to take into consideration these very real facts:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Too many people are\u00a0 liars, cheats\u00a0 and eaten up with greedy twits. \u00a0 If there is a plate of cookies on a table for all to share, \u00a0a vast majority of people will fill their own pockets with the cookies…taking far more than they need and deny others a cookie or two. \u00a0 They will say, or do, \u00a0what ever is necessary to enrich themselves, \u00a0and throw others under the bus without blinking.<\/li>\n
- “Rational Self-Interest<\/a>”\u00a0 is bad for society. \u00a0 It inevitably leads to businessmen being unable to build a trust relationship that is vital for productivity. \u00a0 As an example – Business A \u00a0makes a deal with Business B to provide parts – say, \u00a0milled heads for Diesel Engines – at a given cost \u00a0because they have found that Business B’s product is a very reliable one. \u00a0Business B is likely to start taking short-cuts in the manufacture of the heads, \u00a0so as to increase their profit margin. \u00a0 Business A \u00a0builds a large number of engines \u00a0for a pivotal order using these (now inferior) heads. \u00a0 When the Engines are delivered, \u00a0they fail, \u00a0and Business A is driven nearly out of business, or out of business. \u00a0 What is the likelihood that Business A will EVER purchase product from Business B again? \u00a0 I suggest that they will NEVER do it…because Business B cannot be trusted to provide a product of adequate quality. \u00a0 Other vendors may cost \u00a0more, \u00a0but, if they can be TRUSTED to provide a consistent product, \u00a0 Business A will work with them instead…taking a smaller profit m<\/li>\n
- Too many people are, \u00a0liars and greedy twits. \u00a0 If there is a plate of cookies on a table for all to share, \u00a0a vast majority of people will fill their own pockets with the cookies…taking far more than they need and deny others a cookie or two. \u00a0 They will say, or do, \u00a0what ever is necessary to enrich themselves, \u00a0and throw others under the bus without blinking.<\/li>\n
- “Rational Self-Interest<\/a>”\u00a0 is bad for society. \u00a0 It inevitably leads to businessmen being unable to build a trust relationship that is vital for productivity. \u00a0 As an example – Business A \u00a0makes a deal with Business B to provide parts – say, \u00a0milled heads for Diesel Engines – at a given cost \u00a0because they have found that Business B’s product is a very reliable one. \u00a0Business B is likely to start taking short-cuts in the manufacture of the heads, \u00a0so as to increase their profit margin. \u00a0 Business A \u00a0builds a large number of engines \u00a0for a pivotal order using these (now inferior) heads. \u00a0 When the Engines are delivered, \u00a0they fail, \u00a0and Business A is driven nearly out of business, or out of business. \u00a0 What is the likelihood that Business A will EVER purchase product from Business B again? \u00a0 I suggest that they will NEVER do it…because Business B cannot be trusted to provide a product of adequate quality. \u00a0 Other vendors may cost \u00a0more, \u00a0but, if they can be TRUSTED to provide a consistent product, \u00a0 Business A will work with them instead…taking a smaller profit margin \u00a0for but likely seeing continued growth of their customer base, \u00a0and having a customer base that will keep coming back year after year to buy their product.<\/li>\n
- This is just one example, \u00a0but, almost any relationship has the same format. \u00a0 \u00a0Look at personal relationships. \u00a0 Would any of us trust a person who bad-mouthed us behind our backs, \u00a0and\/or failed to follow through on actions they promised? \u00a0I suspect the answer is “No.” \u00a0What happens to that relationship where these betrayals happen?\u00a0 It becomes more and more distant; \u00a0we stop sharing experiences, \u00a0or making contact with that person. \u00a0 We end up with them pushed away from us, \u00a0or simply an adjunct where we deal with them when we have to, \u00a0and then, \u00a0only with the minimum amount we have to.<\/li>\n
- Objectivism’s contempt for the disadvantaged will produce a society of classes that are separated by a wall of prejudice and hate. \u00a0 Its adherence to the idea that every person is responsible for making their own success in the world ignores the fact that there are many times when events outside of our control will cause massive disruption in our lives, \u00a0and leave us unable to get back on the ladder without help. \u00a0 Let us look at a person who has worked at one job for 20+ years,\u00a0 but loses that job because their company closes. \u00a0 Thanks to the economy, \u00a0including the fluctuations in inflation and the like, \u00a0what used to be a decent, if low, salary when they started to work \u00a0is now eroded away so much that\u00a0 they are living\u00a0 paycheck to paycheck and have no pad to help with disasters like this. \u00a0 In addition, \u00a0they live in a “Right To Work” state…which means no unions, \u00a0and no advocates for better pay, \u00a0other than them going into the boss’s office and trying to negotiate for more money. \u00a0 So…they are without income suddenly, \u00a0but the bills keep coming in. \u00a0Unless they are very lucky, \u00a0it can take months to find a new job…in that time, \u00a0they can end up homeless, \u00a0and starving. \u00a0 They do not have enough cash to get training for another job…and, perhaps they are learning impaired enough that learning a new job is not likely to be productive in the first place. \u00a0 What do they do in the Objectivist World? \u00a0 Starve or freeze to death I suppose…or turn to a life of crime! \u00a0 What, exactly, \u00a0should they have changed in their lives to take control and to avoid this? \u00a0 To me, \u00a0this is the same, basic situation as Ms. Rand went through in 1917. \u00a0 An outside force blasted in, and totally destroyed the house of cards that was their life. \u00a0 Now, \u00a0in American Society, \u00a0at least for the moment, \u00a0we have governmental resources that will provide aid for a period of time. \u00a0 Money and resources for food, \u00a0lodging and the basic necessities of life. \u00a0 What is provided is not enough to allow a comfortable life, \u00a0but, it is possible to exist on it. \u00a0 Oh yes, \u00a0by the by, \u00a0while Ms. Rand may have expressed contempt for the idea of Governmental Aid, \u00a0she was not shy about applying for it on towards the end of her life. \u00a0 This is discussed here<\/a> and while it might not be the height of hypocrisy for her to have gotten it, \u00a0she did find it uncomfortable enough to be receiving these benefits from the Government she hated, \u00a0 that she turned over the responsibility for getting the payments set up to another person.<\/li>\n
- A society that is built on the concepts of Objectivism is a tough, and cruel place to live.\u00a0 I suspect that even the people who advocate it would not actually want to live in it.\u00a0\u00a0 The “Dog Eat Dog”\u00a0 attitudes that it entails ensure that the only way to succeed is to climb on the bodies of those that one has thrown under the bus.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 it adds pain and suffering to the lives of many,\u00a0 and benefits only the few.\u00a0 The question which I have asked of many Libertarians\/Objectivists\u00a0 is this “IS this the kind of society YOU would want to live in?”\u00a0\u00a0 The only people that have answered “Yes” to that question have been the folks that are young and foolish enough to believe that they are immune to disasters in their life.\u00a0\u00a0 Most folks simply ignore my question.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So…as you listen to the pontifications of the Republicans in charge…Remember Ayn Rand, their God and Mentor, \u00a0and what her \u00a0flawed view of how reality should be can bring on. \u00a0 It explains a lot about the actions they take and the laws they attempt to pass.<\/p>\n
.<\/p>\n
What can we do to combat this? \u00a0 There are a few, fairly simple steps that can combat this blight on Society.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Do not let the Representatives and SCROTUS slip these cuts through without protest. \u00a0 Even if you think it will not help to contact these folks…it does.<\/li>\n
- If you are at a meeting with your Representative, \u00a0 press them about how their policies are based in the debunked nonsense spread about like manure that Ayn Rand left us.<\/li>\n
- VOTE! \u00a0 make it a point to go to the polls and vote for a candidate whose platform and life of service shows that they ARE looking out for ALL of us…not just themselves and their wealthy clique.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Here is some useful information I have gathered together and am scattering around the Net.\u00a0 Feel Free to repost to your Social Networks…If you have read this far,\u00a0 you are likely NOT happy with the idea of living in the dystopian society that the Republicans want to create,\u00a0 so,\u00a0 hopefully this information will make it easier to contact your Representatives (from local and state up to Federal) to let them know what you feel about the job they are doing:<\/p>\n
\nFirst off, understand that anyone that tells you that a communication from you as a Constituent, to your Representative is a waste of time, because the politicians only pay attention to the lobbyists that write them the big checks, is lying to you. They are likely fearful that if you DO contact your Representative, it will destroy their chances for some big score from the Government.
\nNow…to help change your government and what it is doing, there are some simple things to do.
\n1) Use this tool – https:\/\/www.govtrack.us\/congress\/members <\/a>or this one https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/elected-officials<\/a> to track down YOUR Representatives.
\n2) Email or call them to let them know your objection or support for the item of interest. When you do this, be SURE to follow these guidelines:
\n…..a) Be Clear about what you are talking about.
\n…..b) Do not write a lengthy, emotional rant. Be polite, and simply tell them whether you support or oppose the issue, and give them a single reason why you feel that way.
\n…..c) Repeat as necessary.<\/p>\nCLING to the basic truth that “All that Evil needs to succeed is for good people to do nothing” and use that as motivation to send that next Email or make that next phone call.<\/p>\n
Your Elected officials pay attention when 10,000 emails show up. They pay attention when thousands of constituents call them up. Why? Well, it is fairly simple. They like their jobs! They know that the folks that are contacting them are the voters that care and are paying attention to what they are doing. They are also the people that can vote for someone else if they are sufficiently unhappy with the job the incumbent is doing.<\/p>\n
Politicians might ignore a petition with 10,000 signatures, but, 10,000 emails, phone calls, or snail mail notes make a big impact and will get their attention.<\/p>\n
Feel free to distribute this block of text. It is available for use under the Open Source License – https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Open-source_license<\/a>. The only limits are that it must stay intact (but can be extended) and I would appreciate a credit if used.<\/p>\n
\nGod Help Us All<\/p>\n
.<\/p>\n
Bee Man Dave<\/p>\n
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- “Atlas Shrugged” depicts a dystopian United States, wherein many of society’s most prominent and successful industrialists abandon their fortunes and even the nation, in response to aggressive new regulations, whereupon most vital industries collapse. The title is a reference to Atlas, a Titan described in the novel as “the giant who holds the world on his shoulders”. The significance of this reference appears in a conversation between the characters Francisco d’Anconia and Hank Rearden, in which d’Anconia asks Rearden what advice he would give Atlas upon seeing that “the greater [the titan’s] effort, the heavier the world bore down on his shoulders”. With Rearden unable to answer, d’Anconia gives his own response: “To shrug”. \u00a0 This, \u00a0very lengthy tome (at 1000 pages) \u00a0provides a very complete examination of Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism<\/a>. \u00a0 Here are some\u00a0more information and links about the book<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- “The Fountainhead” tells the story of Howard Roark, who is an individualistic young architect who refuses to compromise his artistic and personal vision for worldly recognition and success. The story follows his battle to practice modern architecture while opposed by an establishment centered on tradition. Roark embodies what Rand believed to be the ideal man, and his struggle reflects Rand’s belief that individualism is superior to collectivism. here is a link to a \u00a0\u00a0Further discussion of this book<\/a><\/li>\n