Perhaps that is true. I know Ben Shapiro has been getting through to college students, with his "Young America's Foundation".

However, there are people who genetically seem predisposed to rigidity and inflexibility in their thinking, as well as in other areas of their lives. We find this in the peoples that have evolved in the various equatorial regions of the earth. It may be that, because of the prevalence of virulent and active diseases, the mutation that would have given rise to a more extended sense of foresight, and thus of abstract and/or more profound thinking ability, gave way before the more rapid immune response that would keep a population from succumbing to disease. Both genetic structures---the rapid immune response, and the more abstract thinking ability---can't seem to exist simultaneously in the same idividual.

Yes

But, blarman, not everything can be a "win-win" situation, regardless of John Nash and his equilibrium, which I think is not correct anyway, although it is used everywhere.

Except for your concept of "power" I agree with you pretty much. But "power" and the lust for power is different. It is a different motivator, attitude, has different pleasure "receptors", stems from different goals, and is the driving force behind human debilities. Lust for power is not simply another facet of "selfishness" howeve you define that, and I don't actually believe selfishness is addictive.

There is a need and a use for power. And it is natural and normal that men vie for power. HOW men vie for power, and HOW men use power is the problem that needs solving today. As in all our yesterdays. In his play "Julius Caesar", Shakespeare talked of how the assassination of Caesar would be enacted again and again through the ages. As it has been.
Power, whatever it is, however it is attained, and however it is used, is different.
Which reminds me, I still have Nietzsche's Will to Power on my to-do list. But I must remember much of it has been redacted by his sister.

Not everyone has been inflicted with the "no thought" agenda. You are correct that the "believers" will never listen. But a lot of others will appreciate you talking the time to explain what is in your thinking.

Most "communication" among the sheep is not debate. And before one can debate he must be able to think, and for three generations our youth have been taught how NOT to think.
And, as I understand your argument, "connectivity" or "communication" leads to "debate" leads to thinking, where in God's good name is this idiocy about genders, self-identification, CRT, Project 1619 and so on and so forth, coming from?
In the past, communication helped in the creation of new insights; in today's socialist conglomeration communication reinforces sameness of thought.

I didn't use the word greed. I used the word selfishness and I used it intentionally because greed is one facet of selfishness. Lust for power is another aspect of selfishness. I agree that any aspect (lust, greed, sloth, envy, etc.) can be addicting. And I agree that all of them emphasize a sense of victimhood rather than a sense of empowerment. That's why I think it of tremendous benefit to everyone to point out that life can - and should be - a system of win-win scenarios where every day the pie of achievement and success grows to accommodate everyone who participates.

I don't agree with that. Debate makes one think.

I wrote this in another comment: Rand's working title for Atlas Shrugged was "The Strike". Workers strike to get what they want.
Rand's point is that if those who produce through their own sweat and tears become excoriated and condemned, then these producers should stop producing for the "masses". Prometheus bound, by himself.
What Rand failed to foresee was that mostly the "producers" allied with the "takers", so if some then went on strike, the masses are still going to get the products of the producers. The strike will serve no purpose whatsoever. Except apparently for what you believe to be your own well being. Sort of like Dr. Falken (Falcon?) in War Games.

And the other consequence of "Let em burn it down" is that sooner or later they will come for you. Did you never read Rand's semi-autobiographical novel: "We the Living"? It is the very foundation of socialism and other Marxist derived ideologies that ALL must participate in the levelling of the social order.

What, exactly, is "going Galt"? Quitting?

And the schools were taken over. That is why, I suspect, you were not able to get through, especially to these last three generations. But I guess you know that.

Sure...but the theme here is "going Galt". Which is pretty much what I've done. I don't care to be heard. Many Objectivists don't. "Let em burn it down" as my dad used to say. All the best...

Addendum: Galileo is not well liked in socialist circles. "On no one's authority but my own" is seen as insurrection.

Personally, I believe closing the movie theatres should help capitalism. Getting people off their reliance on "communication" and "connectivity" to others would be a great help in the return of independent thinking and individuality.
Their reliance on computers too could be curtailed. When I tutored in a small rural high school in Colorado, I tried to get my students to do their own "thinking/calculation" instead of using the nearest computer program. Assignations with other sheep helps socialism, not capitalism.

It's complex, and the reasons are myriad. It's the solutions that seem to evade us.

Read the first paragraph of Rand's "For the New Intellectual". I posted somewhere on here.

Oh, gosh, I'm soooooo hurt.

It creeped up on us. By design.

I think you're putting me on.

Someone needs to give you a break. Any suggestions?

So what do you think of OPP?

It's not "going to the movies;" it the loss of capitalism and the money derived from capitalism. That is what the government is destroying in our country. Then they will bring in Marxism, starvation and death.

Because the collective have learned to vote into office those who promise the most largess from the producer tax payers. Tytler's prediction is spot on. All we can do is circle the wagons and prepare for the inevitable economic collapse. Its not if - its when.

Never like the song, or the idea behind it.

Wow, powerful story and I am afraid of that becoming reality with the way things are going. I am a veteran of 21 years in the military and don't believe that the country I represented all over the world could sink to that level. I also hate to see that everything I valued as an American has been or is being torn down by people who take an oath of office to uphold and defend the US Constitution. They say it but don't live it like most veterans do. I really don't know if most of us who have served can continue on this path without someone taking action, the main problem is, is anybody going to follow that person who steps up? Are we a nation of cowards now? Will the government go against those that stand against it? I see it in this administration and the AG going against parents speaking out against school boards, also on what they are not doing on the border and on allowing criminals out of jail because states are doing $0 bail, so they can continue to commit crimes. The insanity needs to stop but who will stand up and stop it?

I have been warning people about this Satanic Cabal’s Globalist agenda for most my life. I actually am joyful , for the first time we have the masses fighting back. It’s called the Great Awakening.

"Dr. Strangelove".

"The Secret of NIMH".

"Calamity Jane" with Doris Day.

"Psycho".

Now, YOU come up with some good ones.