The topic was how easily Rand could quickly pick the root of reason and state it so simply. Yet my question is, why, when something is obvious, so much in tune with reason, others, unlike Rand, seem completely unable to grasp it. What seems so obvious, is to them not even understandable, though they are supposedly educated politicians and media.

This sentiment was echoed by Carly in her response to the 401k question during the debate last week. It was powerful and refreshing to hear.

I don't understand this comment at all. What does it have to do with the topic of discussion??

unfortunately the number of people in the present american society has been so dumb down that the audience will not understand that this offers a wonderful philosophy to live by and if they do not see blood and guts they will turn it off.

I think she said once that Galts speech took like 2 years to write. She gave great thought to every word she wrote.

Talk about the power of words! I'd be willing to bet that those well honed, simple but powerful phrases were worked over, shaped and sharpened until they jumped off the page and gave the reader that surprised mini-revelation that we all experience when reading her stuff - especially the novels.

I hope so. Should reach a large audience.

Money and power have become the touchstone of politicians, especially those who operate within the Beltway. A politician's job was originally devised to be a duty to be fulfilled by a patriot who wished to serve his/her country. It has since become the haven of weasels who like exercising power without responsibility and obtaining wealth without bettering the economy. I'm so glad that George Washington was not immortal in reality. Today's government would have proved to the founders that humanity is not ready to live with one another in freedom.

the question is; will it actually happen, the tv series that is.

Don't remember that one, but Goldwater was inspiring at times.

"I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is "needed" before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can." 1960

"My faith in the future rests squarely on the belief that man, if he doesn't first destroy himself, will find new answers in the universe, new technologies, new disciplines, which will contribute to a vastly different and better world in the twenty-first century. Recalling what has happened in my short lifetime in the fields of communication and transportation and the life sciences, I marvel at the pessimists who tell us that we have reached the end of our productive capacity, who project a future of primarily dividing up what we now have and making do with less. To my mind the single essential element on which all discoveries will be dependent is human freedom." 1979

Live long and prosper Stormi. I think it simply comes down to power. She is drawn to anything that gives her more power.

You're right Wiggys. Their solutions don't work so I shouldn't have said they fix the problems they created. They use them to their political advantage. I'm hoping the series stays true to the book. Lead people to it and let them make up their own minds about Objectivism vs. other philosophies.

Exactly. I like your point about the States competing. I live in Pennsylvania which has an over bloated bureaucracy. If we were forced to compete against other states that issue would solve itself.

we don't LET government solve problems it has created we let them stew the in mess they have made with the problems they create. what we don't do is tell them to their faces the people of the congress as well as the president "what were you thinking when you did so and so". make them explain what they did, which when you hear the explanation if it ever comes will be unintelligent gibberish. on a separate subject; if I were to ask this producer Ruddy a question it would be are you an OBJECTIVIST? I'll bet the answer is no. reading Atlas and agreeing with it does not make one an Objectivist. doing a television series if he gets sponsors will possibly make him money and give Ayn Rand and Objectivism more exposure, but will the exposure give many people the desire to now actually study Objectivism? Maybe. of course the tv series will be watered down to the point reading the book will be a different story.

What we need is to shrink FEDERAL government. Let the states compete with each other to attract citizens and prosper. Competition among smaller governing bodies is best.

That is so true

How did Hillary go from being a Goldwater girl, to being a Marxist tyrant? Oh, I think some minister was involved. What should seem so logically reasonable can be twisted and ignored, and create a liberal - I still do not understand. I fell like Mr. Spock sometimes.

Goldwater said it earlier, but even he was probably not the first.

I think it's a matter of gradual paradigm shift - ALA boiling the frog. Many of the younger people today really have no idea what true liberty is, what it even looks like. How can we ever hope they might wake up in large enough numbers to turn this ship around?

Just yesterday I was talking with a buddy about this. I mentioned the end of the movie "28 Days" (if I'm remembering my movies correctly). In that scene you have people living on an old farm by the water, just living day to day taking care of themselves. It was a beautiful scene really - and one you probably can't obtain in America anymore...just living your life, free from interference. Nice.

I hope so too. It is a necessity if this country is to survive as a nation of free people. So much has been lost and it must shrink to have half a chance at getting any lost freedom back.

I thought it was Jefferson. I just searched and it wasn't him. Cool quote.

Time to wake up, rich, and defend liberty ;^)

Address to a Joint Session of Congress
August 12, 1974
(Possibly earlier written by Paul Harvey)

It's a recurring dream I have every 4 years.

Gerald R. Ford?