Easy it is to forget that logic only possesses its power through deduction, and exposure of contradictions. Any logical argument is only as good as the axioms on which it is based.

Underneath it all, our choice of axioms is influenced by emotional factors. For some years, I have sought to live by an analogue of Occam's Razor - the principle that an axiom which leads to longer healthier happier life is truer than one which leads to shorter, or less happy, or less healthy life.

Whatever choice must be made once the candidates are selected is not an excuse to find fascism inspirational either now or then.

"Given that Objectivism is based on emotional premises of confidence, freedom and empowerment" (quote from davidmcnab above. Emphasis added) is getting Objectivism? Nonsense.

You've been on this site long enough to well understand that Objectivism is based on rationally, logical reasoning of facts, not on emotional feelings as premises--particularly as studied in Objectivism as you state and lay claim to.

As to your little jibe and snark about my history on the site--well, just 'sticks and stones'....

.

That link kinda lost me right at the start, with ...

"The American media, over the past year, has been trying to work out something of a mystery: Why is the Republican electorate supporting a far-right, orange-toned populist with no real political experience, who espouses extreme and often bizarre views? How has Donald Trump, seemingly out of nowhere, suddenly become so popular?"

I thought Trump was a typo for Obama and Orange was a typo for "brown."

Whatever.

Nonsense. What trump is talking about is freeing us from the things Obama and others have done to inhibit our greatness and our economy and our money. The political establishment is a mess and he is the anti establishment candidate

If not trump you will get Hillary I can't see how that is better

He gets it quite well, apparently. I wonder if you do, Zen. You came in as an outsider and shot to the top by espousing conservative doctrines as palatable as sugar pills.

Yes, you are reading yourself into this. And you are revealing your own authoritarian premises. Your heart might be in the right place, granted, but you seem to have not deeply examined your basic assumptions about the world and your place in it. Very many other people who also were attracted to Atlas Shrugged bring a sense of hopelessness and a desire for a secular "Armageddon".

The success of Virgin Galactic and Space-X do not command your attention as much as does Donald Trump and his mirror image Hillary Rodham Clinton. But they are really irrelevant to your own pursuit of your own happiness.

If you follow the links to the source material, you will discover the discussion of Hillary Clinton.

At the detail level, it might have been interesting to examine support for Ben Carson or Jeb Bush or Whoever, but, ultimately, pointless. Trump and Clinton are the subjects of the discussion.

Yeah...I don't really agree with that piece. In fact, I have found that the Democrats in my life have been the more racist.

I just think Trump is so popular because he is non-establishment. And, he's saying things people are thinking: things like we should really put a stop to open immigration until we know "what in hell is going on". Such statements are pretty powerful.

In still not voting...for anybody being offered. Every damn one of them comes at this whole thing with the premise that government fixes stuff.

Sorry I didn't pickup on the Agenda 21 slant. I agree that there are numerous sources, external and internal, committed to taking the US down a few pegs. But I maintain that the business men, the entrepreneur, the engineer, the scientist, the artist, and American that takes pride in his work, his future, and his drive for independence is what defines the US. Not the border, language, or culture.
The sooner we all realize that politicians (of any party or leaning) as well as those that make their livings from talking about them and politics in general are not our friends or supporters of liberty, the better off we'll all be. They are power seekers, pure and simple.

time will tell, but we are already over the cliff as far as the financial situation is concerned...we are not coming back from the debt and future entitlements...no one out there is willing to deal with...political suicide for any candidate...and Rand Paul was soundly rejected as was his father for the presidency...