Very well. I'm glad you're voicing your opinion here even though I may disagree with it. Welcome.

Rob,
Isn't McD providing the opportunity? There are many levels of skill in companies. The more skill one provides the more cards one holds. The idea is to move out of the first level of employment. The problem with how unions set up, the lowest common denominator unskilled labor position gets paid eventually as a higher skilled position. It is not free market and is irrational from the company's perspective. It's one reason pension plans of lowest skilled workers can bring down a company due to salary and benefits. What is the incentive for an unskilled laborer to move into the next bracket? Time in the position with one company should only be one of many factors in wage increases and pension. It has become the number 1 factor through unionized labor.

I'm not getting into the War between the States simply because I think it was unnecessary and time would have solved the slavery issue.

Having been in the captains chair and the crews quarters, I'll spell it out. Those who construct corporation or businesses do it to provide a living for themselves and their families, Those who own these entities require others to help them provide product or service. In this way others gain from the success of the motivated individual(s). Government offers nothing to a business save legal protection (corporation) and bottomless pit to extract unearned money (taxes).

Jamestown was a corporation as a business venture, to make money (for the British empire). It was run cooperatively until people started dying. Only when the seed was distributed among the remaining settlers and they were told to fed for themselves did the colony make a resurgence. In other words a cooperative/ communist approach failed and self interest saved the colony.

society is merely a grouping of people based on similar core beliefs. It provides infrastructure and may provide purpose to a degree. Whatever individual success comes from within a society is from the individuals themselves (provided the structure did bury it). This is why the US has had such a meteoric rise in such a short span of time. The Founding Father knew to keep the government out of the people's way. Unfortunately, the government has been gnawing away at that philosophical pillar for way too long and we're seeing the end results.

A corporation is a bunch of people who are financially vested in a company to the extent that other people have jobs and can earn a living. The employees acting together to accomplish great things? Keep in mind that those employees wouldn't be banded together as a unit had they not been hired by a company or organization and provided with focus and direction for their talents. They are usually only vested in the company for their paychecks or perhaps some type of professional recognition. This relationship does not diminish or disrespect any part of the entity (company).

Human beings do not improve things... a human being improves him/her self and that improvement extends to those around them. If enough do this society changes (The United States of America as opposed to the rest of the world - Jamestown is a pretty good example about individualism over the cooperative)

...and thank you too :) (did he just say Ender? hmmm)

The premise of Ayn Rand and her philosophy is that the individual knows what's best for him/herself. That life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is an individual, not a corporate concept, and that each person must find those things for themselves. Each person, even those in need, had individual happiness/satisfaction to attain. Not every one starts business, runs a business or invents something - these things can be by choice, ability, or circumstance. But everyone has the ability to be the best at whatever it is that they choose to pursue. If flipping burgers, washing cars, fixing computers, or loading trucks is what you choose to do (even if temporary on your way to something else) then do it the best you can for your own gratification.

Unions? A cancer. Yes, unions served their purpose for a time securing safe working conditions and a fair wage for their members. That time is long past. Employers, I've been one 3 times in my life, have to treat people with respect by offering a solid wage, health care, time off, and vacation time to keep quality people. If McD's in NYC, or any business, is treating its employee's poorly, those employees can always quit. If enough people quit and continue to quit the company is no more, right? Does a union need to collect money from the employees to tell them to quit a job where they aren't being treated properly? Hardly. The union is there simply to strong-arm an owner into acquiescing to the demands of his/her subordinates - the people he agreed to pay wages to for a level of service rendered so they could survive. Look to Detroit for the shining example of unions and what they can do.

Thank you.

I'm still unclear on the point you're trying to make. Who are you? What's your premise?

Newt Gingrich once pleaded with a $100-a-plate dinner about not making "the government" or "bureaucrats" your enemies. He said, "Ladies and gentlemen, these are your neighbors." Allow me to add that if you make war on "moochers" in a society where the government is pervasive, then you attack school janitors, librarians, and the doctors at the county hospital.

Alternately, Rozar has link under Entertainment to a "Cracked" magazine put-down of "Atlas Shrugged" in which they note that while many CEOs claim to embrace the book and movie, in fact, most of the bad guys are themselves other CEOs.

Then you get into tax breaks. Objectivists argue well that you should be able to keep your money or get it back, especially if you are a corporation. But in a society where taxes are pervasive, one entity's breaks are everyone else's burdens. The practical effect can be seen in Detroit where GM especially but all the automotives cleared out whole neighborhoods of homes, sending people into other communities to pay taxes there, while GM et al did not pick up the tab for their own properties. It's complicated. Better to live your own life and mind your business.

Hi Rob,
I think you're falling for msnbc b.s. People who earned their retirement are not moochers, and there are some people who cannot work, but the entitlement programs are so abused, and the gov encourage them to be abused (advertising food stamps etc)...and "the wrong color" comment you just made is nonsense. Business owners who are hiring want good workers, period, age, skin color, and religion is not a factor. Where do you get this from?
Define "them and us", and also "fear and greed".

We hope to be able to get some from you, as well. If you have read the book, you have something to offer. If you have read more, your insights should be interesting.

Welcome to the Gulch Robert. Have you read the book?