'Scuse the horrendous span of time on this ('cleaning out emails and Galt's Gulch ones are mandatory-views)... I have to pass props to one of my sisters for that one - 'don't know if she actually coined the term, but yeah, it fits like the proverbial glove. 8^]

Excellent. Facebrag---good one. :-)

On Facebrag there's a page called Romanticism Watch that has become a favorite haunt - and elements of rationality and anthropocentrism, civilization-centrism (linguists please assist - there has to be a word for this,) can be found in pop culture as in the more obvious places within the fine arts. I'm a big fan of wringing the maximum enjoyment out of pop culture and of the adventure that is searching for it, so make this my vote for more of that - posts on Objectivist-friendly finds within pop culture - music, books, movies, TV, comics and anime, etc.

"You cannot successfully teach in the same class a genius and a quasi retarded individual."
The way public schools in my area handle this now is crazy. They have elementary school student with such severe developmental issues that they will never speak or respond to people beyond a 1-y/o's level, yet they are in regular classes with kids their age.

They also have kids with autism-liked problems that cause occasional episodes of outbursts. Instead of taking the kid having the outburst away, they have all the other students leave the classroom until the outburst passes.

Apparently the theory is kids with special needs used to be relegated to the basement, hidden away. Now the pendulum has swung the other way, and we're putting them in mainstream classes, sometimes with one full-time person dedicated to managing them and walking them through a class they cannot follow.

I had to learn how to learn somehow. Memorization doesnt work for me at all. I have to understand the framework of what I am trying to understand, and then fill in the details. I think a lot of people just "feel" things and dont feel comfortable thinking.

I accept that you may need persuasion (not forcing) to learn something. Thinking and learning are volitional actions, I think.

Interesting, but I do not remember EVER being taught how to think or learn. Schools today just pound into us what THEY want to teach, without ever considering what WE want to LEARN

Socialism has failed every time it has been tried. Every new attempt is based on the idea "we will do it better this time". Which has never truly worked. Typical for a utopia, which it is.

I would suggest a two-pronged approach.

One, develop a first class analysis, based on unimpeachable data, that in quantitative terms demonstrates that socialism is destroying individual freedom, imposing a slowdown in productivity growth, stifles innovation and prevents rewarding the most successful entrepreneurial ideas. In addition, debunk all the excuses that these failures regularly invoke.

Two, start implementing a radical remodeling of education systems, from kindergarten to graduate school, to focus on teaching how to think and eliminate every attempt to teach what to think. Electronics has made enormous parts of human knowledge readily available. It is the skills of using facts and think effectively that need to be taught. Everybody should be free to challenge the teacher's opinion. Finally, make the system adaptive to the skills of the students. You cannot successfully teach in the same class a genius and a quasi retarded individual. Make sure the system allows the late bloomers to switch to a richer track and the failing students to switch to a track where they will succeed.

This is hard? Winning WWII was hard also.

Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Maritimus

Agreed. Thanks Abaco.

Can never have too much Objectivism.

Thank you!

Circuit Guy is the only creative one on this thread. I will go further to suggest this fictional storyline: A Little-known maxed out campaign donor for Ted Cruz campaign convinces Kellyanne Conway (a Cruz operative) now Trump insider, to convince Trump to build Atlas Shrugged freight train from San Diego to Brownsville Texas atop of 50 foot Bulwark that includes a natural gas pipeline and MRI tunnels that traverse the superstructure for 1900 miles south to north and vice-versa, making America Great again by a single idea. The trains themselves includes TheWillies because they arrive on time while making several stops along the way creating large distribution hubs and urban centers employing millions over decades. The best part of competing with the Panama Canal with the expedient distribution of cargo & LNG to both oceans it must cut and dredge through the drug tunnels along the border states to pour the concrete for the foundation for the rail line. This includes the opportunity to incorporate all types sensors beneath the ground and above ground. The Protagonist Galt is a having an extramarital affair with the wife of the Texas Senator who is a player on Wall Street who underwrites the US Infrastructure Bank that privately funds the entire development. As they lobby the backroom deals to push the most exciting civil works project since the Hoover Dam, all hell breaks loose as Ranchers and Indians on the vast open spaces on the border are opposed to construction. Cowboys using the herds fight back as cattle raids overwhelm the right of way to disrupt development, while Indians on horseback, sniper shoot construction workers with the old bow and arrows, like an old western movie.

No, he's no Hank. I'm still trying to figure out what he is, other than a generator of really great progressive angst and outrage. I agree that the MSM comparison to AR is waiting in the wings. Progressives, liberals, and socialists of all stripes can't find a better free market villain. 2017 stands a good chance to be more fun than 2016. Glad I've lived
long enough to see it. That kilt training is essential, especially when you're expected to give a full torso bow, at least for those to your rear.

Actually something like that would be a good idea, as it would place it in a real life scenario, and illustrate how it can be used. Would need some kind of a good story line, but today seems to offer a huge number of choices....

Thanks!

Please, after the last year, we need to breath and relax and recharge for the newest onslaught.

Perhaps a movie based on Objectivism and a mini series based on Atlas Shrugged.

Scott posted about a movie after the idea of the mini-series was talked about. Not sure if they are doing one or both.

Hi Stormi. Getting young people involved is an excellent point. The number of younger voters that supported Bernie Sanders was frightening.

Proper kilt training is a must. I want to see if the MSM tries to make Trump out to be an Ayn Rand type figure. I think they may try to make that link in order to try and discredit Objectivism. I still think he was a better choice than Hillary but he is no Hank Reardon.

Actually a revised version of AS as a movie in todays framework would be nice.

I thought the final decision was a mini series or an ongoing series, has there been a movie proposed?

Indeed, the politics to me, is a foundational part of the battle, in that it is often rooted in a lot of the concepts people talk about others (such as doing violence on others, taking from one to give to another, the lack of honesty and truth, and the impact they have on ones self, when nothing was asked for). It is such a powerful weapon and so misused, it ends up rearing it's ugly head multiple times a day as you see one violation of our freedom and rights after another. I do hope Trump will do as he said, but I do not hold out hope.

I am for Objectivism, or any philosophical discussions. Also, how to get young people to come to the ideas of Rand, while the schools work to stop it. Freedom of speech as it pertains to scientific discussions, and how we can make sure it stays free.Politics as it is needed is fine. We need to keep each other alert to any threat to capitalism or property rights as well.

Any publicity comes with the risk of misinformation. Ayn Rand has been misrepresented for decades by conservatives and liberals alike. It's important that we point out such misrepresentations in regard to the policies of Trump's appointees, but it's also important to publicize instances in which they get it right. I think there will be quite a few reasons to celebrate in the coming four years (starting with the dismantling of Obamacare).