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Atlas Shrugged
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kamui
Level 0

Join date: Jul 2008
Location:
Posts: 1490

LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
But if there are many, many small states then there can never be a monopoly on violence.

We would actually need one world government create a real monopoly on violence.

If there were no other governments to compete with it, would it eventually disappear anyway?


No.
You would need to abolish economic scarcity too.

If you believe Marx's theory, that is.


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LaPointe
Level 1

Join date: Jan 2011
Location: Missouri, USA
Posts: 105

definitely the most overrated writer ever. no talent whatsoever. poetic is the antithesis of an accurate description of her style.

if you like her writing, you are dumb.

/thread

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pittbulll
Level 3

Join date: May 2005
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 8010

LaPointe wrote:
definitely the most overrated writer ever. no talent whatsoever. poetic is the antithesis of an accurate description of her style.

if you like her writing, you are dumb.

/thread

Waut chu meeeen

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LIFTICVSMAXIMVS
Level 1

Join date: Apr 2005
Location:
Posts: 11983

kamui wrote:
LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
But if there are many, many small states then there can never be a monopoly on violence.

We would actually need one world government create a real monopoly on violence.

If there were no other governments to compete with it, would it eventually disappear anyway?


No.
You would need to abolish economic scarcity too.

If you believe Marx's theory, that is.


If there were no scarcity there would be no real economic conflict.

A market economy at least allows man to work in accordance with scarcity whereas governments always create even more scarcity.

And competition in a market economy at least allows for a real check on the balance of power.

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Menthol
Level 0

Join date: Aug 2010
Location:
Posts: 227

I have not read Atlas Shrugged yet. I have not watched the movie yet either. One of these days I'll be able to do so, but at this point haven't been able to.

Did see libertarian and Ayn Ryand Jonn Stossel has a new book coming out. Form what he wrote of it, looked interesting. Was thinking I'll pick up a copy in the future.

"Can Government Do Anything Well?"

http://www.foxbusiness.com/...o-anything-well

his article:

"My new book is out this week! It?s been eight years since my last one.
In this week?s syndicated
column, I explain why I call the book: No, They Can?t.
I?m suspicious of superstitions, like astrology or the
belief that ?green jobs will fix the environment and the economy.? I understand
the appeal of such beliefs. People crave simple answers and want to believe
that some higher power determines our fates.
The most socially destructive superstition of all is the
intuitively appealing belief that problems are best solved by government.
Opinion polls suggest that Americans are dissatisfied
with government. Yet whenever another crisis hits, the natural human instinct
is to say, ?Why doesn?t the government do something??
And politicians appear to be problem-solvers. We believe
them when they say, ?Yes, we can!?
In 2008, when Barack Obama?s supporters shouted, ?Yes,
we can!? they expressed faith in the power of government to solve problems.
Some acted as if Obama were a magical politician whose election would end
poverty and inequality and bring us to ?the moment when the rise of the oceans
began to slow and our planet began to heal.?
At least now people have come to understand that
presidents -- including this president -- can?t perform miracles.
In other words: No, they can?t!
Buy the book here or here to see hundreds of examples of how government CAN?T. But there is also good news, examples of private individuals succeed while government fails (hence the subtitle). Please buy the book for all your friends so I can join Rachel Maddow on the best-seller list!"

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666Rich
Level 0

Join date: May 2006
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 835

I read Atlas Shrugged. At the time, I enjoyed it. I dont think its a philosophical or literary paragon by any means, but its not really drivel either. Its a novel that espouses a particular view, an objectivist point of view.

If you are more into libertarian philosophy I would suggest Rothbard.

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JEATON
Level 4

Join date: Oct 2002
Location:
Posts: 1269

thunderbolt23 wrote:
By the way, JEATON - still waiting for an answer on this:

Tell me, though, JEATON - as a Randian, surely you have traded out your cross for a dollar sign by now?




Sorry to keep you waiting, ThunderDolt...

You apparently never got the meaning as to why I said your mother had a square vagina. Let me explain.

It is because you are a block head.

You try the same tired shit with me as you do with Rand. You claim I believe or state something other than the reality and then try to attack me for it.

Hope that helps.

J

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K2000
Level 3

Join date: May 2009
Location:
Posts: 607

I haven't read Atlas Shrugged, but the movie was a box office dud. The Free Market in action: nobody cares about Ayn Rand!

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pittbulll
Level 3

Join date: May 2005
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 8010

K2000 wrote:
I haven't read Atlas Shrugged, but the movie was a box office dud. The Free Market in action: nobody cares about Ayn Rand!


I think the free market is a crucial element of a thriving economy , In Pittbulllville Corporations would pay no taxes but they would not be allowed to shelter wages of the officers

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silee
Level 1

Join date: Jul 2006
Location:
Posts: 258

Tiribulus wrote:
I'm no Ayn Rand scholar, but from what I have read she always struck me as a personally miserable human being who was much more sure of what she didn't want to believe than she was of what she actually did believe. She can seem either far right or far left depending on which way you tilt your head while reading her.



How is Ayn Rand a lefty? lol Economically she's not she was in favor of an unrestrained capitalism and she thought that capitalism offered the best for freedom. She's definitely an extreme right winger.

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NAUn
Level 3

Join date: Feb 2006
Location: California, USA
Posts: 350

Menthol wrote:
I have not read Atlas Shrugged yet. I have not watched the movie yet either. One of these days I'll be able to do so, but at this point haven't been able to.

Did see libertarian and Ayn Ryand Jonn Stossel has a new book coming out. Form what he wrote of it, looked interesting. Was thinking I'll pick up a copy in the future.

"Can Government Do Anything Well?"

http://www.foxbusiness.com/...o-anything-well

his article:

"My new book is out this week! It?s been eight years since my last one.
In this week?s syndicated
column, I explain why I call the book: No, They Can?t.
I?m suspicious of superstitions, like astrology or the
belief that ?green jobs will fix the environment and the economy.? I understand
the appeal of such beliefs. People crave simple answers and want to believe
that some higher power determines our fates.
The most socially destructive superstition of all is the
intuitively appealing belief that problems are best solved by government.
Opinion polls suggest that Americans are dissatisfied
with government. Yet whenever another crisis hits, the natural human instinct
is to say, ?Why doesn?t the government do something??
And politicians appear to be problem-solvers. We believe
them when they say, ?Yes, we can!?
In 2008, when Barack Obama?s supporters shouted, ?Yes,
we can!? they expressed faith in the power of government to solve problems.
Some acted as if Obama were a magical politician whose election would end
poverty and inequality and bring us to ?the moment when the rise of the oceans
began to slow and our planet began to heal.?
At least now people have come to understand that
presidents -- including this president -- can?t perform miracles.
In other words: No, they can?t!
Buy the book here or here to see hundreds of examples of how government CAN?T. But there is also good news, examples of private individuals succeed while government fails (hence the subtitle). Please buy the book for all your friends so I can join Rachel Maddow on the best-seller list!"



"No they can't! But YOU Can: Buy my book and I'll tell you how"

lol he's just as bad as the rest of 'em. Subscribe to my new e-newsletter, though, and I'll tell you how you're better... For 20 bucks extra I'll cradle your balls and tell you how big your junk is, too.

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