tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post6043621809845715905..comments2023-09-15T08:07:28.542-06:00Comments on Western Hero: The Bloomberg ConceitSilverfiddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-60638684242861104172012-06-19T05:59:28.751-06:002012-06-19T05:59:28.751-06:00The first thought I have is about the people who c...The first thought I have is about the people who call themselves “conservatives” today, and their fully-deserved designation as Randiots. It wasn’t all that long ago that people on the hard right understood that some Government intervention in the economy wasn’t evil, but an actual necessity. There were once right-wingers I didn’t have much use for philosophically, but I still respected. People like Barry Goldwater, and Warren Rudman. Somehow, the people of that generation raised the biggest bunch of selfish, ignorant morons that any society has ever produced. Where McCarthy was denounced as a fringe lunatic by the people of Goldwater’s generation, the generation of his descendants regard McCarthy is an idol. The old-time conservatives also despised and denounced dishonesty and corruption, while their children celebrate and embrace both things. Which is not to say that the children of old-style liberals were any better; in many cases they turned out to be even MORE Randiot than kids raised in winger households. I do not know exactly what happened here, and I don’t know exactly why it happened, but it would be wonderful for the Randiots to be studied, and queried, so we might know what to tell parents to avoid in the future.<br /><br />Objectivism, itself, is complete stupidity, utterly insane, and the basis of a social structure that even wild dogs would not practice. I will assume that Rand came up with Objectivism during one of her meth binges, because nobody who wasn’t high on something could ever have offered up such a blatantly unworkable proposition. A society full of Objectivists is a society full of Ted Bundys and Jeffrey Dahmers, doing what they want to do, and never mind who has to be hurt or killed in order for them to do it. I have long suspected that most Randiots don’t actually understand Objectivism, but use it as a cover for their own selfishness and greed. In their way of thinking, somehow Rand saying that greed is okie-dokie makes it an intellectual kind of philosophy. Well, you know…. it sure doesn’t mean that at all. Calling yourself “smart” because Rand agrees with your greedy nature is like calling shit “fragrant” because there are some dogs that will roll around in it.<br /><br />And last but not least, once you get above a couple of kids trading baseball cards, there is no such thing as a “free market.” Every mom-and-pop shop owner on Earth would like to be bigger than Mao-Mart, and Mao-Mart would like to shut down every mom-and-pop shop on Earth. Without Government to act as a fair arbiter in the interests of BOTH parties, you eventually wind up with whatever quality and price that the monolith decides you’ll get. The Randiots that cry about REGALASHUNS on giant corporations are actually arguing the Stalinist position, since Stalin shut down all the small traders in the USSR and made everyone go to Government stores for whatever items Stalin thought that consumers should be able to get. A privately-owned Stalinism is what you inevitably wind up with in a totally-unregulated “free market” system. Regulation KEEPS markets free.<br /><br />It may be that the Randiots will be completely discredited in another election cycle or two (if we have that many left,) but the damage they’ve done will now carry over into the next century. The people who have suffered from the effects of Randiot economics are going to outlive us all, and we are not going to be able to undo a lot of what they’ve had to endure, any more than we could fix the heartbreak of so many who lived through the last Republican Depression. My hope is that the suffering people of today will turn out to be as wise as those who suffered through the last Depression.<br /><br />Actually, I hope they’re even wiser, and remember to watch their children for any signs that the kids might be Randiots. Let no society ever again have to endure the kind of greed and hate-blinded stupidity we’ve had to suffer through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-72210898028916525732012-06-17T12:14:29.975-06:002012-06-17T12:14:29.975-06:00Rand's brilliance is not in question, Rational...Rand's brilliance is not in question, RationalNation (Is it Les?), but her capacity for empathy and humanness most certainly is. I saw enough of her, when she was still active as an emerging Force to be Reckoned With, to know she was a contemptible bitch.<br /><br />Sorry! This is not intended to insult you or your powers of judgment, but "I calls 'em, as I sees 'em." <br /><br />She was a great devotee and ardent practitioner of The Double Standard too -- according to amusing anecdotes related by the late Wm. F. Buckley. One set of rules applied to her and quite another, much stricter set to Everyone Else.<br /><br />I'm a great fan of many of her ideas -- especially the supremacy of the individual's right to maintain his personal integrity in the midst of a hostile Philistine society demanding rigid conformity to its stultifying views, as expressed in The Fountainhead, which I first encountered at the age of eight, and somehow grasped its significance.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />~ FTFreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-72414755126763504092012-06-17T04:05:37.697-06:002012-06-17T04:05:37.697-06:00Rand was brilliant. The rest apparently just could...Rand was brilliant. The rest apparently just couldn't keep up.Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-16449952903098763152012-06-16T21:03:53.842-06:002012-06-16T21:03:53.842-06:00Ayn Rand had no love in her. She was smart -- even...Ayn Rand had no love in her. She was smart -- even wise -- but essentially heartless.<br /><br />I remember her from TV appearances back in the early nineteen-fifties. She was a stern, humorless, self-righteous, arrogant creature with a face that would stop a clock, the voice of a classic martinet, and the demeanor and bearing of a Prussian drill sergeant.<br /><br />Rand was exactly the sort of person to whom Saint Paul was beaming his famous observations on Charity in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- where he said that no accomplishment of sacrifice, however great, has any value whatsoever, unless it's motivated by Love.<br /><br />Duke Ellington put it another way many centuries later when he said, <br /><br /><b><i>"It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that zing."</i></b><br /><br />Later on a cigarette commercial said it yet another way:<br /><br /><b><i>"It's not how long you make it, it's how you make it long."</i></b><br /><br />Funny, how sometimes you can remember the commercial, but not the product it was advertising!<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeFreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-73987406961572145542012-06-16T20:48:54.584-06:002012-06-16T20:48:54.584-06:00Here we're free to express, but no one's e...<i>Here we're free to express, but no one's expressing.<br />Wasting white space like this is very depressing.<br />If we were oppressed, we'd be eager to gabble,<br />And march wielding pitchforks like peasantine rabble.<br />Yet we have great cause to grieve and lament:<br />We're marching to nowhere in setting cement!</i><br /><br />~ Beatrice Fowler<br /><br />Submitted by FreeThinkeFreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-56038796587885118072012-06-16T20:40:46.598-06:002012-06-16T20:40:46.598-06:00Individual freedom, individual liberties, limited ...Individual freedom, individual liberties, limited constitutional government, classical liberalism, capitalism... Ayn Rand, Objectivism 101Les Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-11922962912057121662012-06-16T15:48:43.924-06:002012-06-16T15:48:43.924-06:00”[N]o comment required, your statement speaks for ...<i>”[N]o comment required, your statement speaks for itself.”</i><br /><br /> <br />By that you meant <i>this</i>, I presume? <br /><br /><br /><b>”Curtailing Freedom of Expression for those who favor the <i>curtailment</i> of Freedom of Expression might be an excellent way to aid in the <i>promotion</i> of Freedom of Expression.”</b><br /><br /><br />I agree. It speaks uncommonly well for itself.<br /><br /> Definitely a prime contender for <b>Quote of the Month</b> if not <b>Quote of the Century</b>. <br /><br /><br /><br /><i>”I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.”</i><br /><br /> <br /><b><i>”I celebrate myself, and sing myself.”</i></b><br /><br /> <br />~ Walt Whitman (1819-1892) <br /><br /><br />Quoted by Al Terego <br /><br /><br /><b>};-)></b>FreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-19983879049166636732012-06-16T15:14:37.738-06:002012-06-16T15:14:37.738-06:00I used to like Kinsley and Buchanan on "Cross...I used to like Kinsley and Buchanan on "Crossfire". Yeah, it got a little raucus but at least there was a fair amount reasoned debate to it. Compare that to the one-sided idiocy that you get on Fox and MSNBC these days.Will "take no prisoners" Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315659209094683602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-19993468904759991712012-06-16T12:28:40.458-06:002012-06-16T12:28:40.458-06:00Come visit the New Blog.
We got CULLAH and PITCH...Come visit the New Blog. <br /><br />We got CULLAH and PITCHAS now.<br /><br />~ FTFreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-67083908908852652652012-06-16T12:16:51.730-06:002012-06-16T12:16:51.730-06:00Who pays for the fat ass, unhealthy people like AO...Who pays for the fat ass, unhealthy people like AOW?<br />Being overweight and eating junk costs us much more (diabetes on the rise) than the effects of smoking, yet we have no problem heavily taxing smokers and telling them where they can, or cannot smoke.<br />Yeah, cry about intrusive government, unless it's something YOU want to tell people they cannot do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-39769261074324522852012-06-16T11:49:53.880-06:002012-06-16T11:49:53.880-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.FreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-72897599558103490822012-06-16T06:12:00.857-06:002012-06-16T06:12:00.857-06:00Hey Snarky!
Long time no see.
Got any projects ...Hey Snarky! <br /><br />Long time no see.<br /><br />Got any projects going out there?Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-91889301468178827332012-06-16T05:05:38.447-06:002012-06-16T05:05:38.447-06:00I thought that the Francois Truffaut film for Fahr...I thought that the Francois Truffaut film for <i>Fahrenheit 451</i> sucked.<br /><br />Why would Bradbury be responsible?Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-17220846900405022522012-06-15T22:32:08.850-06:002012-06-15T22:32:08.850-06:00Ducky, I don't know any backstory with Francoi...Ducky, I don't know any backstory with Francois Truffaut, Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451. Can you help?<br /><br />My view, Bradbury did so many creative things that are worthy, it's hard to understand any animosity.KPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13788103894599339102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-83776627492358531502012-06-15T22:18:19.447-06:002012-06-15T22:18:19.447-06:00Yeah, well, this New Yorker ate a big fat pizza an...Yeah, well, this New Yorker ate a big fat pizza and drank 36 ounces of Pepsi today, and is writing to you with a glass full of tequila and a lit cigarette in his ashtray ... from Atlanta. In other words, if you stay in the city with the highest taxes and the most draconian laws in the world ... you. are. a. fool. You're welcome for the advice.Snarky Basterdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17823805913522030434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-21495956680106554282012-06-15T21:56:37.696-06:002012-06-15T21:56:37.696-06:00Well said, Leticia.
Ducky: It is an abomination ...Well said, Leticia.<br /><br />Ducky: It is an abomination that a progressive like Bloomberg should attempt to tell a free person what he or she can do.<br /><br />But I understand. The goose stepping urge is strong among some of you...Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-31861419014819213262012-06-15T21:42:42.907-06:002012-06-15T21:42:42.907-06:00Sad that Bradbury is gone, he will be missed.
And...Sad that Bradbury is gone, he will be missed.<br /><br />And no one or law should have the right to tell anyone what they can and cannot eat or drink, this is still America, Bloomberg has forgotten that.Trekkie4Everhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03226981394122557804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-48324174079748742602012-06-15T20:48:03.558-06:002012-06-15T20:48:03.558-06:00one big fascist day care center...
ROFLMAO
But a...one big fascist day care center...<br /><br />ROFLMAO<br /><br />But an apt description nonethelessFinntannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234170229108668040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-25221253034611614862012-06-15T20:24:43.665-06:002012-06-15T20:24:43.665-06:00Ducky, stop speaking for me. I'm cool with Bl...Ducky, stop speaking for me. I'm cool with Bloomberg on ANYTHING? <br /><br />Since when did he ILLEGALLY SPY ON MUSLIMS? WOw, and the media missed it? :-)<br />And, by the way "INDEPENDENT" is what he now calls himself since he lost his conservative mind.<br />This Lady Who Lunches works harder than you ever dreamed (all the while LOVING my "work"), so while I love Sondheim, you can bury that slam ...but you won't :-) Four Triscuits for lunch today, as a matter of fact. But, I have to admit I went to a great luncheon yesterday at my friend's home who was in charge of women's appointments under Reagan in the White House...amazing day. Actually, I drove over with Breitbart's stepmom, as a matter of fact. You'd have hated it :-) WIsh you were there.<br /><br />And that's a lie about the parents who've complained about student lunches and you know it.<br /><br />http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-04-11/news/ct-met-school-lunch-restrictions-041120110410_1_lunch-food-provider-public-school<br /><br />there are many more articles..I can't spend all my time educating you.<br /><br />"Discovering that the smaller portion is filling." Damn, what WOULD we do without Ducky?<br /><br />And more teaching: It's so tiresome :-)<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/business/11salt.htmlZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15989573357446569262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-54623249600888948902012-06-15T20:20:21.450-06:002012-06-15T20:20:21.450-06:00AOW, I'm biased.
Francois Truffaut jumped the...AOW, I'm biased.<br /><br />Francois Truffaut jumped the shark when he tried to go Hollywood and directed <i> Fahrenheit 451</i>.<br /><br />Truffaut was never really the same and I've held Bradbury responsible. Unjust, true but that's the nature of it.Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-50407216639424477642012-06-15T19:45:24.954-06:002012-06-15T19:45:24.954-06:00z, once again you're full of it.
I assume you...z, once again you're full of it.<br /><br />I assume you are referring to the North Carolina incident.<br />It was shown (not on Breitbart, of course) to be anecdotal and a simple misunderstanding, not policy.<br /><br />Again, name an instance where fat crap has been banned because if they start banning stuff like fried clam plates this leftist is going to be plenty steamed.<br /><br />Salt has disappeared from NY tables? You mean homes don't have salt shakers on the table? I'm confused. Is this real or Glenn beck?<br /><br />Second, Bloomberg is no liberal. And I see some value in someone buying a smaller drink and thinking about buying another. Discovering that the smaller portion is filling.<br /><br />Again, the fringe right makes a big hairy deal out of this but when Bloomberg (R- Nazi) states that the NYPD is his private army and he has them out doing shake downs and illegally spying on Muslims you're cool with that because you don't give a damn about their rights, only the convenience of <i> The Ladies Who Lunch</i>Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-21470671732958346022012-06-15T19:19:53.942-06:002012-06-15T19:19:53.942-06:00Duck,
Bradbury was an interesting fellow. He appe...Duck,<br />Bradbury was an interesting fellow. He appears to have opposed all kinds of oppression of freedom of expression.<br /><br />Now, you may not think he was a significant writer. However, he has influenced the last half of writing in the 20th Century in a major way -- not to mention <i>The Twilight Zone</i> (Rod Serling, of course).<br /><br />Have you read "A Sound of Thunder"? That's a profound short story, IMO.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-985636145371976132012-06-15T19:18:34.943-06:002012-06-15T19:18:34.943-06:00As long as we have people voting to be controlled ...As long as we have people voting to be controlled by those turning America into one big fascist day care center.... That'd be liberal progressives. It's been going on a good while.Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05287399775879832602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-51873394582889556562012-06-15T19:17:57.224-06:002012-06-15T19:17:57.224-06:00FreeThinke,
I'd rather be free and die relativ...FreeThinke,<br /><i>I'd rather be free and die relatively young than live to age 100 in a sanitized, micro-managed liberal dungeon.</i><br /><br />I won't disagree -- although my biggest fear is ending up in a nursing home.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-34823160101375198602012-06-15T19:15:45.040-06:002012-06-15T19:15:45.040-06:00Z,
You actually met Ray Bradbury?
Damn, I'm j...Z,<br />You actually met Ray Bradbury?<br /><br />Damn, I'm jealous.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.com