Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny As we continue to find ways to advance collectivism in America and diminish individuality this Ayn Rand interview on the Johnny Carson show is indeed a welcome respite. Even if only for a brief 26 1/2 minutes. I find it interesting how little the republican party represents the principles of Objectivism. Irrespective of what many have said.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Libe rty -vs- Tyra nny Everywhere in today's liberal, or progressive lexicon we hear of the evils inherent in Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand. Indeed the general consensus, or so it seems to this individual, is that Ayn Rand herself was an evil person. So, perhaps some object liberal, or progressive can explain the evil in the following... Thank You...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny As the election draws ever closer it is becoming quite evident We the People are destined to get another screwing no matter which candidate prevails. I find myself just shaking my head and acknowledging the battle for liberties lost and ever again realizing the full natural rights of man is now but a fading and ever more distant dream of what once was. We have slowly and willingly allowed the forces that propelled us to achieve greatness as a people and nation to be turned into a force that will ultimately destroy us. Witnessing the forces at work that have torn, and continue to tear at the philosophical principles this nation was founded on I no longer have the stamina or desire to describe that which should be clear to all. So I will allow another to say it. And say it with clarity, accuracy, and boldness... Man's Rights - If one wishes to advocate a free society-that is, capitalism-one must realize that its...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny While visiting fellow liberty site Left Coast Rebel I found this excellent video and accompanying text. A very big H/T to LC R and thanks for letting me "steal" the material Tim. By the Left Coast Rebel "He's not a follower of Ayn Rand; clearly he's been influenced by her..." More from Yahoo Finance : "I don't think Ryan even in his political philosophy is as radical as I am or as radical as Ayn Rand would be," says Brook in an interview with The Daily Ticker. "Maybe he is in terms of his long-term vision and is just a practical politician." Even though Brook says Ryan's plan is "nowhere near" what the economy needs to save it from a "debt disaster" he is quick to defend it against attacks."It brings expenses back to 2008 levels," he says. He's also "shocked" that Ryan's plan has been criticized so s...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan to be his running mate has the left twisting themselves into knots in the early attempts to misrepresent Paul Ryan's intellect and ability. Not content to attack Ryan the lefties have determined to attack Ayn Rand as well. Rand is the author and philosopher that Ryan freely admits had a positive impact on his thinking with respect to governance and ethics. The reason the left has such obsessive fear (that borders on hatred) of Ayn Rand is she stands for individualism over collectivism, a limited and proper role for the federal government, and she vehemently denounced the very statism that the leftist power structure in America has grown to embrace and herald as proper government Just as the founding fathers of our democratic republic were classical liberals and enlightened thinkers, Ayn Rand embraced, and advocated classical liberalism. Modern liberals (liberal today means c...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny The following word salad of irrationality and hate was left as a comment at Rational Nation USA on a post entitled “ Free Will .” After a initial reading of, and further contemplating the comment I decided to withhold publication of “anon’s” comment as I believed it to lack any intrinsic value whatsoever. Other than demonstrating a complete lack of intellectual clarity and honesty I thought the comment to be, well, rather worthless. It was not until “anon” decided to post his/her delusional irrationality that I decided to publish the comment on Rational Nation USA. Objectivism , because it requires looking at reality squarely in the face so to speak, absolutely scare hell out of the collectivist mindset that is personified by “anon.” For those with a rational mind I am sure you will get a chuckle from reading the following diatribe of irrationality. It expresses feelings born of the belief that somebody, from “ano...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny "When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing - when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors - when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you - when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed." Ayn Rand Is it possible we have arrived at such a place, and that through our conditioning we fail to recognize it? I'm sure the purveyors of cronyism (aka crony capitalism) and the "banksters" are smiling in approval of the job well done by puppets whose strings they ultimately control. Food for thought. Reality? You be the judge.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Continuing our journey into objectivism for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of the philosophy of Ayn Rand . Taken from pp.55-72 of Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, by Leonard Peikoff .

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Now for the concluding lecture segments in Objectivism by Professor Leonard Peikoff. Professor Peikoff's lecture just scratches the surface of Objectivist philosophy. For those who took the time to listen to all 8 segments, and had their curiosity aroused I suggest visiting the ARI as well as reading Ayn Rand's many non fiction works for a greater understanding of Objectivism. There are books written by other advocates of Objectivist thought and ethics that help in understanding the philosophy as well.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Rational objective ethics, or the lack thereof plays a great part in one's life, and by extension their success and happiness. However they define these two terms. I post this not to make a statement in support of Objectivist Ethics, although I personally subscribe to them, but rather to expose the individual reader to the concepts and leave it up to them whether to consider the validity or lack thereof.. Via: Ayn Rand Institute

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Ayn Rand Lexicon - Theory : Capitalism is a social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned. The recognition of individual rights entails the banishment of physical force from human relationships: basically, rights can be violated only by means of force. In a capitalist society, no man or group may initiate the use of physical force against others. The only function of the government, in such a society, is the task of protecting man’s rights, i.e., the task of protecting him from physical force; the government acts as the agent of man’s right of self-defense, and may use force only in retaliation and only against those who initiate its use; thus the government is the means of placing the retaliatory use of force under objective control. “ The Objectivist Ethics : The moral justification of capitalism does not lie in the altruist claim...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny This site was started almost three years ago, in large part because of the influence the free thinkers of the Age of Reason, the Enlightenment, and Ayn Rand have had on my thought and life. It has been good.

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Given the sad sack pack of republican candidates vying for their parties nomination (Ron Paul being the sole exception) revisiting the rational thought of Ayn Rand is to say the least refreshing. Yaron Brooks does a good job discussing Rand's continued relevancy in the first video and the second in discussing rights as derived from capitalism. Good stuff to ponder on a very early Saturday morning when most of the rest of the world s sleeping....

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny Today's conservatives often line up behind Ayn Rand's legacy and use her as the shining example of that which they profess to believe. Using her strong support of capitalism she has become a political tool many republicans use in a disingenuous ploy to further their crony capitalism. Liberals have typically held very low opinions of Ayn Rand, in fact she was often reviled by many liberals of her day, as well as today's contemporary progressives. This of course is due, at least in part, to liberals tendency to believe in, and support a growing statism. Rand was, above all else fiercely individualistic. She held that Aristotle, the father of reason was arguably the worlds greatest philosopher. And she viewed reason as the only absolute. While understanding the United States of America's system as devised and implemented by our founder's was imperfect, she nonetheless saw it as the best and most just s...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Libe rty -vs- Tyra nny Conservatives, usually the ones who least understand the ethical and moral principles of capitalism, proudly claim Ayn Rand as their heroine. Precisely because Ayn Rand was perhaps the world's strongest advocate for a true capitalistic society. Lets see what Rand had to say about the conservative movement... Today’s “conservatives” are futile, impotent and, culturally, dead. They have nothing to offer and can achieve nothing. They can only help to destroy intellectual standards, to disintegrate thought, to discredit capitalism, and to accelerate this country’s uncontested collapse into despair and dictatorship. “Conservatism: An Obituary,” Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 199 It was the so-called “conservatives” . . . who ran to the government for regulations and controls [over the broadcasting industry], and who cheered the notion of “public property” and service to the “public interest.” “The Property Statu...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s- Tyranny Altruism is found in the field of morality  and what constitutes ethical values. Rational Nation USA has often referred to, and identified altruism as a destructive force for the individual as well as broader societal relationships. Given the number of philosophers who have written about morality  I have found few actually understand the concept of altruism. While I acknowledge my own lack of "formal higher education" with respect to the field of ethics an morality I have spent many hours in self study and self education. It is my belief that self study, freely chosen by the individual is often the most productive. This is so because the individual who devotes the time and effort to study solely because of their desire for knowledge will ultimately learn a great deal more than the student who is merely in it to complete a scholastic requirement. As my philosophic and ethical beliefs are grounded in Objecti...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Liberty -vs- Tyranny Politics are, and have always been, a dirty business. Philosophy is the search for truth and greater knowledge. Unfortunately, few politician have a consistent non contradictory philosophy by which they are guided. Equally as unfortunate is no philosopher with a non contradictory philosophy has ever ran for office. Well, on second thought, there were a few in the 18th and early 19th century. Politics and government, at least in my mind, ought to be about maximizing individual liberty and minimizing government control and regulation. In short, politicians, and by extension our government, should be properly engaged in preserving individual rights as expressly defined in our Constitution. And they should be focused on how to minimize government control over our business and personal affairs. There is much that has been written {and said}on the subject of liberty and limited govern...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism Liberty -vs- Tyranny The editors of Think Progress , that useless and salacious rag of progressive collectivism have found it convenient to assail Ayn Rand and her Objectivist philosophy in their attack on Representative Paul Ryan's budget plan . In doing so they display both their ignorance of Ayn Rand's works as well as their ignorance of sound economic theory . Yes, Ayn Rand was an atheist. She believed that faith in a unknowable, and thus mystical supreme being was illogical and irrational. Not unlike millions, or perhaps tens of millions of atheists throughout history. So, what the hell does that have to do with economic theory? You likely got it right. Absolutely nothing. Yet Think Progress is using Rand's rational advocacy of capitalism, and by this I mean laissez a faire capitalism, to further the collectivist support for altruism. Which is the selfless belief that the individual...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Birthplace of Independent Conservatism I continue to be amused by the irrational hatred progressives have toward any and all things Rand and 18th century classical liberals held to be valid, which is to say true. One would think progressives would be the first to defend the individual against the immoral tyranny of a collective mob, which is to say the unrestrained power of the state. Present day progressives, as well as neo-cons, rather than defending the individual and standing strong for liberty, the liberty each and every individual regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender has the right to enjoy, place their "faith" in the state to determine what is best for each individual based on collective reasoning. They either fail to grasp the contradiction or they recognize it and simply use it both as a shield and a sword. Each individual can make up his or her own mind on whether Rand and 18th century enlightened and rational think...