One of the main purposes of NSO is to promote the ideas of Ayn Rand in the Southeast, and we are aware that there are many friends of Objectivism throughout our area who do not have ready access to a local study group.
In order to assist the spread of interest in Ayn Rands to new areas, we have set up threads in our discussion group for each of the states in the Southeast. If you are interested in making contact with other like-minded friends of Objectivism, please post your contact information and we'll do what we can to put people in the same area in touch with one another. If you have an existing group or web site, please post information about it here, and we'll add it to our "Friends of Objectivism in the Southeast" section of this blog to your right. We also have a page set up to post information for each of the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
(For a similar method of meeting friends of Objectivism in your area, you may wish to consider Meetup.com, which we and several other Objectivist groups also use.)
Of course, as always, the ultimate clearinghouse of information about all things Ayn Rand is the Ayn Rand Institute.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Our Government Schools Hard At Work Creating the Next Generation of FreeThinking Americans
I found this sign posted in front of my local elementary school in Greenville. To top it off, the sign in the background says: "Welcome to Lake Forest Elementary - A Community of Nations."
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Welcome to the New Blog
Posted below are two of the posts from the old blog just to begin to show how this can be set up. We'll keep up the main page (at www.newsouthobjectivists.org) but post a link there to the new blog.
The features of blogspot allow the use of all the "gadget" organization features and subscription features that most blogs on the internet use.
We should probably send out a mass email to those on the NSO list about the new blog, and suggest that they subscribe using the RSS feed and other subscription methods.
We also need to point out that this has comments and we'll need to monitor them.
We should also eventually delete this message.
The features of blogspot allow the use of all the "gadget" organization features and subscription features that most blogs on the internet use.
We should probably send out a mass email to those on the NSO list about the new blog, and suggest that they subscribe using the RSS feed and other subscription methods.
We also need to point out that this has comments and we'll need to monitor them.
We should also eventually delete this message.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Is Obama a Socialist?
The right is very vocal in accusing President Obama of being a socialist. In a broad sense they are correct in that socialism is a form of collectivism and statism. However, judging by the policies he and his administration are actually implementing Obama is a fascist.
Fascism -- invented by Mussolini and copied by Hitler -- is a political/economic system in which there is nominally private property. So people supposedly own their homes, their clothing, their food and their businesses. However, in fact, the government dictates every detail regarding how the "owner" uses his supposed property.
Under fascism a businessman nominally owns his factory but in practice the government tells him what products to make, where he gets his supply, whom and how many to hire, what he must pay his workers, how much he can charge for his product, how much of it he must produce and who he must sell it to.
This describes exactly the kind of power Obama via Geitner is seeking. Geitner asked Congress for authority to take over any private institution which is a a "systemic risk". What is a "systemic risk"? Apparently, it is the same as a "too big to fail" and we all know how arbitrarily this term was used (AIG was too big; Lehman wasn't, etc.). So if this regulation is passed Geitner will have the power to take over or bail out any private business he desires to in this country.
Then today Congress passed a law giving Geitner the power to dictate the compensation of all employees of any company which has recieved government aid.
So here is the result. Obama says to Geitner, "Take over the xxx corp.". Geitner promptly declares xxx as a systemic risk. This justifies him forcing it to take a bail out from the Treasury. Now that the company has been "bailed out", the law passed today allow Geitner to dictate the wages of everyone from the CEO to the janitor. With this power Obama/Geitner can dictate all company policy. and actions. Now Obama runs xxx corp even though legally it is still owned by the stockholders.
This is such a blatant and open grab for power that we must rank Obama with Stalin, Mao and Hitler in the power luster hall of fame.
-TG
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The 2008 Elections
I am a lifelong Republican (age 67) who now advocates voting a Democratic ticket.
The Party
I am outraged at my party: After decades of minority status and preaching fiscal responsibility and cutting spending, when they finally controlled both houses of Congress and the Presidency they spent money worse than the Democrats ever did. They were disgusting and non-repentant about it. For example, Ted Stevens of Alaska and the "bridge to nowhere".
They passed horrible socialist legislation such as the prescription drug program. The size of government increased 40% under their "leadership."
They passed the Patriot Act. This would be okay as a temporary measure during war time. If the war was declared, a definite enemy identified and victory defined so that we know when it is over. But this is an undeclared war which they say will take decades and it will given the war strategy they have chosen. As such the Patriot Act is now a permanent part of our legal structure and a dangerous violation of our individual rights.
They passed Sarbanes Oxley which criminalizes the most productive class of our society - its business men.
Republicans also deserve to be punished for being ruled by religious fanatics who want to destroy the separation of church and state.
The Presidency
Both candidates for President are advocating socialism and both of them will create disaster.
Obama
It is hard to say what Obama stands for he is so unprincipled. Change? To what; from what? But we can deduce a few things:
He is anti-American. He is certainly a socialist but he is more open about it than McCain. Obama's programs if implemented will bankrupt us.
He is utterly naive and probably inept at foreign policy. He will negotiate with everyone and fight no one.
If some terrorist attack occurs again such as 9/11, Obama - like Bush - will treat it as a criminal issue not a war issue. He will go after the particular individuals who committed the act and not consider waging war on the countries who harbor them.
McCain
McCain is a militarist, socialist, environmentalist. His hero is Teddy Roosevelt a socialist, militarist and environmentalist. McCain believes in Kantian type duty and sacrifice. As President he will reinstitute the draft only this time it would be a universal draft of all young people for some kind of national service.
McCain still gives lip service to capitalism but the actual policies he espouses put the lie to that claim.
McCain gets an edge over Obama in foreign policy. He knows the subject and is more likely to act in our self defense. However, will he have the ability to identify the true enemy: Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia? I doubt it. He is more likely to get our young people killed in side shows like Iraq. When he does go to war will he reject "just war" theory and fight ruthlessly? I doubt it. (Frankly, I am fed up with these undeclared wars we have been fighting since 1950.) I would rather not fight at all than have any more Koreas, Vietnams or Iraqs.
Though not known for being especially religious he will not be able to defy the religious fanatics who rule his party. This is proven by his choice of running mate, Sarah Palin -- the speaking in tongues, anti-abortionist, hick who will be almost as embarrassing a representative of the country as George Bush. Notice that the right (i.e. the religious) wing of the party suddenly jumped on the McCain band wagon when Palin was selected.
Strategy
Given the above, why not just abstain - go to the poles but vote for Mickey Mouse?
First, the Republicans are still viewed by the people as the party of big business and capitalism. The country is going to hell whichever man wins but if a Republican is President when it happens capitalism will get the blame even though McCain is not a supporter of capitalism. (You can see this today in the way the general populace has viewed the credit crisis.)
Secondly, there are still a few good voices on the right even in Congress as evidenced by the fight over the bailout bill. These voices will be stifled if their own President advocates socialism. Whereas with a Democratic president they will speak out freely as a loyal opposition should.
In short let's make sure the political philosophy- socialism - which is to blame gets the blame. There is precedent for this; it is what happened with Carter in the late 70s. The socialist policies of that era, the resultant stagnant economy plus the bumbling and tragic foreign policy caused the shift to the right which we enjoyed from 82 to 02.
I will understand if you can't vote for Obama; I'm not sure my stomach is strong enough to do that either. But please don't vote for McCain
As to other offices be aware that, at least in the South, a vote for a Republican is usually a vote for a theocrat. That alone is reason to vote against any candidate not to mention all the reasons this article began with. If you know of an exception great; otherwise vote Democratic.
-TG
The Party
I am outraged at my party: After decades of minority status and preaching fiscal responsibility and cutting spending, when they finally controlled both houses of Congress and the Presidency they spent money worse than the Democrats ever did. They were disgusting and non-repentant about it. For example, Ted Stevens of Alaska and the "bridge to nowhere".
They passed horrible socialist legislation such as the prescription drug program. The size of government increased 40% under their "leadership."
They passed the Patriot Act. This would be okay as a temporary measure during war time. If the war was declared, a definite enemy identified and victory defined so that we know when it is over. But this is an undeclared war which they say will take decades and it will given the war strategy they have chosen. As such the Patriot Act is now a permanent part of our legal structure and a dangerous violation of our individual rights.
They passed Sarbanes Oxley which criminalizes the most productive class of our society - its business men.
Republicans also deserve to be punished for being ruled by religious fanatics who want to destroy the separation of church and state.
The Presidency
Both candidates for President are advocating socialism and both of them will create disaster.
Obama
It is hard to say what Obama stands for he is so unprincipled. Change? To what; from what? But we can deduce a few things:
He is anti-American. He is certainly a socialist but he is more open about it than McCain. Obama's programs if implemented will bankrupt us.
He is utterly naive and probably inept at foreign policy. He will negotiate with everyone and fight no one.
If some terrorist attack occurs again such as 9/11, Obama - like Bush - will treat it as a criminal issue not a war issue. He will go after the particular individuals who committed the act and not consider waging war on the countries who harbor them.
McCain
McCain is a militarist, socialist, environmentalist. His hero is Teddy Roosevelt a socialist, militarist and environmentalist. McCain believes in Kantian type duty and sacrifice. As President he will reinstitute the draft only this time it would be a universal draft of all young people for some kind of national service.
McCain still gives lip service to capitalism but the actual policies he espouses put the lie to that claim.
McCain gets an edge over Obama in foreign policy. He knows the subject and is more likely to act in our self defense. However, will he have the ability to identify the true enemy: Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia? I doubt it. He is more likely to get our young people killed in side shows like Iraq. When he does go to war will he reject "just war" theory and fight ruthlessly? I doubt it. (Frankly, I am fed up with these undeclared wars we have been fighting since 1950.) I would rather not fight at all than have any more Koreas, Vietnams or Iraqs.
Though not known for being especially religious he will not be able to defy the religious fanatics who rule his party. This is proven by his choice of running mate, Sarah Palin -- the speaking in tongues, anti-abortionist, hick who will be almost as embarrassing a representative of the country as George Bush. Notice that the right (i.e. the religious) wing of the party suddenly jumped on the McCain band wagon when Palin was selected.
Strategy
Given the above, why not just abstain - go to the poles but vote for Mickey Mouse?
First, the Republicans are still viewed by the people as the party of big business and capitalism. The country is going to hell whichever man wins but if a Republican is President when it happens capitalism will get the blame even though McCain is not a supporter of capitalism. (You can see this today in the way the general populace has viewed the credit crisis.)
Secondly, there are still a few good voices on the right even in Congress as evidenced by the fight over the bailout bill. These voices will be stifled if their own President advocates socialism. Whereas with a Democratic president they will speak out freely as a loyal opposition should.
In short let's make sure the political philosophy- socialism - which is to blame gets the blame. There is precedent for this; it is what happened with Carter in the late 70s. The socialist policies of that era, the resultant stagnant economy plus the bumbling and tragic foreign policy caused the shift to the right which we enjoyed from 82 to 02.
I will understand if you can't vote for Obama; I'm not sure my stomach is strong enough to do that either. But please don't vote for McCain
As to other offices be aware that, at least in the South, a vote for a Republican is usually a vote for a theocrat. That alone is reason to vote against any candidate not to mention all the reasons this article began with. If you know of an exception great; otherwise vote Democratic.
-TG
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