9 Ways the Right’s Ayn Randian Experiment Screws Over the Young

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/ayn-rand-0




Conservatives keep claiming liberals want a “cradle-to-grave nanny state.” That rhetoric has distracted us from the real social re-engineering taking place all around us. The right, along with its “centrist” collaborators, is transforming our nation into a bloodless and soulless Randian State.

Their decades-long assault on our core social values is on the verge of consuming its first complete generation of Americans. Born at the dawn of the Reagan era, Millennials were the first to be fully subjected to this all-out attack on the idea that we take care of each other in this country, and they’ll pay for it from the cradle to the grave.

Some of us are the parents of Millennials. Who’ll fight with them, and for them?

The Psychosis

The Simpsons made a running joke out of Springfield’s “ Ayn Rand School for Tots,” where toddlers fend for themselves in playrooms whose signs say things like “Helping is Futile.” That’s very funny. What is happening to our country isn’t.

[disidoro01]

1. Our

society has become more open, more tolerant, not less so. There are pockets of ignornace but we are a far more diverse and welcoming country than ever before. Look at history rather than your own biase. Demographics will encourage this trend to continue.

[disidoro01]

2. I should have answered the article as well.

Neither Rand nor Libertarians have done this. Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama have done this along with their Banker friends. It goes further back but the article blames our societal failings on reagan so I thought i would start there. This has been done to us by both Republicans and Democrats and the reason it isn't changing is because you like many others, vote letters. If you vote D, things should change and if they don't it's because of R's fault. The same applies to Republicans. It's a vicious cycle of enslavement far worse than any of this nonsensical handwringing over Ayn Rand.

[HughBeaumont]

6. So . . . should we vote Libertarian?

You DO know that Libertarians are just as, if not more so, 1%er friendly as the twin Friedman-worshipping parties we're stuck with now, right? It's all of the Republicanism minus the Jesus. Some alternative.

[disidoro01]

8. All or nothing

nonsense. We have a congress of all R's or D's, with very few exceptions. We have a D as President and yet as we fall apart, as they erode civil liberties, as they pander to the 1%, it's all about Libertarians destroying the world.
I assume you are a registered democrat. Why are you supporting the death of thousands, mostly innocent people, many children?
Sure Libertarians are the great evil, but we are not the ones eating popcorn as we rewatch a President Obama drone strike on a wedding party. Because, if all libertarians support the 1% and are republicans without jesus, democrats like to watch the slaughter of innocent people. Right?

[HughBeaumont]

9. No, you have a congress and a White House of moderate Republicans to outright Fascists.

With an actual Democrat or two thrown in for good measure.

I vote Democratic so America doesn't fall to the hatemongering religious right; it's bad enough that it's almost completely fallen to the plutocrats and the Jesus Clan came damned close under Reagan and Bewsh the Dumber. I'm not under some illusion that the 1%ers and their Darwinist brand of capitalism (that you guys wholeheartedly support, and don't EVEN tell me you don't) go away once you vote "D". Thanks to plutocracy, the war machine, a cash cow to most wealthmongers (including the hyper-Libertarian Koch Brothers) and a product of Republicans and CENTRIST Democrats, will continue unhindered and uninterrupted . . . and if you think I support that by voting Democratic, that's a shortcut to thinking.

If you even take a read at this site for more than five minutes, most of us know there isn't any perfect party, least of all the one we're pretty much resigned to support. Everyone in the upper echelons of power ranges from a Milton Friedman-worshipping centrist to a card-carrying arch conservative. It's going to take DECADES to change that direction, and it very well might be too late for that to happen. We're just the most vocal because we expect better.

What I have issue with is that Libertarians are the most insincere and shameless bunch I've ever encountered. You present yourself as some noble alternative party, yet ignore a very fatal flaw in your "rugged individualist" grand scheme: One man's "rugged individualist" is another man's assassin, firer, oppressor or abuser. For a collective society to work, for better or for worse, "the island" is destined to fail every time. A sociopathic capitalist doesn't care whether you're on board with his vision; he'll only exploit you for his own gain.

Worst of all is the Libertarian's anti-war stance, which I just don't find genuine. War shouldn't happen because it's immoral and wrong; you all think it shouldn't happen because it's "just another thing government shouldn't be meddling in". Stop pretending you have some noblesse oblige towards the soldiers and veterans when you're completely on board with chopping their benefits and hospitalization when they come home.

The predatory capitalism you support is NOT a product of people who think like us. You think someone like me would support free trade and job offshoring??? You think someone like me would vote to cut veteran's benefits? Like I said, we may not be able to change any of it by voting. But until someone presents an honest-to-goodness better alternative that doesn't cater to hyper-profit, it's what we're stuck with.

[disidoro01]

10. You are

so full of crap it isn't funny. You don't speak out against the current corruption and excess but heaven forbid a person be a Libertarian. You have no clue what Libertarian is, you get your message from TV and they've told you what to believe. You define it by what some Left wing blog tells you toit is, you can't even do the research yourself.

You lie, the Congress is full of Democrats and Republicans and the White house is headed by a Democrat. You don't get to change the affiliation because it doesn't suit you.
For the last 5 years it's been a party of the secret kill list and you are resigned to that???

So, the action you take is to vociferously state that they are not really Democrats. Wrong, you voted in Democrats and this is what we have. Meet the new king, same as the old king.

I don't support predatory capitalism and I do support a smaller government. That smaller government would be better equipped to help our population out because we wouldn't be in endless wars, we wouldn't be murdering innocent people, we wouldn't be criminalizing virtually everything.
The stupid notion that there are different belief system of a democrat yet not a Libertarian flies in the face of reality and fact.

Where are the criminal cases against Banks that have destroyed people lives? I find it laughable that any Democrat here can discuss the horrors of capitalism while the President doubles down on protecting the financial sector.


President Obama, much like you is good at one thing...empty rhetoric.
"The predatory capitalism you support is NOT a product of people who think like us."...I don't support this but the Congress and the President do support this. Therefore, as the representative you voted for, you support this.

I want real and positive change and like many, if neither Republicans or Democrats give that, I'll look elsewhere.

Democrat don't want change from the status quo, they don't want us to look behind the curtain.

[HughBeaumont]

11. Where do I begin? Or end?

You don't speak out against the current corruption and excess but heaven forbid a person be a Libertarian.

a. Read the Journal. b. I've been involved in more protests than you can shake a stick at, yet the most recent anti-war protest I've been to felt like I was at a Tea-Party circle jerk of insults. c. I really don't care what flag someone flies, just don't pretend like it's a viable alternative to corporatism as usual.

You have no clue what Libertarian is, you get your message from TV and they've told you what to believe.

Oh Christ, you're not one of those, are you? Yes, you got ME pegged, I completely believe the 7-corporation-owned media who covers TeaHad protests from beginning to end but ignores progressive protests unless police are beating the shit out of them. Sheesh.

You define it by what some Left wing blog tells you toit is, you can't even do the research yourself.

Quite the contrary; let's go to your recent candidate's platform if I may . . .

Economically, Gary Johnson's a Fair Taxer (Neal Boortz idea and a favorite of idle rich conservatives), a Free Trader (Which ALL regressive wingnuts lurve), a Voucher champion for schools and medicare (SUPER wingnuttery), a deregulator (Let Big Biznezz run WILD), wants to abolish the IRS (Paulbot stupidity) and wants to defund/eliminate social programs (or, as conservaturds put it, "entitlements&quot .

He's also a pro-lifer, is anti-universal health care and even hates the insurer-friendly "Obamacare".

This is all verbatim from his site. I think ending the military interventions, ending the TSA/spying on citizens lunacy, pro-marriage equality and ending the drug war (not so much because he's pro-peace, pro-liberty, pro-gay or pro-pot, but more because he's an anti-federal-government-getting-involved-in-ANYthing states rights guy) are just about the only progressive initiatives on his board. Everything else is wingnut crapola, especially his economic plan. THIS IS what I'm supposed to consider a reasonable option . . . someone who thinks we don't coddle corporations ENOUGH????

You lie, the Congress is full of Democrats and Republicans and the White house is headed by a Democrat. You don't get to change the affiliation because it doesn't suit you.

That's what a BOY says. The White House is headed by an economically right-leaning centrist who's somewhat evolving on social issues, but still remains the better choice than Bewsh on Steroids. The Congress and Senate are filled with centrist millionaire moderates who caucus with the Democrats and plutocracy-favoring Republicans; a few Sherrod Browns and Bernie Sanders here and there, but not a great number to make a difference. Here's where I tell you I'm a grown adult and you don't get to tell me what definitions I can reserve for our current crop of bad wealth-enabling politicians.

For the last 5 years it's been a party of the secret kill list and you are resigned to that???

I'd believe your insincere crap if you didn't say "5 years". You think every one of your war/spying hang ups started around January 21st, 2009? Find it funny that I didn't see hide nor hair of the Paulistines or Libertarians or whatever you guys are during the Failure Fuhrer's reign of war and corporate corruption . . . not a peep. Also find it funny that every Libertarian I've ever heard speak spends 95% of their time bashing one party (give you a hint . . . it's the one that DOESN'T start with an "R&quot . . . kind of like what you're doing now.

That smaller government would be better equipped to help our population out because we wouldn't be in endless wars, we wouldn't be murdering innocent people, we wouldn't be criminalizing virtually everything.

Geez, now who's getting their ideas from a TV? Why don't you support better government instead of a smaller one? How does the country run? How does a weak-hiring private sector get buoyed and balanced? You do know that government is not only getting smaller under Pres. Obama, but spending has been quelled as well, right? You think privitization can handle everything in a suitable and fair manner? HOW'S THAT WORKING OUT NOW?? Some things are just far too giant and costly for any individual to fund him/herself. Shame America not only hasn't figured out what the rest of the world has, but continues to move in the opposite direction of it.

I don't support this but the Congress and the President do support this. Therefore, as the representative you voted for, you support this.

Absolutist answer and a shortcut to thinking again, just like a FUCKING REPUBLICAN would. Not voting or disillusioned voting gives you a "close enough to steal"; vis a vis, George W. Bewsh. And I cannot allow that bad news to happen again. Separate money from politics. Get more involved in economic issues.

I want real and positive change and like many, if neither Republicans or Democrats give that, I'll look elsewhere.

And in America, that "elsewhere" is either a 1%er-friendly and moderately funded bag of idle-rich whiteys . . . or parties who embrace progressive change, but because they do so, are financially shut out of the picture and not admitted to the dais from the word "GO". Nice menu.

[disidoro01]

14. Let's try

this. You've attacked, you pointed fingers. Now you explain to me your support for what Obama does. Too weak to pull back the curtain?

The 5 year comment is based on Obama's presidency, I am well aware of the history. I don't ignore Obamas faults and crimes because of his party, He is no different than Bush. The problem is we voted for Obama to be different in substance, not rhetoric.

Why do you support the president's secret kill list?
Why do you support his protection of Bankers?
Why do you support an institutionalized national surveillance program?
Why do you support A drone program without oversight?
Why do you support killing men women and children just because they gather in groups?
Why do you support killing american teenagers because they have a father who we declared a terrorist?
Why do you support arming rebels who are affiliated with al-qaeda?
Why do you support a continuation of growth in the DoD? You say I am misguided to want it to shrink. What are you afraid of?

Because you have to support all of the presidents initiatives, much like I must support all classical libertarian views.
In my case I don't but given your factless vitriol, you no doubt are thrilled with what the president has done.
And this right her is why the younger generation and independents are turning away from Democrats, we want substance not style. The delusional left only wants a D next to the name.

[HughBeaumont]

15. I don't support any of that. But I cannot waste a vote.

Wasting a vote gets you George W. Bewsh. This country will not survive another George W. Bewsh.

"The Delusional Left" . . . thanks for exposing yourself.

And what was "factless" about Libertarians? Are you NOT funded by very very rich white men who hate labor, labor rights and progress? Do you NOT generally subscribe to the worst parts of Milton Friedman, Strauss and Hayek? You think your party's handlers are completely innocent of war involvement and profiteering? Hang your hat on them if you must . . . I don't know, I LIKE working and not training my cheaper replacements for severance pay. I LIKE not living in an "every man for himself" dystopia. I LIKE social safety nets.

Maybe these two articles will clear things up:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022950159

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022753644

[disidoro01]

16. You

own what this administration has done just like republicans own what Bush has done. You refuse to advocate change from the status quo, you support the staus quo. You attack me as some party line shill but you are the shill. Kill em over there so we don't have to kill em here right? How's that working for you?
What safety net? Poverty rising, children going hunger and their numbers increasing.
my local party is not funded nor support any of these corporate whores and bankers...Unfortunately we know the democratic party is and the president will not allow any action against these criminals.
How shameful that once we got a person into the whitehouse he changed into Bush and the democratic party morphed into the republican party.
Instead of righting the ship, we have the Hugh's of the world trying to distract by making up stories and assigning values to others. I'm not a blind follower of ron paul but i respect that he was against the patriot act and stuck to his position. Obama was against it before he was for it and then he took the reigns and expanded it.
You don't like Gary Johnsons free market approach? Care to explain what the Presidents approach is?
Are democrats going to fix the party or go republican lite and double down on stupid...right now, you are doubling down on stupid.

[HughBeaumont]

17. Way to not address ANY of the Libertarian's obvious faults and flaws any damned time.

This is mind numbing and pointless and just devolving into ad-hominems. I'm outta here. And no, you didn't "win", I'm choosing to end this because you keep giving Republicans and their bad policies that Libertarians are on board with free passes and not addressing a single damned ONE of them.

Sometimes, repair has to happen glacially. Unfortunately, since this country is made up of slow learners, this is the way it has to be. America is at the point where every single move it makes has to be the right one, and youthful frustration will turn into hilarity if it means boarding a train that's being whiskey-throttle-driven by the likes of the Kochs and Peter Thiel, giving you worse corporatism than you're now experiencing. Sorry if you're too naive to see it that way. Guess you and yours want to cure heart disease and cardiomyopathy by voting aneurysms. Classic.

[disidoro01]

18. I've discussed my views

I'm not going play your games where you point fingers and attack others while hiding under you blanket of "I'm a good democrat".
You live in an old black and white movie. You say" If you are a Libertarian, you have to follow the party line to a T, but I as a democrat have more refined views of my party lines." Classic arrogance and that's why we are in the shape we are in.
The Obama administration ordered a drone strike on a wedding party but thats ok, he isn't a Libertarian. That about sums it up for you doesn't it? Libertarians all believe in an unfttered free market that would destroy the world, they are evil. Obama protects that banks and institutions that brought about the last and current recession but at least he's a democrat.
What else am I missing? Crawl back into that dusty corner.
People who want to fix this country without whoring to either party have work to do.
the drug laws are draconian and racist, they need to be changed.
gay marriage? Yes
Womens rights? Yes
A smaller government? Yes. i have to expand this because people hear this and can't wrap their little minds around the fact that you can shrink the government and actually provide more to the people. Shrink the defense budget immensely. Tax code is over a million pages, don't bullshit me that this can't be made more user friendly. Have you seen how bills are delivered in Congress? that's BS as well. Congressional barbers? WTH.
This would allow for more meaningful support of citizens.
Significantly decrease our colonization/destruction of the middle east? Yes
So, you can make crap up but this is me and you and your party may not like it, but we are not going to let you continue to drag us down this path.

[HughBeaumont]

13. Here's a good dossier on Shamertarianism . . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023039132#post62

[Berlum]

3. Ayn Rand School for Tots

[marmar]

4. k/r

[OneGrassRoot]

5. Reddit is, to me, a great example of this.

It is a HUGE online community, yet the primary demographic is young men.

You can see the influence of Ayn Rand and Ron/Rand Paul. There is a callousness that is very, very disconcerting.

[Notafraidtoo]

7. I have Hope for Millennial

The effects of the repeal of the fairness doctrine is weakening not growing stronger among Millennial's,Fox news is a Joke to a over whelming majority of Millennial 's,They don't watch cable news most get news from a face book meme's that for progressives tend to be rather clever,funny and light hearted but Conservative memes tend to be cruel,heartless and back wards. For the first time in American history being liberal minded will be quite easy to do And its Social Media that will lead the way in this new future People that don't watch news knew who Todd Aiken is and what he said, we will have no shortage of crazy Republican talk .

Tough love has very little affect on Millennial's they are not very responsive to hatred of any kind.Millennial's are far more open to science,questioning of Religion and Psychology far more then previous American Generations,Psychology favors Liberal child rearing that may just very well destroy the nurtured Conservative.

When they mature a bit more 45-55 Range i think we will witness another Progressive revolution,labor issues will be huge again because the Millennial's did not benefit from labor or entrepreneurship's anyway near as much as the last Three generations so they will be hungry for a change and they will be in the streets being more organized then any protest in american history i am just happy i as a Millennial will be right there with them.


Those of us who watch Sunday Talk shows and keep up on all current events are exposed to the efforts of Corporate America to control the message so its easy to fear,Lucky for us Corporate America does a very poor Job of influencing the hearts and minds of Millennial's they just don't reach them and they are extremely suspicious of any efforts to do so.

[Initech]

12. Fuck Ayn Rand!!!

[ErikJ]

19. "The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy;.."

"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."

John Kenneth Galbraith

Hence we have RW Ayn Rand worship.