a modest ayn randian proposal

[unblock]

i had always thought that ayn rand had it wrong. but i finally realized that my arguments were flawed. you see, my basic idea was that this entire notion of strengthening people by refusing to give in to altruistic urges was injust and wrong.

but then i came to realize that ayn rand was not strictly wrong in this regard, the problem was she simply didn't go far enough.

if altruism weakens people that targets of your generosity, then why stop there? wouldn't other forms of kindness, such as basic non-violence, also weaken the targets of your non-violence?

remember in the pink panther movies when inspector clouseau has his servant cato attack him unexpectedly in order to keep clouseau's skills sharp? now THAT's love.

can you imagine the memories you will create for your wife, your husband, or your precious little children when you sit patiently in the dark awaiting their return home in order to ambush them with a surprise attack, giving them a cherished opportunity to test their self-defense skills that they will remember for the rest of their lives? call me romantic, but i can't think of a better gift for an anniversary or a birthday.

maybe it's just a jewish thing, but i know it's just not passover without a ritual slaying of the first-born. i'm not as familiar with christianity's rites, but it seems to me that easter wouldn't be much of a holiday without someone being strapped to a cross and tortured. how else will your babies grow up to be strong? i know i'd feel better knowing my kids have the fortitude to refuse to divulge state secrets after being captured by the enemy.


i have more to say on the topic, but mini-unblock has made the mistake of taking a nap without laying a defensive perimeter. this is, as they say, a "teaching moment". i do love him so! keeeeeyyyaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!

[dtexdem]

1. Just some Rand-om thoughts there.

LOL and rec

[ZombieHorde]

2. Awesome. nt

[provis99]

3. well, she admired Nietzsche too.

He'd certainly be on board for the random attack thing; "what does not destroy you only makes you stronger". And Christianity is a Death and Torture Cult; Passion of the Christ is evidence of that.

[hifiguy]

4. The problem was that Rand didn't understand

that Nietzche wrote "Thus Spake Zarathustra" as a black satire just as Jonathan Swift did "A Modest Proposal." Cripes, I learned that much from a humanities prof when I was a college freshman.

[unblock]

5. a humanities prof? a stinking ivory tower librul?

tee hee

[provis99]

6. Rand's problem was that she didn't understand reality.

That's why her books mostly appeal to socially inept suburban white teenagers with delusions of greatness.

[unblock]

9. alternatively, that was her genius.

she managed to convince legions that an internally consistent model didn't need to bear any relationship with reality.
being internally consistent, she argued that it could be judged approvingly by its own perverse standards.

[provis99]

11. sort of like Bizarro World in the Superman comics, I guess.

[DirkGently]

7. You've hit on something big, really. The claim is for some kind of social Darwinism, but it isn't.

The "geniuses" and "wealth creators" Rand lauded depend entirely on artificial social constructs for their power. Architects and rail tycoons and such would have nothing without a highly ordered system of control. THEY need a government structure far more, in fact, than the "weak" "parasites" Rand despises. They need the homeless removed from the parks. They need debtors pursued. And yes, TAXES, to really get the money funnel going in their direction.

At any time, people could simply refuse to cooperate in a society that doesn't adequately benefit them. Stop riding the rails. Stop buying the petroleum products and electronic geegaws. Withdraw their fortunes from the banks. Stop paying mortgages; credit cards.

The entire underlying conceit is simply a lie. People don't exist at the sufferance of the wealthy and "powerful." It is exactly the opposite.

[unblock]

8. indeed, the government works largely for the rich.

what the poor get, be it from the rich or for the government, is, for the most part, just enough to keep them in line.

[zippytheplatypus]

10. so Metamorphosis wasn't a true story??

That changes the whole ballgame..

[Capitalocracy]

12. what we really need are easily-defeatable ninjas

that pop up every once in awhile while we're out and about and make weak but exciting attempts to assassinate us

[unblock]

13. nice try, but that would only give us false confidence!

:rofl:

[Capitalocracy]

14. Maybe, but it would keep us in shape! nt

[jtuck004]

15. Our anniversary is tomorrow, and I was trying to think of a gift. Thank you! /nt