When you examine the wars that our country is currently fighting in foreign countries it would seem that our leaders have forgotten that you need to know your enemy. If they had then I wonder if we would ever become involved in a war that only knows the “Blood Feud” and tribal loyalties. The enemies we are making there now we will have in 200 years.
But , this maximum of “Know your enemy” cannot be more true than in the class struggle we are involved it right now.
What the middle/working class need to know is first that the elites or 1% believe totally in trickle down economy. Second understand that part of their philosophical basis come’s from a ideal of “objectivism”.
Objectivism promotes the ideal that in the same way cream rise to the top so do the elite and that as cream is valued so should the elite be valued more than the rest of us rabble. The Ann Rand Institute the 20th century writer of the classic “Atlas Shrugged” and author of the philosophy explains it this way
“1. “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed” or “Wishing won’t make it so.” 2. “You can’t eat your cake and have it, too.” 3. “Man is an end in himself.” 4. “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Looked at in this simple view it seems reasonable but the truth is more of a screw you that only thing that counts is I get mine first and I is defined as the uber-rich or elites. In short is a elite philosophy for elitist. Evidence of this is seen in her seminal work “Atlas Shrugged” and in the movie of the same.
Now take this ideal of no regulatory control over finance or industry of what is good for me is good for everybody else and that eventually those on the bottom rung will get what they need. It is lazier faire economy of the minimal government, no taxes, and no government programs or help for the poor, no control over food or meds production and you see suddenly where the “Tea Parties” GOP’s are coming from. So it should not be a surprise to find out that our current house speaker John Boehner, house budget chairman Paul Ryan are both big fans of Ms. Rand and have been known to parhrase and quote from her works.
To get more info NPR has been doing a great series on the influence of Ann Rand and you can start with their recent Nov. 14th article
But should think that they are just showing their liberal bias they also have done a series of article on the Keynesian economic philosophy that promotes more regulations, greater taxes on the ultra-rich and more public assistance for those in need. The very opposite of Objectivism.
In this economic class war you need more than ever to know your enemy.
Reading and shop
Recently finished “Rainbow Pie” by Joe Baynet a great book that was part memoir and part how the white poor working class been led down the garden path. Great read well worth spending time with it. Unfortunately there will be no more from Joe as he has passed away this year. But you can still find a collection of his articles.
Started a political thriller called the “The Librarian” by Larry Beinhart and as I read it I find myself wondering if perhaps he was a fly on the wall. Great read so far.
Been working on sanding down the child’s writing desk getting it ready to reassemble and finish. Hopefully this week should have it done.
I also have picked up a Ryobi orbital jig saw so I hopefully will get back on to the Cherry salt and pepper collectible hanging cabinet.
The biggest problem I have been having in getting these jobs done has been cranky joints limiting my ability to do get out into the shop. But I am thinking I am going to have to just man up and do it.
Well enough for now.
Looks like a nice jig saw. The one I own is a Craftsman from about 25 years ago. It is so bad that I hardly use it. I've seen videos of some of the better jig saws and they appear to be vastly improved over my old one. Good luck with your woodworking.
ReplyDeleteThe one I replaced was a Back & Decker that was so old it was made in the USA.
ReplyDeleteGreenspan knew Ann Rand and followed her principles---now we have the result---excellent post David--
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