The power of the Constitution was so great, that in spite of all that has been done to make it impotent its influence lasted around 200 years. Immediately after having been written, critics started arguing against this, that, or the other depending on their different agendas. While adhering to the general principles set down by the Constitution the nation prospered as no nation in all of history has ever prospered. The cause of this was the freedom the Constitution provided. At the same time, little by little it was being torn apart by those who want to make it irrelevant, until in the 20th century, the process accelerated to the point where it was changed to where it has been made useless. As a result, we witness the decline of the USA into a mixed (up) economy and government. The freedoms are hanging by their fingernails as the middle class commits suicide by poison, though the antidote exists in black and white, written by the founders. Unless there is a radical shift in Washington and the majority of the state governments, the USA will not survive as a free state.

I firmly believe that the only winning strategy is educating future generations in spite of all the obstacles. That's what ARI continues to home in on. That's where I donate and lend my support.

Rand's ideas are being discussed in political circles and that exposes the young and curious to them. All they need is a hearing and they will stand on their own merits. Our goal should be to help others ask the right questions - the right fundamental questions with an understanding of why they are important. That's a much more selfish and valuable use of our energies -- questions like what are rights and why are they rights?

So why not turn this vehicle from a complaining circle into a search for the right questions and how we can communicate their importance to the young present and future voters.

I like to point out that thise commonly called leaders are anything but! They win popularity contests. Therefore, they are simply followers - some well intentioned but all seeking power for some purpose. And they get the electorate's
permission to do what they do. So we the voters are the problem. Therefore, that's where leverage for improvement lives.

For those too set in their unquestioned premises - ignore them - move on - find the intellectually curious and inspire them with the right questions and respect for their rights and responsibilities as independent sovereign human beings.

When I daily introduce strangers to Rand's innovation in thinking, I suggest questions that deserve their attention for their own happiness and defense of their rights. I ask if and what the like to read and use that as my guide for what to recommend.

I also share "my most outrageous assertion" and call it just that - I believe Ayn Rand has done for philosophy, what Newton had done for a Physics - fully grounding it in reality for the first time.

I tell my listeners that if they read about this, the only thing that matters is their best judgement and integrity. If it doesn't meet that standard they should ignore it. This separates me for those asking for followers and puts the burden fully and respectfully on their shoulders.

Thoughts?

As Robert Le Favre said in his book "The nature of man and his government": Government begins by protecting some against others and ends up protecting itself against everyone.

The loved Thomas Jefferson shredded the Constitution with the Louisiana Purchase. As soon as a person attains power, things change.

Zen, I agree - vets are no more educated and insightful that the rest of the population. After seeing how badly we are managing this war, they may be even more cynical than the rest of the population.

When Princess Pelosi said, "Let's pass this bill to see what's in it beyond the controversy," not a single Republican voted for it.
Not so for voting for the unread Cromni-under-the-bus Bull that spends just another trillion dollars we don't have.
I'm beyond sick of the "leadership" repeatedly shown by the wimp-out house speaker Boohoo Boner.
No, thank you very much, I like the way I spell Carrot Man's name. It better matches the vegetable that is in office.

The Off-Grid Texan

I have watched, with “captivated interest”, the moral and economic decline of America. I sincerely believe that Barrack Obama and Liberal Politicians have succeeded in an intentional decimation of the moral fabric of our nation and its economy. We have reached the point of no return. Our economy will soon crash.
I will now pose some questions for you? Where will be when the Grid goes down? What will life in the cities be like when there is no electricity, water, or sewage?
The national debt is so great that it can never be repaid. The ultimate source of this money, which is being so frivolously spent by our oppressive government, is our children and their descendants. If the national debt will ever be repaid, it will be paid for by them. Future generations
What an evil and selfish generation we are. We are stealing from future generations. They will be forced to pay oppressive taxes to accommodate the lavish and frivolous spending of a wicked Federal Government.
The power held by the government over the people is increasing rapidly. The liberals in government are too firmly entrenched. Barrack Hussein Obama is, in my opinion, intentionally trying to destroy our economy. He has already damaged our economy to such an extent that a depression will soon occur. It is inevitable.
It is greatly disappointing and disturbing to see the way Liberals have crammed Obamacare down our throats against the wishes of most American’s. It is unsustainable and will accelerate our decline.
We have become a country where violence and sex are commonplace on television. We are forced to accept homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.
Christians are persecuted while Muslims are lifted up. The government controls our healthcare and will have a degree of control over our life or death.
Government controls our schools. Our children are taught fuzzy math and revisionist history. They are taught about condoms and birth control. They selectively choose to teach two unproven theories as scientific fact i.e. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the theory of Man Caused Global Warming. They are taught that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. They are forbidden to worship God openly.
Government, through the Federal Reserve System, controls and regulates the amount of money in circulation and hence the value of your money. They also control interest rates and have the ability to control the economy. The Federal Reserve routinely adjusts the prime rate to regulate the economy to control unemployment rates. 100% employment will never be permitted.
Government imposes excessive regulations on American industry. The tax on business is punitive. The tax on America’s citizens is unreasonable and oppressive.
As a freedom loving Texan, the Federal Government has become my enemy.

Ayn Rand had written about what the government has been doing for years and very few believed her. Those who read Atlas say this is what we are living through now, but we have since she started writing it in 1947. Her thinking becomes even more clear when you read all she wrote in the years after its publication. If she were alive today she would be writing the same things only the names would have changed. With all of his popularity and exposure what the judge has to say is never heard or acknowledged by politicians."welcome to the nightmare"

Zen, I agree with you, educating future generations is not sufficient but it is necessary. And I have been a trainer in industry for many decades, so I know what you refer to on that account too.

So what can we do now to counter the forces, or should I say ignorance of our electorate, that are daily reducing our freedom? Just talking among ourselves won't make a difference.

I see no alternative to educating the willing.

Have you seen Alex Epstein's recent book, "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuel"? That's an outstanding example of what I'm referring to.

Can we write books or articles in each of our fields of expertise to advance the cause of freedom?

I think torture was the final straw. It's not that I believe in karma. But, it seems that when nations/cultures turn to torture it doesn't end well for the nation.

I have heard reports that we were torturing children in front of their mothers. I hope that's not true.

@Zenphamy, you wrote, "...we've wauted too long..." To educate the youth - the next generations.

It can never be "too late" to apply the only effective strategy. And that is to influence those who are not too closd to new assumptions to change. We are not going to change thise in power. We are not going to change the leftist writers and other influencers in sufficient numbers.

Look to history for what works - how did we get from a better state of freedom to the present? How do ideas change in a culture? That's Rand's point - history is driven be the ideas a culture holds.

Those ideas are provided by parents and schools which influence the next generations. Parents and teachers may only pay lip service to some ideas, but the next generation is more likely to act on them without conflict. At what age do children start getting conceptual and challenging parents's ideas?

I saw it in the 60s with the hippy/collectivist/love culture. We have seen it with the "green"/collectivist culture. What was the process? What can we learn from their tactics? That the wisdom that is driving ARI's investments - have a closer look.

So, "too late" can never be an answer - that's called giving up. There are no guarantees that our civilization will not fail as so many others have, but we can fight for our freedom and for reason. Tjise who care can engage while others just observe and butch.

the u.s. government is now the most grand weapon
of mass destruction ever!!! -- j

Excellent article. Right down to the last most key sentence: "so long as they can get away with it."

Thanks for this post! I totally agree with your comments and have been saying the same thing for the last few years.

All these things you say are right out of the communist's play book. To destroy a country without firing a shot it must be destroyed from within by distracting the people and taking over the government. There is only one thing left and that is destroy the currency.

Sorry, I didn't edit fast enough. The 'Cop Abuse' should read: 'Racist Cop Abuse.'