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Atlas Shrugged not the only dystopia Rand predicted

Posted by red6rick 8 years ago to News
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Has anyone else noticed how much the media today, especially after the Trump election, resembles The Banner? Full of itself, and convinced that it alone could shape the truth? Promoting "social justice" stories etc., and writers like Ellsworth Toohey (in disguise as Paul Krugman)? I'm not sure whether to be amused or sad...


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    Posted by mminnick 8 years ago
    Comparing the media of today with the Banner is insulting to the Banner. I do agree that there is an Ellsworth Toohey on almost every paper and their effect is very noticeable. the problem is not the Tooheys of the world it is the idiots that won't (can't) think for themselves and use reason to make decisions based on facts they observe.
    Example is todays unemployment rate. It went down at last report. Not because more people got jobs but because more people quit looking for jobs. Most people see the evidence of this type of thing and know what is going on (That's why trump took 31 states). It is the Toohey followers that got burned and will continue to get burned because they won't open their eyes and think for themselves
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    • Posted by KevinSchwinkendorf 8 years ago
      Indeed! I've read where, over the last three election cycles, not only have the GOP won back the House, Senate, and Oval Office, but on the state and local levels: 1) governorships have swung radically in favor of the GOP, and 2) over 900 seats in state legislatures have swung towards the GOP (or maybe more accurately, away from liberal democrats). The Party of the Free Handouts has suffered staggering losses over these last several elections, and its because the Producers who make the country work have had enough.
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    • Posted by JuliBMe 8 years ago
      I consider myself to be of above-average intelligence, but lazy when I was younger. I only graduated high school. However, I graduated with a B+ to A- average without doing much work. So, looking at my perspective of above average being 75% percentile in intelligence, I realize that there are a WHOLE LOT of people dumber than I am. There are the willfully dumb and the innately dumb. So, odds are, we are going to encounter a high degree of "dumb-ness" in our lives. Just pointing this out so that you might consider getting used to it and trying to educate, gently, those around you, if you haven't already. :-)
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    • Posted by EdGoldstein 8 years ago
      In the 1930's the schools to train members of the ministry of propaganda (MSM) were just being opened. Today those schools turnout hundreds of well trained Ellsworth Toohey's every year. No matter how hard you look you will not find people interested in facts. They are paid to tell the narrative.
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    • Posted by Blanco 8 years ago
      The so-called "unemployment rate" is a total farce. The economy has NOT improved under Hussein except for the superficial appearance of improvement created by incredible levels of deficit spending and total manipulation of interest rates by Hussein's Federal Reserve (and NO, it is not independent as claimed). The true unemployment rate has been in double figures throughout Hussein's presidency.

      Blanco
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    • Posted by voodoo59 8 years ago
      Yes! "Idiots that won't (can't) think for themselves. " It's usually won't -and you hit the nail right on the head!
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      • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 8 years ago
        I still think they are a long forgotten race of retards.
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        • Posted by Dobrien 8 years ago
          You could be on to something OUC. Of course it would not hurt to have being educated as a goal for individuals to strive for. Most people worry about how others perceive them. They need to feel included , to be in the group. Status is given to those that have , not those that can do. Creation ,inventiveness , self reliance , common sense these are beaten to a pulp by Altruism, leading to a society that doesn't take responsibility i.e. Dems blaming Putin for HRC,s loss , modern art (puke) , "if he didn't invent it someone else would" I know preaching to the choir , but I so do appreciate your consciousness.
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  • Posted by andrewtroy 8 years ago
    The first campaign of the BANNER was an appeal for money for a charitable cause. Displayed side by side, with an equal amount of space, the BANNER ran two stories: one about a struggling young scientist, starving in a garret, working on a great invention; the other about a chambermaid, the sweetheart of an executed murderer, awaiting the birth of her illegitimate child. One story was illustrated with scientific diagrams; the other--with the picture of a loose-mouthed girl wearing a tragic expression and disarranged clothes. The BANNER asked its readers to help both these unfortunates. It received nine dollars and forty-five cents for the young scientist; it received one thousand and seventy-seven dollars for the unwed mother. Gail Wynand called a meeting of his staff. He put down on the table the paper carrying both stories and the money collected for both funds. "Is there anyone here who doesn't understand?" he asked. ... [The Fountainhead pp. 408 & 409]
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  • Posted by Herb7734 8 years ago
    Be sad.
    The media grasping at straws in defeat as they come up with more and more asinine and ridiculous excuses for their candidate's massive loss saddens me at the obviousness of their loss of credibility. We no longer have a national press that reports news, only advocacy. Fake news is often formulated on social media and can be expected by astute readers. But, when it is taken up by the likes of the Washington Post and New York Times, it is farther along than the beginning of the end.
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  • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years ago
    Seems like it was always this way, and perhaps now more obvious.

    The question is how will they behave as the economy improves under Trump. Typically, the new president enjoys favorable coverage for a little while, then late in the first term or during the second term, everyone turns against them.
    Will Trump get a benefit from the delayed reaction, and "cooler" ramp up and perhaps subsequent longer positive, or will the media stay negative on him due to socialist bias the whole time?
    I think it is up to wise people (like us?) to help provide objective evidence of success for all people from the actions, such that properly positive actions/results can be highlighted.
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    • Posted by EdGoldstein 8 years ago
      The media is part of the ruling kakistocracy and as such does not want the economy to expand or improve. The shrinking economy of Obama was the desired model as imported from Europe. The attacks upon Trump with the fake news has already b een started. The whole Russian hacking meme is made up to undermine Trump.
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      • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years ago
        I don't believe the media is monolithic, and certainly not that well-organized at the reporter level. They just know the "little guy"/victim theme sells, and play that theme all over.
        Perhaps the industry leaders have a plan, based on the ignorance of the public, but again, a little clear, objective evidence, and the rug comes out from under them.
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  • Posted by ProfChuck 8 years ago
    It is tempting to compare Trump to one of Rands heroes. Here is a question, "Under what circumstances would an objectivist run for public office?"
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    • Posted by KevinSchwinkendorf 8 years ago
      Maybe if a conservative objectivist had won the Presidency instead of Thomson, and Wesley Mouch had never risen to power, the socialist down-spiral would not have happened. Rand's heroes were so focused on their contributions (whether running a railroad or inventing a radical breakthrough metal) that they allowed "the wrong people" to fill in the vacuum. I feel really encouraged that someone who actually knows how business works is headed for the White House!
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    • Posted by ProfChuck 8 years ago
      It would seem that the "rewards" of a political career are incompatible with objectivist philosophy. There is no way to get rich as a politician unless you are unethical.
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      • Posted by Dobrien 8 years ago
        Hi Prof Chuck,
        Trump has made his fortune already.
        Is the objectivist philosophies goal to get rich or for fiscal rewards for all you do?
        Or in this case could it be to use your experience and talents to be a public servant with the reward of improving The nation for the future John Galts.
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    • Posted by lrshultis 8 years ago
      Because Objectivism is anti-supernaturalism and thus atheistic, an Objectivist could not announce being an Objectivist to any voter who understands the term and is not an Objectivist or an atheist, agnostic, in a subgroup of the libertarians, or maybe just doesn't care about philosophy. There is a better chance of a socialist or even a Scientologist to be elected than an atheist. Of course, Objectivists are not necessarily Randian any longer due to the inability of considering her as infallible by many of them who do not have to belong to a collective of fellow followers and believe Objectivism to be some form of conservatism and thus pro capitalism.
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    • Posted by term2 8 years ago
      and get award for "their public service"? Rand's heroes didnt run for public office until the system had weakened to the point where people actually rejected the statist philosophy.
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  • Posted by rbroberg 8 years ago
    Well, the media has gone beyond good and evil. It is the authoritatively self-proclaimed ubermensch class. The will to power is strong with this one.
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