TheEgoist

Blackwater have been featured in the news the past week. What do you believe is the proper Objectivist position on private enforcement agencies such as Blackwater, who basically work as Quasi-Military in places like Iraq? Does this violate the concept that only a Government may act in forceful retaliation, and if so what about things like Security Guards and Rent-A-Cops?

http://fawstin.blogspot.com/%20" target=_blank"> http://fawstin.blogspot.com/ Very interesting.

I must admit I plaster all the COmmunity Service I've done on my resume.

What if I value the freedoms that I enjoy in my country? I am fighting for the existence of moral government.

The Utopia of Greed

America is dominated by 3 types of people The people you just mentioned Alpha Male Footbal fans concerned only with " Pussy ", beer and sports. And the overly Religious. But, I do not like your example of a Spartan ethic, even if you say that you are anti-draft. I do not like this for a few reasons 1. Not every man is fit to fight for his Country's existence and for the freedoms he so enjoys. I used to want to hold a gun and go off to battle, and someday I might have to do that, but that is not the type of person I am. I am not fit for battle, nor is it my ultimate desire. Thanks to those that do though, of course 2. I would sooner rebel against Sparta than fight for it. Men were willing to die for their country, selflessly, because that is how they were raised. They were raised, just as many Religious children are raised, with an uncompromising love for something they might not understand. Sparta was still a slave society. And indeed that horrific scene of the dead babies at the beginning of " 300 " was very true of Spartan society. Perhaps I myself would have been thrown in that heap of " useless " children. 3. There should not even be a moral necessity that you fight for your country. Some countries may not be worth fighting for.

I enjoyed it thoroughly. But, what was so evil about the last segment? I don't remember being too pissed off. Though I have a better ending for the movie... The Saudi Royals are enjoying dinner, laughing and mocking America, and then, bombers fly by and take out their palaces. The screen goes blank, and " ROck The Casbah " begins

His music is certainly top notch. I try not to dwell on political and philosophical leanings of an artist unless they make them evident.

This is what you get from " Conservatives ". I am not shocked.

I took one that said Hunter was number one for me. As I understand it he is gung-ho on an invasion of Iran, but the question is: what style invasion? If it will resemble Iraq, then hell no.

Finally, your decisions can be made by a MACHINE! http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460 Let us see if I can do it orderly by simply copy and pasting. \ Rudy Giuliani Score: 40 Agree Immigration Taxes Stem-Cell Research Health Care Abortion Social Security Marriage Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Line-Item Veto Energy John McCain Score: 29 Agree Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Energy Marriage Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Jim Gilmore Score: 29 Agree Taxes Health Care Abortion Social Security Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research Line-Item Veto Energy Marriage Bill Richardson Score: 27 Agree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Line-Item Veto Marriage Death Penalty Disagree Taxes Health Care Social Security Energy Mitt Romney Score: 26 Agree Taxes Stem-Cell Research Health Care Abortion Line-Item Veto Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Immigration Social Security Energy Marriage Mike Huckabee Score: 25 Video Agree Immigration Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Taxes Stem-Cell Research Abortion Energy Marriage Fred Thompson Score: 25 Agree Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Energy Marriage Duncan Hunter Score: 25 Agree Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Energy Marriage Joe Biden Score: 24 Agree Stem-Cell Research Abortion Social Security Line-Item Veto Marriage Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Immigration Taxes Health Care Energy Dennis Kucinich Score: 21 Agree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Marriage Disagree Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Energy Death Penalty John Edwards Score: 21 Video Agree Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Marriage Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Energy Ron Paul Score: 21 Agree Iraq Taxes Health Care Energy Marriage Disagree Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Social Security Line-Item Veto Death Penalty Tom Tancredo Score: 20 Agree Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Disagree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Energy Marriage Death Penalty Sam Brownback Score: 20 Agree Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Disagree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research Abortion Energy Marriage Death Penalty Barack Obama Score: 16 Video Agree Stem-Cell Research Abortion Marriage Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Immigration Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Energy Hillary Clinton Score: 16 Agree Stem-Cell Research Abortion Marriage Death Penalty Disagree Iraq Immigration Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Energy Mike Gravel Score: 16 Agree Iraq Stem-Cell Research Abortion Marriage Disagree Immigration Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Energy Death Penalty Chris Dodd Score: 11 Video Agree Stem-Cell Research Abortion Marriage Disagree Iraq Immigration Taxes Health Care Social Security Line-Item Veto Energy Death Penalty

I don't desire children whatsoever, especially now. It's more because I simply don't want dependents like that. My ideal life is one left alone, perhaps with a couple close loved ones. It's not because I resent my parents. If I did, I'd probably HAVE kids and raise them better than my parents raised me.

I think my parents love my loner lifestyle... No mischief such as this. No drugs ( Not anymore anyway ). No crazy nights with girls. I think any kid, however, would feel resentment for their parents not letting them take part in what their class mates consider " Fun ". I know I never really got the whole destruction of houses on Christmas. I was more concerned with gorging myself on candy. I still am.

Libertarians are not ideal in any sense. They're extremely unpopular so theres no hope or point in voting for them, they're rabidly anti-war ( Moreso than the Dems it seems ), they're a Political Party with no solid philosophy, despite calling itself " The Party of Principle ". Though the election mentioned here has been done for almost a year, back THEN I would have voted Republican or Libertarian for the most part. Now, I think I would have gone with the Dems, but I was too young anyway. In the upcoming election, unless someone absolutely perfect comes about I will simply be voting Republican for President, as to keep the system " Gridlock " in place.

As a young person who still lives with his parents, I can only thank them for at least having the mercy of allowing me to live in their house past my 18th birthday. They've certainly showed more patience than I ever would. I have, of course, felt very hostile towards my parents as anyone does. Much more with my father, who I can only imagine cheated on my mother a few times and didn't spend a lot of time at home. He did, however, bring some well needed income into the house and tried to be as much of a father as he could in his older years. He's very productive and has a strong work ethic. My mom is a bit imbalanced and her mood can literally swing from the most loving human being to psychotic bitch. But again, she was there for me financially and I never cared to use my parents as a toilet for my deeper emotions, but I do know when I was going through a rough stage of insomnia/depression they were willing to listen. I can't feel indignant to people who have given so much to me.

After an outstanding first part of the year in my World Politics/International Relations class, the professor put in a recommendation for me as a tutor for the class. This is is a bit out of the ordinary,since they don't normally allow Freshmen to be tutors, but with an influx of Poli-Sci majors and a lack of tutors, they've picked out a couple good people. One of those people happens to be me. . I'm thrilled to finally have a normal job again, though it won't require lots of work and I doubt will pay much. I told him I'll work anytime I'm not in class, including weekends. See, Objectivists are even filling the arena of academia. , though I'll be sure to stick to the subject matter.

Thanks for the suggestions. I already have Peikoff's Ominous Parallels. I just wanted more recent books on the camps for accurate information. I know it's a massive task, and I might narrow the subject matter, but it's something I've always wanted to do.

For my European History term paper I plan on dissecting ( No pun intended ) the activities of Nazi death camps, in depth, and also discuss the philosophies that formed the Nazis " Superiority complex " as it were. I just wanted to ask if anyone knew any good books to read on the subject of the Nazi death camps, and any good works of the 19th century from Neitszche and others that might have brought about the horrors of German Nationalism. I have a few works already selected, but would appreciate any " recent " books on Auschwitz and other death camps and some good sources for 19th century philosophy that might have fueled the Nazi movement, and in particular their disregard for human life. Thank you. P.S This paper is not set in stone yet, but I know I would like to do something on 20th century Germany.

Wiki is a good source to start with. It branches off into other subjects and more " objective " sites.

In my World Politics/International Relations class the question was posed to the class why, if all states of the world somehow agreed at least on the same form of Government and core values, why should borders and such things matter? What do you believe the use of " Nations " are, in a world that has come to a consensus on such things? Also, as for my world politics class...I was elected to be the class tutor, which means I finally have a Campus job that doesn't involve washing dishes or being a security guard.

Do not be afraid to articulate your opinions and dissent from the common view on this forum. Just remember to keep it respectful. There are a few people here who don't prescribe to Objectivism at all and others who disagree with Rand/Peikoff on some issues. Welcome.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/wor...icle2980524.ece I know many here have been critical of Pakistan, and Bush's endorsement of them as an ally nation. What do you think of this?

I've had, not really a relationship in the sexual sense, but a very close friendship with a young Christian girl, recently. It's that kind of thing where you lay your feelings bare and hope for the best. We were both mutually interested in eachother after we started to talk more, but we couldn't really ever get something real going. And now, it would seem, she refuses to officially " go out " with me because I am an Atheist. She also constantly tells me how she prays for God to save my soul from Hell. I ask her if she knows how that feels. To be told by someone you've exposed your emotions too that she believes you will justifiably be burning for eternity. She's never been able to defend her beliefs when I confront them, yet outright tells me I am going to Hell, with all confidence. I am not an easy guy to get really opened up. I've probably told 3 people in my life that I loved them, though I've met plenty. I told her how I felt betrayed by her, and how she can let something she can't justify affect us in such a way. I truly believe she's a victim of all out brainwashing. She seems to think if she does not have God, she is useless...That she could not be a productive being if God were not the driving force behind her actions and morals. It's come to the point where I don't even want to speak to her. So, I know where you're coming from and I'm glad you ended it. No one with a sense of pride can take that line of shit for long.

Funny. I bought a new copy of AS along with Greenspan's new book. I will probably read it during October break, in full hopefully.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufiU9l3GoUM May 2nd seems like an eternity.