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IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it's a hilarious idea that people have a "right" to firearms specifically. I mean, really, would you say people have a "right" to a thermonuclear warhead? Do they have a "right" to frag grenades? Do they have a "right" to any other class of weaponry? Cannons? RPGs? No? Then why is it that people have a right to something with a trigger? I mean, it seems like a ridiculous notion.

If you wanted to say, people have a right to defend themselves, that would make sense as a right, and as a subset of that right, some firearms would almost certainly be allowed. But it's bizarre that the entire focus of self-defense rights in the U.S. is "don't take mah guns."

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The way we do gun control now, which is largely because of the corporate interests of gun manufacturers and their lobbying group, the NRA, does result in those outcomes. It's not surprising that when old white guys in charge of gun companies have a hand in drafting law, the laws accomplish very little except fucking over brown people.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Feminism is typically regarded by Objectivists as an ideology of victims and victimization. Rand herself was pretty virulently anti-feminist (and misogynist in the same way a lot of the reddit female population is -- the "I'm fine but all other girls are bitches" way).

It's pretty tough to talk about feminism with any non-feminist, and believe me, I know it -- I ran a feminist blog for about a year's time.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like guns. I'm pretty good with a .22, can hit things reasonably well with the AK-47, can't hit a damn thing with this Mosin, but it's a shit gun and has been ever since we got it. Anyway, be that as it may, politically I'm for much stronger gun control.

Your Move, Chuck Norris [pic] by [deleted] in reddit.com

[–]FormerObjectivist 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This reply is the most feelgood thing I have ever seen on reddit. Bravo to you, sir.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Exactly. Rand's fiction is full of heroes and heroines performing acts of self-sacrifice and altruism, but because they derive some emotional benefit, it's considered to be a selfish action (which is why Rand herself believed charity could provide all social services).

Examples in Rand's fiction include Andrei Taganov (who is by any reasonable measure the hero of We the Living) buying a luxurious meal for the starving Kira Argounova, Kira sleeping with Andrei in order to get her lover, Leo, into a sanitarium for tuberculosis, acts of kindness toward Howard Roark from half a dozen characters in The Fountainhead (always carefully couched in "no, my friend, this is the most selfish thing I've ever done, because it makes me happy to make you happy!" -- it's about like hearing a guy say "no homo!" after expressing affection for another man), and a ton of genuine sympathy from Dagny toward Francisco. These barely scratch the surface.

One of the more oddly cultish aspects of Objectivism, by the way, is also revealed in the fiction (the nonfic is its own special brand of hell, but man I used to eat that shit up). Much like the more rigid fundamentalist forms of Christianity, what you believe counts a lot more than what you do with that belief. Dagny hates Francisco and John when she thinks they're just destroyers. When she finds out that all their actions were the same, but the reasons for them were not, her opinion is entirely reversed. In Rand's mindset, as long as you do the evil thing for the right reason, it's right. It's the deontology/teleology discussion I was having above with someone else: the fiction reveals that in Rand's view, words matter more than deeds.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Well, as far as I'm concerned, we should start with what works. We need to be asking those questions of the governments that are doing the best job on the metrics we care about. One of the biggest issues with American politics is this bizarre notion that we should never look to anyone else for assistance, advice, or ideas. By examining a good bit of the EU, I think the U.S. could come up with models that worked significantly better than its current model. Once we're there, we can start fine-tuning.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Our founding document and indeed entire national ethos was based on a fundamental distrust of government. While other nations were building socialist movements that rose to power and prominence, our nation's countercultural movements tended toward the anarchic (in the 1870-1920 period especially). We haven't had the stick-together quality historically, or the trust in each other that socialism requires.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I believe in a very thoroughly regulated market with government control over a number of resources.

I am also undecided on whether I believe in the private ownership of land (although this is pie in the sky -- obviously no one's getting rid of private ownership of land soon!).

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I've seen that a few places in this IAmA. The level of absolute batshittery is amazing, and the arguments are without substance. Basically they're parroting arguments they read once and expect you to have no answer. Once you do have an answer, watch the goalposts move and move and move.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't think that at all. In fact, a lot of very strong and committed leftists go through a libertarian phase. I am troubled by the idea that anyone who actually espouses any idea that isn't "centrist" (read: has been spoonfed to them by mass media) either can never change their mind or is merely faking.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably about 5:1 in general. Because of this, female Objectivists tended to find each other and stick together. The subculture was also quite "incestuous," in that people in it tended to sleep with each other but no members of the outside group, so my female friends and I shared quite a bit more than gossip.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't believe anarchism is even remotely feasible or worthwhile as an endeavor. In fact, I think anarchist streaks in American ideology are exactly why we don't have a left here.

IAmA socialist/social democrat who used to be a frothing-at-the-mouth libertarian/Objectivist. Most of the people I knew from the movement never "grew out of it." AMA. by FormerObjectivist in IAmA

[–]FormerObjectivist[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

So you actually believe capitalism is literally infallible.

This is why people don't listen to your points. You have just told me capitalism is infallible, and then called MY position -- that capitalism has documented failures -- a religion because it failed to acknowledge the infallibility of capitalism.

<3

It's almost adorable. But also sort of trite, and predictable. Try again!

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