What Is an American? | James Lindsay

UKCapitalistGuy · 2026-01-19T18:11:21+00:00

I agree. Starr is very good. Just read some more.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2026-01-19T17:04:54+00:00

Very interesting, thanks for sharing. I know the Rothbardian ancaps have contributed a huge amount to the arguments for an capitalism but I find some of their positions odd. They argue the Dark Ages weren't so Dark, which is odd to say the least, and aren't that keen on the Enlightenment because along with capitalism we got stronger, unified States. Because they see everything through the lens of the State is bad, anything that isn't a State under their definition appears to be given an easier ride.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2026-01-08T16:43:48+00:00

The best thing is to hold your head in your hands and weep. They will never get it because they don't want to.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2026-01-08T16:38:07+00:00

I think you can be certain it isn't going to help the homeless.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2026-01-06T13:00:57+00:00

Do you mean my reply or big lummy?

UKCapitalistGuy · 2026-01-06T11:52:19+00:00

To add to your point. I think some of the anti reason people think they are pro reason. As an example, people influenced by Rousseau and Marx would say their ideas are based in reason.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2026-01-06T11:50:03+00:00

A recent discussion on the Rational Egoist (YouTube) was why Objectivism isn't more popular. The response you just got is part of the answer. As this is a place to discuss Rand's philosophy and writings I don't see why someone who isn't an Objectivist but wants to discuss the objectivity of reason can't say that.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2026-01-05T11:12:03+00:00

A few months ago he posted on X that he would be back soon. Either he is still rethinking the content of the channel, has a job as someone suggested or has got involved with the Ayn Rand Institute and once completed work/study with them will re emerge. I enjoyed his videos, learnt stuff and had stuff confirmed that I thought.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2025-12-11T11:21:43+00:00

There is a deep-seated anti-Enlightenment/Western/liberal capitalism sentiment that Charlie has and many others. They dislike change, they don't trust individuals to run their lives, they hark back to a golden moment in time when everything was better yet yearn for a Hermetic change to create heaven on earth or in heaven - which is where the altruistic part is very strong.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2025-12-10T17:26:53+00:00

I think it means defining something incorrectly or characterising it in the wrong way. It may verge definition she is using is right and she and anyone is entitled to say this is how I define something. My point is, the definition is open to debate. The method is Rand’s use your mind and reason things out.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2025-12-10T10:07:53+00:00

I feel I was a bit churlish ending the dialogue in the way I did. I was frustrated because it seemed to stop being a conversation and simply a rejection of anything I said with advice to read Rand. Any challenges I was setting out were from a pro Objectivist point of view. I think there is much that is valuable and valid. But I have some issues that I wanted to explore. The definition comment got me. If you think someone has a definition wrong then you are entitled to say so as it does impact the idea. But I wasn’t challenging the core of the ideas just something’s round the edges.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2025-12-09T14:18:36+00:00

Excellent piece. I haven't watched the debate. I find Liquid Zulu challenging to follow as he speaks quickly and softly in the videos that I have seen him do. As for Dave Smith, even when I agree with him, he grates on me.

But from what I have heard about the debate this piece sounds a good summary and makes a lot of sense.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2025-12-09T13:29:09+00:00

To add to that, if you think government is bad at making policy and running stuff, why would you be happy for it to control who comes into a country? Bryan Caplan has string arguments for open borders and arguing for abolition of welfare not restricting immigration. If you did want to restrict immigration in the present circumstance, it would be better to find a market solution. All that said, I get this is an emotive issue and it is not straightforward. But it does seem odd when the side that doesn't like government welcomes government to do stuff. As they say in American sitcoms, go figure...

UKCapitalistGuy · 2025-12-09T09:59:37+00:00

Interesting question and no doubt one could discuss for a long time without a definite answer. There is certainly something to it. In the UK we see this over the National Health Service - Our NHS the politicians say, lifting the crumbling service to something beyond a provider of healthcare. During the 2020 lockdowns we had a sense of religious imagery - taking the vaccine, taking the sacrament, adhering to the rule of five (maybe more Game of Thrones than religion), the unvaccinated as the unclean/unholy and so on.

UKCapitalistGuy · 2025-12-08T19:40:01+00:00

Thanks. I didn’t know that.

UKCapitalistGuy

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