I was asked on Twitter the other day to explain the difference between Objectivism and raw greed. Twitter is not really a good platform to answer such a question, but my attempt was two tweets:
short and incomplete answer: time frame. Objectivism=long range, lifetime view; “pure greed”=short range, spur of the moment
And rationality (Objectivism) vs irrationality (raw greed).
I thought I would make an attempt here to provide a more complete answer given my current state of knowledge.
This is one of the best presentations I have watched from Yaron Brook. As he himself described it on Twitter, he was on fire.
One great quote from the presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/v/tuLQjhDZNLc?autoplay=0Do you know the problem with the $80 billion sequester? It was missing a 0.
Here is the text of a letter I just submitted to the local paper as well as posted to each member of my state’s Congressional delegation.
Dear Sirs:
It is great dismay that I read the news of President Obama’s plans for possible attacks on Syria. I urge you to oppose any such action.
Firstly, the President should not, and indeed under the Constitution does not, have the authority to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an imminent threat
I am getting close to finishing “The Locavore’s Dilemma: In Praise of the 10,000 Mile Diet” which is a really fascinating look at the modern food system, at least in developed parts of the world. While the book is focused on food, much of what he says can apply to trade in general. Today’s quote, from the beginning of chapter 7, is a good example.
In the name of greater food security and economic benefits, countless political rulers have historically sought to increase
Excellent video presentation of Alex Epstein giving a talk to the Santa Monica Tea Party. Really excellent talk on how to think and talk about global warming.
You can buy the “I Love Fossil Fuels” t-shirts here.
Buffet at Excalibur Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV
We were sitting at the buffet in the Excalibur Hotel and Casino and I had to marvel at the wide variety of food available in the middle of the desert. It is virtually guaranteed that none of the food we ate came from within several hundred miles of Las Vegas. And the price was reasonable as well at about $70 for the two of us for the entire day, as many times as we wanted to go in. Granted, this was not the highest quality food we could have found, but it was tasty and there were lots of
I came across this 1792 quote from British agricultural writer Arthur Young while reading, still, “Locavore’s Dilemma: In Praise of the 10,000 Mile Diet.” As with so much in this book, it is applicable to more than just agriculture and food.
I thought this quote was a great one sentence summary of what happens when property rights are protected.
Give a man the secure possession of a bleak rock and he will turn it into a garden; Give him a nine years’ lease of a garden and
In doing some research for my upcoming post about food inspired by my recent vacation, I have been reading “The Locavore’s Dilemma: In Praise of the 10,000 Mile Diet” by Piere Desrochers and Hiroku Shimizu. It does a good job looking at the downside of the growing push for more local food and less big agribusiness.
From the perspective of individuals caught in the urban rat race, small-scale farming and the promise of a simpler life looks appealing. But the harsh reality is
Yet another quote from Ayn Rand’s “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal,” also from Alan Greenspan’s essay “The Assault on Integrity,” I cannot help but think of Mayor Bloomberg and his various attempts at “protecting” consumers, whether it be from saturated fats, sugary drinks (some of them any way), or lack of exercise (by passing a law “encouraging” the use of stairs).
The hallmark of collectivists is their deep-rooted distrust of freedom
Here is another of the many quotes I accumulated while reading Ayn Rand’s “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.” This particular quote is from Alan Greenspan’s essay “The Assualt on Integrity.” While this was originally written in 1963, it is still applicable today. Anytime you hear that the government is regulating companies in order to “protect consumers” you should think of this quote and then ask yourself if you are truly better off.
The attempt