the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

[tsetsefly]

Re: the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

And I forgot just how piercingly correct she could be. Every word of that particular quote is absolutely true.

Her social and moral views, however, were repugnant. She exalted selfishness and had all the compassion of a beehive.

That is one of the most misunderstoods and falsehoods about her beliefs. She did not exalt selfishness in the way we know it (ie. I will do whatever I want regardless of consequences as long as I want to do it). She stated numerous times she used the word selfishness as it was intended to mean, self-interest.
I dont know who would state living for others is a virtue and I would like to know who actually practices that and if they do how "happy" they are...

[Sharky]

Re: the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

That is one of the most misunderstoods and falsehoods about her beliefs. She did not exalt selfishness in the way we know it (ie. I will do whatever I want regardless of consequences as long as I want to do it). She stated numerous times she used the word selfishness as it was intended to mean, self-interest.

The Oxford Dictionary defines selfish as "lacking consideration for other people; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure." Rand claimed that: "not only is such a definition wrong: it represents a devastating intellectual 'package deal,' which is responsible, more than any other single factor, for the arrested moral development of mankind." For her, a proper definition is "concern with one's own interests."

Looking a little deeper, Rand advocated "rational self-interest," or "rational selfishness." *Rational* is key. For example, it is not in your rational self-interest to lack consideration for others, or to do things like steal or lie or cheat or kill (in a normal, everyday context).

BTW, the concept of "I will do whatever I want regardless of consequences as long as I want to do it" has a more appropriate name: Hedonism -- which is actually a form of whim-worship.

I dont know who would state living for others is a virtue and I would like to know who actually practices that and if they do how "happy" they are...

Yes. Even more than happiness, it is impossible to survive without being concerned with your self-interest.

[thunderdownunder]

Re: the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

Actually that is not the case -- Here is HB-2833 the relevant act and the relevant section



I think your are blowing this totally out of proportion

Ha Ha (that annoying but quite nice, if somewhat disadvantaged lad on the Simpsons)

[Munger]

Re: the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

I dont know who would state living for others is a virtue and I would like to know who actually practices that and if they do how "happy" they are...

Uh huh ... So which one of these lived a life of virtue according to Ms. Rand?

[LorenS]

Re: the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

My wife volunteered to be treasurer for our local school PTO. They collect donations and give it to the school. You wouldn't believe the forms involved. Bureaucracy even bogs volunteers down.

I suppose they inherently know that even volunteers could be displacing potential government workers.

[tsetsefly]

Re: the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

Uh huh ... So which one of these lived a life of virtue according to Ms. Rand?

Thanks, I was expecting that , you completely missed the point. As Rand stated numerous times, living for one's self-interest doesn't have to be just for monetary value. I am sure Ghandi and Mother Theresa (although, she was horrendous for her own reasons, see: http://www.amazon.com/Missionary-Pos...127895&sr=8-15 ) gained value from helping others. Do you think they where miserable people gaining no pleasure whatsoever from what they did? or did gain satisfaction from helping others?

Like I said its on of the most misunderstood concepts espoused by Rand.

[flintlock]

Re: the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

If you believe some versions, Rand stole a follower's husband and then conveniently was able to convince both jilted spouses to accept it. That along with some of her other views lends me to believe she was a borderline sociopath. That doesn't make her philosophy untrue. But merely shows that sometimes the cold rational human mind can be at odds with what we consider decent behavior. In my opinion, if you have to work too hard to justify a person's behavior, then the behavior was probably wrong. Smart people make great rationalizers .

[Sharky]

Re: the explosive growth of occupational licensing and the economic damage it has done

Uh huh ... So which one of these lived a life of virtue according to Ms. Rand?

Rand would say that none of them did.

If you're suggesting that she would have endorsed Paulson, she most certainly would not have; he's a liar, a fraud and a criminal. Such a person is not living for their own self-interest; their behavior is self-destructive.

For the others, self-sacrifice is not a virtue. In fact, in inevitably leads to a life full of contradictions.