I noticed this as well. As long as the salient points are addressed the final result will still be a benefit to any freeper who reads AS in the future.
I always hope to find some insight that has been overlooked.....alas.
Sometimes the story leads us into otherwise unexplored areas apart from the story. One example is this quote that I happened to find while doing research on philosophy -
"don't express your ideas too clearly. most people think little of what they understand, and venerate what they do not. to be valued, things must be difficult: if they can't understand you, people will think more highly of you. ...keep them guessing at your meaning, and don't give them a chance to criticize you. many praise without being able to say why. they venerate anything hidden or mysterious, and they praise it because they heard it praised."
-- balthasar gracian, the art of worldy wisdom
(trans. christopher maurer)
I find in the above a partial answer to the question that I have about the vaporous qualities of the liberal politicians answers. It always bothered me that they never answered a question concretely as I expected them to. Now I understand that this is a lack of understanding on my part. They never will give a satisfactory answer and the more that I try to extract an answer, the farther into the hole I go.
...I promptly donated to the Little Sisters of the Poor, who take care of the elderly and disabled. I applaud their work, so I guess I wouldn’t be welcome in...
Don't be at all critical of this donation. The fact is that _You_ wanted to donate the money. This is entirely compatible with Rands philosophy. If you hold a door open for someone, is it because you are told to do it or because you want to do it? I submit that you donated the money because you like the feeling it gives you, such is Rands definition of selfishness.
Wow, That pretty much explains my outlook on "charity." Rands whole point is compulsory charity, which is no charity at all.
I am short on my replies because I am 1 1/2 chapters behind due to work. I am glad the pace is only one chapter per week. I read AS a few years ago and am following along. The situation in AS with Hank’s family not appreciating him for carrying them as “freeloaders” and many other things in the real world strike me as similar: 1. Other countries who we protect with our military seem to despise us (Europe and others). 2. Needy people who live off tax payer funds seem to blame the rich for their situations and whose taxes actually keep them alive. 3. Progressive politicians who live off the taxes of the producers blame those producers in public to get votes from the others who are also parasites. They blame the producers for the plight of all including drug addicts and crimminals.
Prosperity is not a zero sum game here on earth.
I am short on my replies because I am 1 1/2 chapters behind due to work. I am glad the pace is only one chapter per week. I read AS a few years ago and am following along. The situation in AS with Hank’s family not appreciating him for carrying them as “freeloaders” and many other things in the real world strike me as similar: 1. Other countries who we protect with our military seem to despise us (Europe and others). 2. Needy people who live off tax payer funds seem to blame the rich for their situations and whose taxes actually keep them alive. 3. Progressive politicians who live off the taxes of the producers blame those producers in public to get votes from the others who are also parasites. They blame the producers for the plight of all including drug addicts and crimminals.
Prosperity is not a zero sum game here on earth.