WE THE LIVING in the Obamanation...

  "...they convinced her that Americans had no idea of the truth. A young Russian had said to her at a party in 1926, just before she left for America: 'When you get there, tell them that Russia is a huge cemetery and that we are all dying." WE THE LIVING told them.

-Intro to WE THE LIVING by Ayn Rand

Some 80 years later...is anybody listening?

 When I talk to friends, acquaintances, and family who are not historians or philosophical, I know and deal with the fact that they haven't read Rand or don't understand the stakes here. But I am, quite frankly, in awe at the responses I've seen from some Objectivists to the election results. More shocking is their attempt to downplay the situation and turn on other Objectivists who ARE alarmed. Some even go the next step and try to intimidate concerned Objectivists into silence.

This will not do...

I can understand and sympathize with the need to stay "objective," to keep perspective, and context. I understand that the events of the past ARE the past, and that history does not repeat itself literally. And I understand that America is not the same as the Weimar Republic. That said, the POTENTIAL is still there for history to repeat itself in spirit, if not to the letter. If there is a potential for liberty to prevail, it is NOT guaranteed. I've read somewhere that the human body is never assumed to be FREE of life-threatening bacteria, which is why it needs an immune system. So does our country.

Now is NOT the time for sticking our heads in the sand to the real possibility of "change." Now is NOT the time for a Pollyana-view of the enemies of liberty. Sure, maybe "American Airhead" DOESN'T understand what that hammer and sickle truly stands for. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THEM. Take them at their word. Take that hammer and hammer home the point of what it really means. Do not allow for Jim Taggart and his "But I didn't mean it!".

"But ATLAS SHRUGGED is just a novel." Yes, a novel written with the intention of NOT becoming prophetic. That means that the supporters of its ideas CANNOT sit back and make excuses and apologies when the very gears that move society are stopped in motion. But fine, if ATLAS is too "forward-thinking" for some...let's look at WE THE LIVING instead. Let's look to the past. Let's look at what HAS happened. Let's look at the "Ominous Parallels."

Let's, as an example, take Obama at his word that he is not a socialist. Is he not, at least, then, a Social Democrat? So, let's say that...but we've seen the supporters flying the Soviet Flag in front of the White House in celebration...Obama's not a Marxist, but some of his supporters are...now, Social Democrats claim they don't support "sacking homes" or "smashing power looms...Obama doesn't want to fight, he wants to share his peanut butter...(you too, jelly...). He wants to bring socialism "peacefully..."

But it is clear that they still think "down with the sham liberty of capitalism..." The founding fathers...negative versus positive rights...we need change...but peacefully...

Obama COULD stay centrist...that's the hope...but it's not just Obama we're dealing with, is it? We have the people who voted for him to contend with. The people wearing soviet flags in my supermarket, in front of the White House...if we're taking Obama at his word that he's NOT a Marxist, should we, in turn, take THEM at their word that they ARE?

If they are indeed Marxist, well...how did the Communists feel about the Social Democrats in Germany?

"It did not take long for the political jokes to begin. Their butt was revolutionists who wanted peace and quiet; proletarian militants who made collaboration with the bourgeoisie an essential policy; socialists who refuse to socialize..."
Obama promised change. The "people" want "change." Obama says that it will take "time..." but If Obama does NOT deliver...
"Unlike the Social Democrats, the Communists were not willing to postpone the socialist revolution; they were impatient to have their ideal NOW."

(relevantl quotes from THE OMINOUS PARALLELS by Leonard Peikoff.)

Well, I think we know the rest of the story from there...what will be our story from HERE? We've already seen the WTO riots, the destruction at the Republican conventions...So don't tell ME that a Soviet flag in front of the White House is no cause for concern.

So, now what? If the past is past, and the future is unwritten, that leaves us in the present. But our present is someone's past, and someone's future. Will ATLAS be prophetic? Will WE THE LIVING have been written in vain?

To those who say that some of us are pessimistic, cynical, over-reacting, I say If liberty remains, it will be because of those of us who are willing to get angry over this and call it as it is. It will be because of those who LISTENED to Rand's "semi-autobiography" and the please of the dying, not those who denied it. Not those who sugar-coat the possibilities. Not those who are to afraid to leave their gilded cage. It is said that "the pessimists are right. But it's the optimists who change the world." This statement drops context badly. The optimists are those who are saying "yes we can." Can what? Think about it...

And finally, to those who want to "sell" Objectivism in this "new America," and are "afraid" to push too hard, lest we turn off potential "buyers": the analogy has broken down. We are not "selling" freedom" It should never have been for sale. The time for negotiations has passed. NO AMERICAN SHOULD EVER WORRY ABOUT OFFENDING A VOTER WITH A SOVIET FLAG. It is WE who should be outraged. Please, optimists, continue to look to the possibility that things will turn out alright. We all should. But do not discount the other possibility, and do not SILENCE those who speak out about the possibility. Our enemy is NOT Obama, he is just the face of the real enemy (and remember, it was under a REPUBLICAN administration that the banks were nationalized.) We are not fighting "Social Democrats," but people waving Soviet flags...we are not fighting "those who would share a peanut butter sandwich," but those who would take it from you and not even leave you the crust...We are not fighting those who want change over time, but those who voted for "CHANGE NOW!" We are fighting those who fight "the Virtue of Selfishness"...for the very reasons they are afraid of it.

As long as we have free speech, we should extend the olive branch. As long as we have private property, we should extend our branch through trade. But the moment, THE MOMENT, this "changes," the olive branch must be withdrawn...

To quote Stephen Colbert, "America, you're on notice."

Name that Quote:

"One people, one nation, one Leader."

 Who said that, Obama? Nope. Adolph Hitler. "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer."

 But if you said Obama, don't feel bad, you were close. What did Obama say?

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

"It can't happen  here? THE HELL IT CAN'T!"

Glenn Beck on Joseph Stalin/Barack Obama

Speak it, Glenn...(Hat tip to Marcus Bachler for pointing this video out.)

One thing stood out for me personally...Beck started talking about George Bernard Shaw. I briefly worked at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia as a graphic designer. The theater head, Marjorie Samoff, quoted Shaw ALL THE TIME regarding communism and capitalism ("unlike capitalism, ideas are free" or some such bullshit.") 

 That was my first professional design job, and I loved it, but I quit out of disgust (not only over that issue...that place had ISSUES.) If I needed FURTHER justificiation, this would have been it. 

Where Does Obama REALLY Stand on Gun Control?

As reported by  the Associated Press: 

Republican congressman Paul Broun (GA), in warning that Obama is planning a "civilian defense force answerable only to him" (more on that later), also believes that "Obama would move to ban gun ownership if he does build a national security force," claims the A.P. article. 

"Obama has said he respects the Second Amendment right to bear arms and favors "common sense" gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he'll at least enact curbs on ownership of assault weapons and concealed weapons. As an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama supported a ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter restrictions on firearms generally."

I've heard this claim elsewhere as well, but the person could not cite the source directly, so I went to the horse's mouth. The answer is not so clear-cut (as is the case with most political statements), but the very ambiguity SHOULD be a warning that Obama's actions on this matter need to be watched CAREFULLY and VIGILANTLY. ("The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.")

From ontheissues.org are a list of statements by Barack Obama on gun control, all sources cited in the article.

Ok for states & cities to determine local gun laws

Q: Is the D.C. law prohibiting ownership of handguns consistent with an individual's right to bear arms?

A: As a general principle, I believe that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms. But just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the exercise of that right, in the same way that we have a right to private property but local governments can establish zoning ordinances that determine how you can use it.

Q: But do you still favor the registration & licensing of guns?

A: I think we can provide common-sense approaches to the issue of illegal guns that are ending up on the streets. We can make sure that criminals don't have guns in their hands. We can make certain that those who are mentally deranged are not getting a hold of handguns. We can trace guns that have been used in crimes to unscrupulous gun dealers that may be selling to straw purchasers and dumping them on the streets.

Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary Apr 16, 2008

FactCheck: Yes, Obama endorsed Illinois handgun ban

Obama was being misleading when he denied that his handwriting had been on a document endorsing a state ban on the sale and possession of handguns in Illinois. Obama responded, "No, my writing wasn't on that particular questionnaire. As I said, I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns."

Actually, Obama's writing was on the 1996 document, which was filed when Obama was running for the Illinois state Senate. A Chicago nonprofit, Independent Voters of Illinois, had this question, and Obama took hard line:

35. Do you support state legislation to:
a. ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns? Yes.
b. ban assault weapons? Yes.
c. mandatory waiting periods and background checks? Yes.

Obama's campaign said, "Sen. Obama didn't fill out these state Senate questionnaires--a staffer did--and there are several answers that didn't reflect his views then or now. He may have jotted some notes on the front page of the questionnaire, but some answers didn't reflect his views."

Source: FactCheck.org analysis of 2008 Philadelphia primary debate Apr 16, 2008

Respect 2nd Amendment, but local gun bans ok

Q: You said recently, "I have no intention of taking away folks' guns." But you support the D.C. handgun ban, and you've said that it's constitutional. How do you reconcile those two positions?

A: Because I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of handgun ownership and gun ownership generally. And a lot of law-abiding citizens use it for hunting, for sportsmanship, and for protecting their families. We also have a violence on the streets that is the result of illegal handgun usage. And so I think there is nothing wrong with a community saying we are going to take those illegal handguns off the streets. And cracking down on the various loopholes that exist in terms of background checks for children, the mentally ill. We can have reasonable, thoughtful gun control measure that I think respect the Second Amendment and people's traditions.

Source: 2008 Politico pre-Potomac Primary interview Feb 11, 2008

Provide some common-sense enforcement on gun licensing

Q: When you were in the state senate, you talked about licensing and registering gun owners. Would you do that as president?

A: I don't think that we can get that done. But what we can do is to provide just some common-sense enforcement. The efforts by law enforcement to obtain the information required to trace back guns that have been used in crimes to unscrupulous gun dealers. As president, I intend to make it happen. We essentially have two realities, when it comes to guns, in this country. You've got the tradition of lawful gun ownership. It is very important for many Americans to be able to hunt, fish, take their kids out, teach them how to shoot. Then you've got the reality of 34 Chicago public school students who get shot down on the streets of Chicago. We can reconcile those two realities by making sure the Second Amendment is respected and that people are able to lawfully own guns, but that we also start cracking down on the kinds of abuses of firearms that we see on the streets.

Source: 2008 Democratic debate in Las Vegas Jan 15, 2008

2000: cosponsored bill to limit purchases to 1 gun per month

Obama sought moderate gun control measures, such as a 2000 bill he cosponsored to limit handgun purchases to one per month (it did not pass). He voted against letting people violate local weapons bans in cases of self-defense, but also voted in2004 to let retired police officers carry concealed handguns.Source: The Improbable Quest, by John K. Wilson, p.148 Oct 30, 2007

Concealed carry OK for retired police officers

Obama voted for a bill in the Illinois senate that allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons. If there was any issue on which Obama rarely deviated, it was gun control. He was the most strident candidate when it came to enforcin and expanding gun control laws. So this vote jumped out as inconsistent.

When I queried him about the vote, he said, "I didn't find that [vote] surprising. I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry. This was a narrow exception in an exceptional circumstance where a retired police officer might find himself vulnerable as a consequence of the work he has previously done--and had been trained extensively in the proper use of firearms."

It wasn't until a few weeks later that another theory came forward about the uncharacteristic vote. Obama was battling with his GOP opponent to win the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Source: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell, p.250-251 Aug 14, 2007

Stop unscrupulous gun dealers dumping guns in cities

Q: How would you address gun violence that continues to be the #1 cause of death among African-American men?

A: You know, when the massacre happened at Virginia Tech, I think all of us were grief stricken and shocked by the carnage. But in this year alone, in Chicago, we've had 34 Chicago public school students gunned down and killed. And for the most part, there has been silence. We know what to do. We've got to enforce the gun laws that are on the books. We've got to make sure that unscrupulous gun dealers aren't loading up vans and dumping guns in our communities, because we know they're not made in our communities. There aren't any gun manufacturers here, right here in the middle of Detroit. But what we also have to do is to make sure that we change our politics so that we care just as much about those 30-some children in Chicago who've been shot as we do the children in Virginia Tech. That's a mindset that we have to have in the White House and we don't have it right now.

Source: 2007 NAACP Presidential Primary Forum Jul 12, 2007

Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality

I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manfuacturer's lobby. But I also believe that when a gangbanger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels someone disrespected him, we have a problem of morality. Not only do ew need to punish thatman for his crime, but we need to acknowledge that there's a hole in his heart, one that government programs alone may not be able to repair.Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.215 Oct 1, 2006

Bush erred in failing to renew assault weapons ban

KEYES: [to Obama]: I am a strong believer in the second amendment. The gun control mentality is ruthlessly absurd. It suggests that we should pass a law that prevents law abiding citizens from carrying weapons. You end up with a situation where the crook have all the guns and the law abiding citizens cannot defend themselves. I guess that's good enough for Senator Obama who voted against the bill that would have allowed homeowners to defend themselves if their homes were broken into.

OBAMA: Let's be honest. Mr. Keyes does not believe in common gun control measures like the assault weapons bill. Mr. Keyes does not believe in any limits from what I can tell with respect to the possession of guns, including assault weapons that have only one purpose, to kill people. I think it is a scandal that this president did not authorize a renewal of the assault weapons ban.

Source: Illinois Senate Debate #3: Barack Obama vs. Alan Keyes Oct 21, 2004

Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions

Principles that Obama supports on gun issues:
• Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
• Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
• Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.

Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.

A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Voting YES would:

• Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime
• Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect
• Call for the dismissal of all qualified civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment by the court in which the action was brought
• Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing ammunition, and sets a minimum prison term of 15 years for violations
• Require all licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers who engage in the transfer of handguns to provide secure gun storage or safety devices

Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005

Meet the new boss...

"Same as the old boss?"

Pete Townsend wrote that in "Won't Get Fooled Again," only, it seems, the Obamanation is not as wised-up as Petey. Still, I remember being a young liberal (before I got a job, you see)...maybe they'll stop trying to kick the ball when Lucy's holding it... But I'm not holding my breath, so, here we go:

We'll be fighting in the streets

With our children at our feet

And the morals that they worship will be gone

And the men who spurred us on

Sit in judgement of all wrong

They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

Take a bow for the new revolution

Smile and grin at the change all around me

Pick up my guitar and play

Just like yesterday

Then I'll get on my knees and pray

We don't get fooled again

The change, it had to come

We knew it all along

We were liberated from the foe, that's all

And the world looks just the same

And history ain't changed'

Cause the banners, they all flown in the next war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

Take a bow for the new revolution

Smile and grin at the change all around me

Pick up my guitar and play

Just like yesterday

Then I'll get on my knees and pray

We don't get fooled again

No, no! I'll move myself and my family aside

If we happen to be left half alive

I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky

For I know that the hypnotized never lie

Do ya?

There's nothing in the street

Looks any different to me

And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye

And the parting on the left

Is now the parting on the right

And the beards have all grown longer overnight

Meet the new boss 

Same as the old boss

Obama Supporters Wave Soviet Flag at White House Rally

Obama may insist that he is not a communist or socialist, but his supporters seem to think otherwise:

Thank you...you've been a terrific audience...

WHO STOLE THE DREAM?

For Election Day: 

A mini-version of A SHOW OF HANDS: A CAUTIONARY TALE OF HEROES IN EXILE:

WHY "NOBAMA?"

 Why "Nobama?" Several reasons. But I should state from the beginning, it is NOT about racism; I am glad a black man can be elected president. No, this is about politics and the Constitution. I believe that Obama's ideas are counter to the ideas of the Founding Fathers, counter to Capitalism, and counter to freedom. I cannot call my president, because his ideas, I believe, will lead up to a socialism. After the horrors of the Soviet Union, I am in disbelief that this country would even vote for someone like this. I believe that selfishness is a virtue. As an admirer of Ayn Rand, I fight for liberty and reject sacrifice. Voluntary charity is not achieved at the point of a gun. I will lay out more reasons over time, but I will also lay out what I am FOR as opposed to only discussing what I am AGAINST.  Objectivity is important; I will not smear Obama with knowingly false information, and will call into question any questionable claims and sources. But I will exercise my right to satire and engage in hyperbole, not to distort the truth, but to accentuate the truth. Above all, I responsibly exercise my right to free speech in this country.