tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post3763676423303294117..comments2024-03-28T13:35:40.706+00:00Comments on HPANWO Voice: Ayn Rand denounced It's a Wonderful LifeBen Emlyn-Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-73919436880468831742019-05-24T19:29:29.129+01:002019-05-24T19:29:29.129+01:00Adrian, duly noted...Adrian, duly noted...Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-15720463397692571682019-05-24T19:29:07.835+01:002019-05-24T19:29:07.835+01:00Grant, I disagree with him far more and have lost ...Grant, I disagree with him far more and have lost respect for him since he became a Remoaner.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-56305699118798101262019-05-24T19:28:27.998+01:002019-05-24T19:28:27.998+01:00Josh, I have made HPANWO TV videos about the yello...Josh, I have made HPANWO TV videos about the yellow vests.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-15098834365096260542019-01-08T20:12:41.075+00:002019-01-08T20:12:41.075+00:00Be great if you could at least do a blog on the UK...Be great if you could at least do a blog on the UK Yellow Vest movement. JJoshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-58013621255828578532019-01-08T18:14:58.776+00:002019-01-08T18:14:58.776+00:00Ben I thought Thatcher read chemistry at Oxford an...Ben I thought Thatcher read chemistry at Oxford and obviously not economics? Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-17170071183457186632019-01-08T18:01:03.483+00:002019-01-08T18:01:03.483+00:00I look forward to your political thriller Ben. Wha...I look forward to your political thriller Ben. What is your opinion of the UK Yellow Vest movement that seems to be gaining support? I'm a great believer in street led populism. I note that when it's the right as opposed to far-left thugs, we quickly become demonised by the elitist liberal media. Maybe HPANWO TV can check out a demo? JoshJoshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-14604218795779463602019-01-08T16:03:19.956+00:002019-01-08T16:03:19.956+00:00Ben, when you say you disagree with Corbyn politic...Ben, when you say you disagree with Corbyn politically, in what way do you mean?<br /><br />Grant.Grantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-47629770863186518912019-01-08T15:48:18.835+00:002019-01-08T15:48:18.835+00:00Hope you enjoy the book, Grant :-)
I quite like J...Hope you enjoy the book, Grant :-)<br /><br />I quite like Jeremy Corbyn, although I disagree with him politically. He seems to have courage, intelligence and principles... very rare in a statesman these days.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-88725527610551106822019-01-08T15:47:13.839+00:002019-01-08T15:47:13.839+00:00Hi Josh. Yes, I've read Camp of the Saints. It...Hi Josh. Yes, I've read Camp of the Saints. It's very over-the-top and unpleasant to read, but it was skillfully written. Yes, I am considering writing my own political thriller, although the main character may not be from the right. I could never write a rightwing polemic.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-41145160945705732802019-01-08T15:45:23.005+00:002019-01-08T15:45:23.005+00:00Ade, I don't know exactly. She may have read R...Ade, I don't know exactly. She may have read Rand privately, but it's not a part of her course in economics at Oxford that she did. I know MT was a fan of deregulation and the privatization of nationalized assets. The policies of privatization in the NHS have been a complete disaster and have cost hundreds of thousands of lives, with many more permanently maimed. To be fair they were not purely MT's policies. The Labour govt under Blair was far more radical in that respect. However, I can't see MT hiding out in Galt's Gulch with Midas Mulligan.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-19499497599044087202019-01-07T20:40:55.358+00:002019-01-07T20:40:55.358+00:00Hi Ben. I think Atlas Shrugged is marvellous. I wa...Hi Ben. I think Atlas Shrugged is marvellous. I want to read more of her works. Have you read Camp of the Saints by Jean Raspail? Decades ago he predicted in his novel the invading hordes from Africa. I recommend it to you if you haven't read it. The left wing hate this book like they do Ayn Rand's work. They would have such books burned in a heartbeat I can tell you. Have you thought about writing a political thriller with perhaps a protagonist of the right? Perhaps with a sci-fi/dystopian twist. Sort of Lovecraft/Rand/Orwell influenced novel? It would be a smashing read I'm sure. Cheers buddy. JoshJoshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-912418828345535562019-01-07T18:20:50.769+00:002019-01-07T18:20:50.769+00:00So by the nature of the question you like Labour m...So by the nature of the question you like Labour more than the Tories then? <br /><br />Grant<br /><br />Ordering a book on payday. Grantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-79581293199390611622019-01-07T17:59:00.740+00:002019-01-07T17:59:00.740+00:00OK Ben I'm sorry I didn't see your comment...OK Ben I'm sorry I didn't see your comment earlier re difference on Thatch and Rand. Please therefore please ignore my last question. I don't think there is much difference and I suppose the lovely Mrs T was a big fan of Rand! Cheers now. Ade Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-6329547713155144372019-01-07T15:44:46.698+00:002019-01-07T15:44:46.698+00:00Grant, no I don't like the Tories. You can buy...Grant, no I don't like the Tories. You can buy my most recent three books on Amazon. There's a link on Ben's Bookcase, see the links column.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-5722069970213965972019-01-07T15:44:01.159+00:002019-01-07T15:44:01.159+00:00Hi Ade. I'm not sure I know how to explain mys...Hi Ade. I'm not sure I know how to explain myself any further. I feel we're talking at cross purposes. I don't know what the difference is between Rand and Thatcher.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-13429496530220638792019-01-06T23:39:56.324+00:002019-01-06T23:39:56.324+00:00I also disagree on the state being only about prot...I also disagree on the state being only about protecting us from each other. As I have argued re regulated social democratic capitalism, the state should protect us from rapacious big business. If necessary nationalising at least parts of the banking sector as the Swedes did in the 90s. AdeAdrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-63394029781114866362019-01-06T21:14:54.029+00:002019-01-06T21:14:54.029+00:00Ben, do you like the Tories? If it was a straight ...Ben, do you like the Tories? If it was a straight choice between them and Labour I mean.<br /><br />Grant<br /><br />PS How can I get a copy of your new book?Grantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-80009281521667622862019-01-06T19:20:48.237+00:002019-01-06T19:20:48.237+00:00Hi again Ben. So how would you say Rand's ideo...Hi again Ben. So how would you say Rand's ideology differs from Thatcherism? AdeAdrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-68396847810677278022019-01-06T14:38:06.504+00:002019-01-06T14:38:06.504+00:00Ben. No I don't think I do misunderstand it. K...Ben. No I don't think I do misunderstand it. Karl Marx once said that in theory capitalism works very well. Lots of capitalists compete which means wages increase and prices decrease. However, as he predicted the logical conclusion of capitalism is big global capital calling the shots. If we reduce so called state led 'red tape' as the Tories and UKIP call it then we deregulate business and finance which leads to monopolies, huge banking interests and corporations which are unelected yet are able to influence elected government to further reduce the state and further increase the power of capital.<br />Can you please give examples of how 'statism' is eroding quality of life more than capitalism? <br />Ayn Rand was yet another classical liberal (as it is known from the laissez faire days) and classical liberalism caused massive suffering for the majority, as in the working class. <br /><br />You say you're against social darwinism yet you support Rand's somewhat bleak worldview. You may wish to read Thomas Hobbs' Leviathan which is a salutory lesson against the type of anarchism you mention, unleashing a 'war of all against all'. So how can you be for Rand and yet against social darwinism? Thanks. AdeAdrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-51209147197063508622019-01-06T13:05:31.846+00:002019-01-06T13:05:31.846+00:00Hi Ade, you've not addressed my point about th...Hi Ade, you've not addressed my point about the difference between corporations and sole traders. If you read more of my articles you will see that I regularly criticize social Darwinism very harshly; put it into the search box and see. I think you misunderstand the issues at stake. Also have you ever asked why it is statists who keep saying we need the state? Don't you think there's a conflict of interests there? This idea that the state is essential for human civilization is awfully convenient. It's a common false response to anarchism, that in such a society we would all run round beating each other over the head with clubs. Also the World Happiness Index does not tally with the nations you say it does. One of the highest is Bhutan which is an absolute monarchy. It's a very misanthropic idea that we need the state to save us from ourselves. Without it we gravitate naturally into conflict economics. This is the basis of Marxism.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-85040548388734006232019-01-06T13:00:36.167+00:002019-01-06T13:00:36.167+00:00How would you say Randian ideology differs from Th...How would you say Randian ideology differs from Thatcherism? Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-1991260640069942732019-01-05T14:18:56.756+00:002019-01-05T14:18:56.756+00:00Further on your point of altruism, you are taking ...Further on your point of altruism, you are taking it to ridiculous extremes. The self preservation instinct is always going to be stronger than altruism but that of course is not to say that as social animals humans lack altruism. The problem with Rand and Thatcherite doctrines is that selfishness and greed are seen as healthy and altruism is seen as something weak and to be discouraged. This is because the economic imperative of free market capitalism is based on the values of greed, selfishness and social darwinism. The state and concomitant welfare should counter this ruthless survival of the fittest mentality, and work towards the common good. Capitalism under state regulation with nationalised public services and fair taxation etc can be made to work for the people as we have seen in certain countries. AdeAdrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-81275189216839935992019-01-05T13:40:36.305+00:002019-01-05T13:40:36.305+00:00Ben. Sorry but your last response makes no sense t...Ben. Sorry but your last response makes no sense to me whatsoever. Are you saying that global capital is not more powerful than nation states? If you deregulate capitalism such as what happened under Reagan and Thatcher then you end up with global corporations concentrating wealth in fewer hands and manufacturing moving to wherever labour costs are lowest. You end up with high income inequality which always correlates with deregulation. That's why I made the point about regulated capitalism with a strong state akin to the social democracies where income inequality is lower and these places are demonstrably happier places as evidenced by the world happiness survey. On altruism, this is an individual concern. State welfare and health funded through fair progressive taxation should mean we are not subject to the whims of charity and altruism.<br />Cheers. AdeAdrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-81053011701826975572019-01-05T12:29:57.379+00:002019-01-05T12:29:57.379+00:00Adrian, then you should know that this is not a fa...Adrian, then you should know that this is not a fair judgement of capitalism. A society in which large corporations instead of smaller individually owned companies run the economy together with a state in which 40 to 60% of the capital in the economy is forfeit to them in taxes... how can you look at this and assess capitalism? Also Rand's views on altruism are correct. An absence of altruism is NOT an absence of kindness and charity. The problem with altruism is that if you believe it you have to go to your local hospital and shoot yourself because there are people waiting for organ transplants and you have working organs.Ben Emlyn-Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858990047274822000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907980016894811549.post-79893305287239339632019-01-04T17:47:04.369+00:002019-01-04T17:47:04.369+00:00Ben, you should know that corporations including g...Ben, you should know that corporations including global banking hold all the power and the nation state is always subordinate to global capital. Global capital is bringing the third world to Europe not government which only does the bidding. The military-industrial complex is something that is very real. The social democratic economies by the way from Canada to Scandinavia all rank as the most successful and specifically happiest in the world happiness survey (see Wikipedia on this) with lowest levels of income inequality. High income inequality is something akin to third world states and the trends are well established.<br />To answer your question, yes I'm familiar with Stefan Molyneaux but I think his analysis is always rubbish. Right wing libertarianism is all a bit hackneyed and it only seems to talk about further limiting government and increasing the power of capital. What can possibly go wrong!! Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556144188250145724noreply@blogger.com