You’re right Ralph. But the claim, posted as if it’ true, that sales of the book have tripled is just clearly suspect. It’s not a question of ideas here, in this case, it’s a question of evidence. I think the claim that sales of “Atlas Shrugged” have suddenly tripled is ridiculous, but if David wants to show me a credible source, I’ll be happy to be admit I’m wrong
By “ridicuous claims” I meant “unverifiable.” That would have been better word
mike omalley said:
You're right Ralph. But the claim, posted as if it' true, that sales of the book have tripled is just clearly suspect. It's not a question of ideas here, in this case, it's a question of evidence. I think the claim that sales of "Atlas Shrugged" have suddenly tripled is ridiculous, but if David wants to show me a credible source, I'll be happy to be admit I'm wrongBy “ridicuous claims” I meant “unverifiable.” That would have been better word
Ralph,
0 x 3 = 000
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Ralph,0 x 3 = 000
Ralph Berg said:Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Ralph,0 x 3 = 000
Could be HJ.
But you and Mike are very resourceful. It would seem either one of you could find the sales figures and put this particular segment of the argument to rest.
Ralph
anyway here are some excerpts from WIKI
WIKI said:
[b]Popular interest and influence[/b]The Fountainhead Cafe, a coffee shop in New York City inspired by Objectivism. The sign reads “Eat Objectively, Live Rich”.
Although Rand’s influence has been greatest in the United States, she has a growing international following.[63] Her books were international best sellers, and they continue to sell in large numbers.[64] For example, Atlas Shrugged is consistently in the top few hundred best sellers at Amazon.com;[65] 185,000 copies were sold in 2007, fifty years after it was first published.[66]
When asked in a 1991 survey by the Library of Congress and the Book-of-the-Month Club what the most influential book in the respondent’s life was, Rand’s Atlas Shrugged was the second most popular choice, after the Bible.
I’ve actually read the book twice, once when i was 13 and once in grad school. In my opinion it’s juvenile. It advances a kind of heroic individualism which is very compelling to adolescents but seems simplistic and damaging to real adults. Most people are repulsed by the premise that egotism is the center of all life. I know for myself, for example, that being married is a more interesting and enjoyable state than being single, precisely because it’s not a model of heroic selfish individualism–it’s a model of something better coming out of the choice to share and compromise. We are often told that Americans are “individualists” but most Americans like being married and like having a family. I don’t know about other people, but my experience of family has been that it’s a willing surrender of some aspects of individualism. In my opinion, live is less boring, more challenging and richer when shared. The kind of individualism Rand gets all dewey about seems really boring to me–self referential, closed, one dimensional
I would venture a guess that David is single.
I totally agree with Mike, except I don’t have an opinion on David’s marital status.
The fact my wife has stayed with me all these years amazes everyone, including myself. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that she is just staying around to get even and/or watch me implode. My children are my most complete, most satisfying and best project, and also the best part of my resume.
Ric Golding said:Bingo. We have a winner. My wife is the most giving, caring person I've ever met. My living room floor is covered with trains. My dining room table is currently my "workshop". My railroad is in the front yard. And I have computers all over the house. I always wonder why any women would put up with me. Some things are just meant to remain a mystery. Ralph
The fact my wife has stayed with me all these years amazes everyone, including myself. I've resigned myself to the fact that she is just staying around to get even and/or watch me implode. My children are my most complete, most satisfying and best project, and also the best part of my resume.
Maybe one day you all will see the light. It’s not always the Pres causing the problems. Keep re electing these idiot senators and congressmen and we will never get out of problems we have. Just my 2cents later RJD
RJ,
Ya think?
(For those that might think I’m saying something else, I’m agreeing with RJ)
But it’s too difficult to research the candidates’ records and besides I always vote for the donkey/the elephant because my parents did.
David Hill said:People vote the way they do for many reasons. Those that put no thought or effort in the process usually don't bother to vote at all. Ralph
But it's too difficult to research the candidates' records and besides I always vote for the donkey/the elephant because my parents did.
Except this last election cycle.
Yes–turnout among republicans was quite high
mike omalley said::lol:
Yes--turnout among republicans was quite high
Turnout among democrats was higher, or did I miss something? 
People had their reasons to vote the way they did. I didn’t say they were all good reasons.
Ralph
I loved watching the “man on the street interviews” about why folks voted for Obama for President and Palin for Vice President.
Many view JFK as an iconic American and denounce Barack as just another president, elected only because of his skin colour. Detractors also denounce the intellect of many of those who voted for him.
One needs to put history into perspective. Who was it who actually got JFK into office? Was it blacks, catholics, hippies? JFK’s slim victory margin was put down to ‘campaigning’ done by members of the mafia in Chicago, who ‘doorknocked’ and ‘convinced’ voters to register and turnout on the day, to elect their ‘chosen’ candidate. How did JFK respond to this generosity? He, from the very first day in office, with the co-operation of the new Attorney-General, Bobby Kennedy, set about dismantling organised crime. The result - well the Warren Commission report is not convincing in that respect. The impact is be very careful who you place in office, as the expectations may not be matched by the actual achievements.
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TonyWalsham said:Nixon always looked "shifty" Didn't stop him from being elected later. And of course, then we found out he was "shifty". Ralph
I always thought that Nixon lost to Kennedy because he did not shave properly the on night of the big debate and the viewers who voted thought he looked "shifty".