Ayn Rand’s writings and philosophy are a symphony of reason and inspiration. For example, in responding to a fan in 1960 about the meaning of life, she wrote: “Joy, exultation, beauty, greatness, heroism, all of the supreme, uplifting values of man’s existence on Earth, are the meaning of life.” In the afterword to Atlas Shrugged,…
Author: Carl Barney
Paycheck Protection Program
I have never paid my “fair share” of taxes. I’ve always paid infinitely more than my “fair share” (which is zero). I’ve paid loads of taxes. While I don’t agree in principle with taxes, I comply with the law, and I take any deductions that my CPA can find. When the “Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP)…
In Defense of America
In the Wall Street Journal on July 7, 2020, Gerard Baker, the journal’s Editor-at-Large and former Editor-in-Chief, wrote a brilliant article titled “Defend America’s History—and Retake Its Institutions.” He begins: “That was quick. “At the end of the 20th Century, the U.S. had won World War II and the Cold War, liberated half the planet…
An Englishman Celebrates America’s Declaration of Independence
King Gavin Newsom of California (otherwise known as “Governor”) prohibited gatherings to celebrate America’s Declaration of Independence, so I was unable to have a large party at my home. Nonetheless, I celebrated with a few close friends. We decorated for fifty guests but only had four. Many people are writing about the meaning of The…
Lockdowns Destroy Lives
There are many small business owners and entrepreneurs who may be wishing they were dead. Their businesses are being ruined and their lives destroyed. The political lockdowns (not the virus) have hit black business owners hardest: 41% are no longer in business according to an analysis by the National Bureau of Economic Research. The total…
Evils of Racism
We need to understand that the current lawlessness and the raging, rampaging mobs are a product of their teachers. As author Cynthia Ozick notes: “A vengeful mob is a fearsome thing, but the true monsters are its teachers.” I recommend this brilliant, well-written article, Anti-Semitism and the Intellectuals, because it identifies the source and cause…
Riots, Looting, Mayhem, and Destruction
“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” W.B. Yeats wrote those lines in the bleak aftermath of World War I—they resonate today. About 140 cities have been subject to riots, looting, and wanton destruction. Many are calling for police forces to be abolished or defunded. What is going…
Announcement: Mailing List Problem
Dear friends, I apologize for the inconvenience, but I’ve had a minor hiccup with my mailing list and anyone who signed up between May 15 and May 22 was not successfully added to the list, despite the confirmation message you may have seen. If you signed up between these dates, please do so again—the problem…
The Greatest Showman
I love The Greatest Showman, a spectacular movie which I watched last night for the fourth time. Everything about it is perfect. I think it is a great work of art. The story, about love and a great entrepreneur, is captivating. The music and songs delight, haunt, and thrill; they are performed flawlessly, as is the acting. Hugh…
Dr. Leonard Peikoff’s Courses and Lectures
When I studied Dr. Peikoff’s courses almost 40 years ago, I was thrilled by the knowledge and delighted with the clarity, certitude, and wit of his delivery. I had taken hundreds of courses during my life, but none that compared to his. It is through them that I became an Objectivist. They changed my life….