For those of you who have never read Ayn Rand's novel, Atlas Shrugged, I recommend it. Even those opposed to her Objectivist philosophy should read it at least once.
I bring this up because today is September 2nd (most of the turning points in the book take place on September 2nd of various years), and the book is relevant, if for no other reason, for one particular line.
Speaking of the retreat of the values of Reason and Liberty, one character says "The lights are going out all over the world." And that, remember, is in a book published in 1957.
The line has had a powerful impact on me, adding a sense of urgency to the political activism I had already committed my life to. It's part of the reason I've tended to place political involvement ahead of scaling the economic ladder. To those who invoke the old joke, "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?": now you know.
Sadly, the lights are *still* going out all over the world. [Click 'Read More']
http://www.texasobserver.org/pi/mad-libs
Following the LP of Texas Convention, at which I lost the nomination for Governor, The Texas Observer had this to say about me:
His radical ideas—he opposes all taxation and advocates elimination of public education—are softened by his seriousness and thoughtfulness, and by his remarkable resemblance to Mr. Burns from The Simpsons.
Well .... although I appreciate the coverage, and they did spell my name correctly (no easy task), I look nothing like Mr. Burns. I have more hair; my nose is hardly carrotesque; and my smile is not the least bit villianous.
Plus, I'm not so sure that taking the politics out of education by taking education out of politics is all that radical an idea anymore. In fact, I expect it to become accepted more with each failed attempt -- sincere or cynical -- to "fix" government schools.
As for distaste for taxation ... since when is the Eighth Commandment "radical"?
[Jeff's] 2002 campaign came just after Ralph Nader's Green Party presidential run had done well enough that a reporter at The Houston Chronicle's Washington Bureau said that the Nader campaign had made the GP "mainsteam". To be indelicate, Jeff cleaned their gubernatorial nominee's "mainstream" clock, drawing over twice as many votes.
Dallas County Campaign Coordinator Zack Smith has set up a Facebook page for the Dallas County branch of the campaign. I appreciate the effort, and hope you will all visit the page at:
