makeshiftmind

The Ayn Rand Institute is running an excellent op-ed about rising gas prices. From the article:

When customers’ demand for gasoline increases relative to the supply, the sellers of gasoline raise their prices. As the producers and owners of gasoline, this is their right–and we should be glad that they exercise it. Not only do price increases encourage future production, but without such price increases, we would very quickly see shortages as customer demand for cheap gasoline far outstripped the available supply. Thanks to price increases, we can ensure our continued access to gasoline to the extent we are willing to pay for it–i.e., to the extent we value it. Most of us are willing to pay $3 a gallon for a 15-mile office commute–but might not be for a 15-mile drive to our pet’s beauty salon, and so our personal consumption voluntarily decreases as prices increase.

Here is an interesting FAQ from a website loosely associated with Ayn Rand and her foundation. It is an intellectual justification of abortion, which is probably the most thought-out presentation of the pro-abortion philosophy that I have yet encountered. I have wanted to write on this topic for some time, so I’m going to formulate some ideas and present them in part 2.

Here is a freaking brilliant article on the Neverending Story saga. It’s pithy, well written, and near-gospel material. Read it now.

A small firestorm of controversy now surrounds my favorite commercial coffee establishment, Starbucks. If you’re a frequent to the coffee giant, you have most certainly noticed the pithy and thought-provoking “The way I see it…” quotes on the sides of Starbucks’ paper cups. One of these quotes is driving the religiously zealous into hysterics:

“Why in moments of crisis do we ask God for strength and help? As cognitive beings, why would we ask something that may well be a figment of our imaginations for guidance? Why not search inside ourselves for the power to overcome? After all, we are strong enough to cause most of the catastrophes we need to endure.”

According to WorldNetDaily, another “controversial” cup quote says:

“Heaven is totally overrated. It seems boring. Clouds, listening to people play the harp. It should be somewhere you can’t wait to go, like a luxury hotel. Maybe blue skies and soft music were enough to keep people in line in the 17th century, but Heaven has to step it up a bit. They’re basically getting by because they only have to be better than Hell. — Joel Stein, columnist for the Los Angeles Times.”

Starbucks stands by its cups and dismisses any plea to disassociate themselves with these “radical” anti-god statements. The controversy has garnered the attention of conservative radio talk show hosts such as Limbaugh and Ingram, and a recent WorldNetDaily poll shows that people are enraged by Starbucks’ attitude about the matter.

Now… enter the double standard.

Apparently none of these people had problems with the following “The way I see it…” quotes that have previously appeared on Starbucks cups:

The Way I See It #92:
“You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny.” — Dr. Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose-Driven Life.”

The Way I See It #158:
“It’s tragic that extremists co-opt the notion of God, and that hipsters and artists reject spirituality out of hand. I don’t have a fixed idea of God. But I feel that it’s us – the messed-up, the half-crazy, the burning, the questing – that need God, a lot more than the goody-two-shoes do.” — Mike Doughty, musician.

Can’t we all just get along? I will continue to drink Starbucks coffee because 1) I like it, and 2) the company has taken the right approach — it gives people something to think about in non-exclusive ways.

As one digg.com commenter said:

“Breaking: Starbucks tries to make people think, some refuse”

The state of Alabama has defined anti-government terrorist groups:

Anti-government groups usually believe:

• Gun Control = Enslavement
• Constitution has been subverted
• The U.S. has lost its sovereignty

Part of me really believes that “…this isn’t America… THIS IS MADNESS!”