Who'd a thunk we'd find Rand promoted on John Taylor Gatto's education forum, and that people who don't agree with Rand that taxation is theft would be called humanity, baby and family hating state lovers?

But here we have it, Ayn Rand's belief that taxation is theft: parasites preying on the productive in society via state force.

Of course, I know the first part about public school from kindergarten through university is wrong. But Gatto himself says something to the effect that if public schools functioned the way public roads, parks and libraries do, the public would have nothing to complain about most of the time.

Well, watch out, homeschoolers and unschoolers. Don't admit it if you think taxes are legit on this forum. If you do, you, too, might be labeled a state-loving humanity, baby and family hater! You might have HATER emblazoned across your chest.

3 Fatal Flaws in Ayn Rand's Perverse Moral Philosophy

I wouldn't call it philosophy. I guess it's philosophy for those who can't figure out Nietzsche.

Louise,
I began reading Ayn Rand sometime in the 60s. I continued reading her avidly until sometime in the Reagan or Bush administration. If I thought for an instant that "Catharine Burke is an associate professor at USC's School of Public Policy and Planning." the author of that article had represented Ayn Rand with anything approaching accuracy I would have had nothing to do with her.
In fact it has occasionally happened that I have read articles supposedly criticizing Ayn Rand that left me wondering if one of her fans was lampooning her critics. That is the case here excepting I have read enough criticism of Ayn Rand to suspect the writer was someone that just couldn't be bothered to get her facts straight.
Louise that brings me to a question. Did you publish the article on this forum to be taken seriously or just to tease us with its buffoonery?
Ron

I was just teasing you and the other buffoons on the forum who believe that Ayn Rand's bad novels are philosophy.

Louise, in the first place you don't know at all what my opinion of Ayn Rand is. You only know what I think of one school of her detractors.
I cannot accept your alibi as you have convinced me completely that you are a collectivist liberal as described by Dr. Stephen Davies in the video I recommended to you.
Nor does the lady that wrote that article know even remotely what she is talking about.
Ron

From your track record here lately, it appears that you don't know what you're talking about much of the time.

Louise,
"From your track record here lately, it appears that you don't know what you're talking about much of the time."
From your track record here since the beginning of time it appears that your forte is parroting misinformation.
If you think about it, almost anything I say is likely to dramatically violate the party line that you are spouting. Score one for my side.
Ron

I see. I parrot a party line and you speak the truth.

If you only knew how ridiculous you sound!

Louise,
In the period 1776 thru 1789 the American people went through a revolution of a type never before seen in history. Until that time man had been ruled by a tyranny of one type or another. Some had been, so called, benevolent, others had been horrendous but all came down to rule by force.
The American people of that time, 1776 to 1789 did something that had never been done before. They established a contract between themselves for ruling themselves that retained ultimate power in their hands.
In their wisdom, as they were ruling themselves, they left the law in most everyday situations virtually non-existant. They did under their contract employ a justice of the peace and a constable to break up fights and enforce the public peace. They also provided civil courts so people could adjudicate disagreements without resorting to arms or fisticuffs. Otherwise there wasn't much law and the burden of supporting the government formed under the contract was very light. Under that system our country grew like a wildfire. In a very short time, in historical terms, our country was pre-dominant.
However, after slightly under a hundred years a self selected oligarchy began gathering strength. In the early 20th Century they promoted one of their philosophy into the presidency and gained control of the public school system. They had two major depressions that were self induced and managed to squander most of the gains made by their predacessors.
At this time the oligarchy and its supporters seems to be trying to subvert the power of the people to rule themselves and to consolidate their power to rule on a permanent basis. Yet the contract referred to as The Constitution remains in force and the people retain the power to enforce that contract and its provisions.

An interesting revisionist view of history that I'm sure it makes you happy to believe.

Louise,
"An interesting revisionist view of history that I'm sure it makes you happy to believe."
What a terrible thing to say. That comment is only motivated by pure spite and a total inability to refute what I had to say.

I closed my email with an obvious truth, " Yet the contract referred to as The Constitution remains in force and the people retain the power to enforce that contract and its provisions."
Are you contending that the Constitution is no longer in force or are you contending that the people no longer have the power to enforce the contract.
I think that in a fit of pique you just revealed the government that you truly want. You want to have a government of men where law means nothing. You also want a government in which you are a member of the ruling elite.
It is no wonder that Rush Limbaugh calls you, "The people that can never admit who they are."
Ron

What I meant is that the more the Constitution is violated, the more difficult it gets for anyone to enforce it.

Louise,
"What I meant is that the more the Constitution is violated, the more difficult it gets for anyone to enforce it."
Then you don't know the Constitution. The people ultimately have power over even the SCOTUS as unlikely as that may seem to you. Go read the Federalist Papers.
Ron