Question #4: Explain what Ayn Rand means by “faith is only a short-circuit destroying the mind”

“Coeur d’Alene Sen. John Goedde, chairman of the Idaho Senate’s Education Committee, introduced legislation Tuesday to require every Idaho high school student to read Ayn Rand’s ‘Atlas Shrugged’ and pass a test on it to graduate from high school.” [Spokesman-Review, via Political Wire]

15 Comments

Why does he want to turn every student off of reading?

Ahem: “Rand underwent surgery for lung cancer in 1974 after decades of heavy smoking. In 1976 she retired from writing her newsletter and, despite her initial objections, reluctantly allowed Evva Pryor, a consultant from her attorney’s office, to sign her up for Social Security and Medicare.”

Weird thing is this is supposed to be a “fake” bill, but it will be assigned a number and recorded. It’s was introduced because Goedde is pissed that Prop 3 was overturned. Prop 3 sounds like the work of Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst lobbying organization. The Superintendent calls the “reforms” program, “Students Come First.”

Remember Rhee? Reformer my ass.

Glad the voters got it right.

@JNOV:
I suppose I should come to the defense of my native state because…aw, sweet FSM, what is it with these people? Yes, Goedde is pissed because Idaho voters voted down all three of Supt of Tom Luna(suffix optional)’s “education reform” propositions. Among other things, he wanted to go heavily into online courses which would have 1) gotten innocent students out of the clutches of unionized teachers, and 2) given Compaq a sweetheart deal in supplying students with laptops. Never mind that Idaho ranks 41st in the TechNet Broadband Index.

It says something about the mind numbing and soul sapping quality of Atlas Shrugged that it turned Goedde’s son into a conservative.

I’m fine with students reading that dreadful book, provided that they’re also required to read A People’s History of the United States.

We shouldn’t be afraid of exposing the horrid ideology that’s ruined this country.

@Jesuswalksinidaho: And they wanted to start that nonsense that had DC teachers not only teaching students the standardized tests but helping them a little more than they should. Their jobs hung in the balance b/c we all know standardized tests accurately track student progress. :/

Hey, I’m thinking about heading to Kerdalane to visit Thomas and Victor.

@¡Andrew!: I was so disturbed/upset by A People’s History that I couldn’t finish it.

@Jesuswalksinidaho: it turned Goedde’s son into a conservative
But not a “practicing Republican.”

@JNOV: I read it on vacation in Hawaii several years ago, which was super stupid of me. After I finished it, I felt so much revulsion and disgust that I promptly lost it–the book, I mean. I think that I left it in the cab from the airport. I always imagined that it fell into the hands of the person who will smash the system someday.

@¡Andrew!: Not really related by kinda, I’ve been meaning to read The Broom of the System. “Your great-grandmother was more or less the ringleader around here.”

I don’t read books anymore. I read plenty of things on my computer screen, but I don’t read physical books. I’m bothered by that.

@JNOV: I don’t even do that. I play Angry Birds.

@Benedick: So you say. I never believe you. And *if* I start playing Angry Birds and get addicted at your purported level, I will blame you.

@JNOV: Though I do play on my iPad I like it best on my iMac. I have totally trashed Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Rio, Angry Birds Space, and I’ve almost got 3 stars on all levels of Angry Birds Star Wars. There’s like 3 or 4 levels on Thoth that I’m still working on. Along the way I have learned much about physics. I don’t like the power ups, and I don’t like the eagle. I guess I’m an Angry Birds purist.

You know the saddest thing in life? Waiting for updates.

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