Ayn Rand blamed for current state of America

[Belacqua]

I've linked you to an article describing one of Trump's policies opposing Putin, which Biden overturned. 

Could you list some of the specific policies of Trump's which benefited Putin? There must be a lot, right?

It is true that Biden stopped opposing the pipeline.  I don't think this is a good move, as it gives Russia more leverage over Europe. 

I think it was to make Germany happy.

But Trump opposing the pipeline must have been a fluke, right? Since we know that Trump was obeying Putin's evil commands?

There must be a hundred ways in which Trump's policies benefited Putin. So it should be easy to list them.

[The Architect Of Fate]

[Ranjr]

Rand would like Putin, and be happy he's added Kurds to his way.

[The Grand Nudger]

I have long since hated GOP economics, but I was in 100% agreement with John McCain in calling Putin a "KGB thug". So who did the former guy attack? Not Putin, but McCain.

There was no evidence that Trump favored Putin at all. Trump's policies generally went against what the Russians wanted.

For example, Putin has long tried to set up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is designed to take gas from Russia to Germany. It will make a lot of money for Russia. Trump effectively prevented this. Biden announced it could go ahead.

In other words, despite what the media puts out as drama, Trump was not in Putin's pocket, and Biden isn't standing up to him.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57180674

Pretty sure they built the pipeline no matter what trump said.  He didn't officially or effectively prevent shit.  Thing is, the pipeline, meh, the trouble they had was that as an oligarchy with it's wealth tied up or inconvenienced in sanctions, they're in a bit of a bind.  You couldn't have the chutzpah required to insist that the trumpster was an advocate of keeping their money out of their hands, could you? There was never any other way in which the man was a good fit from the russian point of view.  They didn't need him to destroy the us, and they don't really want a loon commanding strikes against their interests...either...they just wanted access to their checking accounts.

It was always...always always always, about sanctions.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I read some of Rand's nonfiction philosophy when I was younger, and she was a big influence on my atheism (which was the original reason I picked her up). For a while I shared her hyperlibertarian views, but after a little thought realized exactly how little her philosophy could be pegged in reality.

As for Rush, I prefer playing along with 2112, as it's easier than Hemispheres. But there's little more fun to be had fully-clothed than nailing "La Villa Strangiato" on guitar.

[no one]

Mr. Lifeson is woefully underrated.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Mr. Lifeson is woefully underrated.

I never did learn his second solo in the song, the one over the b5 C/F# groove Geddy's hammering. That one is so shreddy that the notes kindameldtogether.

I can play the first one (with the volume swells) purt-much note-for-note -- or at least I could at one time. I'd have to woodshed to do it again, I haven't played the song in three years or so.

[no one]

Musically speaking, I don't think there is anyone better than RUSH. They just complement each other so perfectly. Their friendship is so genuine.

I don't fret much of the famous folk, but it actually hurt when Neil passed. For a few days, to be honest.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Musically speaking, I don't think there is anyone better than RUSH. They just complement each other so perfectly. Their friendship is so genuine.

They were definitely unusual in that the individual genius didn't interrupt the personal rapport. There have been other bands loaded with that talent (Miles Davis in '59 with Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans comes to mind, Sabbath in the early 70s) but didn't hang together for, I guess, Reasons™.

I don't fret much of the famous folk, but it actually hurt when Neil passed. For a few days, to be honest.

His death cut, for me, because his lyrics played a part in helping me think my way through this world.

[no one]

One night, many years ago. Many, many, years ago, I was at a county fair. There was a band playing, the more I listened to them, the more I thought, WOW!, this guy is a good drummer. A damn good drummer. I'm thinking, this is incredible, this might be the best drummer I have ever heard. How? How can somebody this good be stuck playing in some two-bit county fair? Naturally, I have to see this drummer. I wander through the crowd making my way towards the sound. The percolating anticipation of witnessing what might be the greatest drummer on Earth, was quickly defeated when I finally arrived at the stage to discover that it was actually 6 guys, each with 1 drum.