the winter 2007 Volume 4, Issue 1 the-undercurrent.com

Undercurrent “It was as if an underground stream flowed through the country and broke out in sudden springs that shot to the surface at random, in unpredictable places.”

Inside this issue the business of In Defense of Corporations (3) How Not to Lie With Statistics (4) healthcare Faith and Reason: Friends or Foes? (5) he state of has lost more than 90 emer- gency rooms since 1990—and with them, the abil- Anti-Smoking Paternalism (6) ityT to treat hundreds of thousands of patients. In New York City, eight hospitals have shut down since 2003 Speakers, Events, & Meetings (8) after facing a financial crisis. And in Atlanta, Grady Memorial Hospital is threatening to join their ranks. Grady is the only level 1 trauma center in the area, and if it closes, it will mean the loss of almost 1,000 beds, operation iraqi nine community health centers, and the training facili- by Laura Mazer ties for two medical schools. The cause of these and other failures throughout the freedom: a country is obvious. Hospitals are providing care without receiving payment. Like any other business, hospitals have a constant list of bills to pay every month, from sacrificial war diagnostic tests and drugs, to basic supplies and the salaries of sometimes thousands of people. And all too often, they receive no compensation in return. t the Veterans of For- What drives the nation’s hospitals to operate at an obvious deficit, giving away eign Wars National for free a service that is neither cheap nor easy to produce? They do it in part because ConventionA on August they are legally required to do so. In 1986, the Emergency Medical Treatment and 22, President Bush spoke Active Labor Act made it illegal for a hospital to refuse care in an emergency setting, about the lessons of World regardless of ability to pay. The Act essentially transformed emergency rooms into War II, arguing that the primary care facilities for the uninsured. U.S. occupation of Japan In other industries, services provided for free are considered voluntary charity. serves as a model for the They are provided only as far as they can be supported by the business’s other income, current conflict in the and they are neither legally nor morally required. But in healthcare, any suggestion Middle East. But the ter- that a hospital accept only the patients it can afford to treat is greeted with moral rible state of the Iraq War outrage. by Dan Edge makes it clear that he has Hospitals respond to this combination of legal requirements and community ex- not learned those lessons himself. pectations by accepting an unsustainable patient mix that inevitably ends in crushing Here's what happened in WW II: On December 7, debt. Healthcare has become a multi-billion dollar industry incapable of demon- 1941, the was attacked by Japan, a nation strating the kind of economic common sense a child with a lemonade stand instinc- of suicidal and religiously motivated warriors. Less than tively displays. four years later, the Japanese Emperor Hirohito—his Bankrupt hospitals are serving as eloquent testimony that the basic principles country in ruins and his people utterly demoralized— of are just as viable for healthcare as for any other industry. So why is it surrendered unconditionally. The subsequent U.S. oc- that fiscally responsible hospitals are considered immoral, and prosecuted as illegal? cupation of Japan met little resistance, and state-spon- What is it that makes medicine unique? sorship of the national Shinto religion was suppressed, The answer can be found in the consumer advocacy groups and professional so- allowing a smooth transition into a new government. The cieties that advocate for socialized medicine. In 2001, a task force assembled by the two countries have since become allies. American of Family Physicians proposed a system of ‘free’ healthcare for all By contrast, it has now been over four years since the Americans—to be paid for by Americans, with a payroll tax. They declared, “There Iraq War began, and the death toll continues to mount. (continued on page 2) (continued on page 7) The Undercurrent’s cultural commentary is based on Ayn Rand’s , Objectivism. Objectivism, which animates Ayn Rand’s fiction, is a systematic philosophy of life. It holds that the universe is orderly and comprehensible, that man survives by reason, that his life and happiness comprise his highest moral purpose, and that he flourishes only in a society that protects his individual rights. In these pages we hope to defend these values. To learn more about the ideas behind them, you can begin by reading Ayn Rand’s books, such as The Foun- tainhead and , or by visiting aynrand.org. 2 the business of healthcare the undercurrent continued from page 1 are a set [sic] of basic services that free. The Undercurrent is a student publication, produced and most people are expected to utilize Medicine is not the only indus- distributed by college students at campuses across North in their lifetime, and there should try that fulfills a necessity for life, America. be no financial barrier to these.” so what entitles us to the products All inquiries regarding contributing, distributing, This is the justification offered of this particular industry, and not and advertising should be directed to mail@ by all advocates of socialized medi- others? Why not food or clothes? the-undercurrent.com. For more information on The Un- cine, in its various forms. Health- And why not those products that dercurrent, back issues, additional resources, and further care is required. It is a basic service. provide a good life—feather beds commentary, visit our website at the-undercurrent.com. It is necessary for life. How can or paintings or tickets to the mov- ability to pay determine access to a ies? Or are we entitled to those as requirement for life? In a civilized, well? industrialized country, the argu- The issue goes far beyond Managing Editor Ray Girn ment goes, it is the government’s healthcare. It is a question of what Editors Stephen Donovan duty to provide basic necessities to the government’s role should be in its citizens. providing for its citizens. Should Dan Norton This argument relies on the the government collect taxes to pro- Staff Writers Kelly Cadenas assumption that healthcare is vide citizens with whatever goods Dan Edge uniquely important for human sur- and services they deem ‘necessary?’ vival, that while most industries Or is it the responsibility of indi- Gena Gorlin provide optional goods—items vidual citizens to work for which- Noah Stahl that improve life, perhaps, but are ever products and services they not required for it—healthcare is can independently earn—with the Advisory Editors Ned Chalmers not optional. To live, you must government existing to secure their Quinn Wyndham-Price have access to life-saving or life- freedom to pursue these ends? Project Manager Rebecca Knapp prolonging therapies. In other industries, Americans It is true that healthcare is, in balk at the idea of the government Layout & Design Tori Press: Red Queen certain circumstances, required for stepping in to provide values to its Design Studio life. A patient in renal failure will citizens. The dangers and inef- Webmaster & Business die without dialysis every week. ficiencies of government-run in- A child with a bacterial infection dustries are well understood. We Manager Jared Seehafer needs antibiotics. But reformers would not tolerate, for example, Distribution Officers Eric Brunner forget that a lack of dialysis is not the government nationalizing the the only thing that can kill the kid- supermarkets. If a grocer decides Arthur Lechtholz-Zey ney patient. A lack of food, clean to provide food to the hungry, most water, shelter, or clothing in the Americans understand that he does winter will be as deadly to the child so voluntarily, and with his own sponsors of the winter issue as a lack of antibiotics. money. Guy Barnett, Zev Barnett, Carl B. Barney, Medicine often focuses only on What we must understand now John Chappell, Prof. , Ted Gray, the physical act of living—breath- is that there is no reason to treat Peter LePort, M.D.: General and Weight Loss ing in and out, keeping the heart healthcare any differently. Surgery, Maryallene and Don Otis, Rob Tarr. beating. But human life is more American healthcare is failing. than the functioning of the mov- It’s only a matter of time before ing parts. Although healthcare hospitals around the country can may be the only requirement for a no longer support themselves, and Disclaimer. The Copyrights. Copyright brain-dead accident victim on life we are forced to change the system. Undercurrent is an © 2007 The Undercurrent. support, it is not the only require- The only solution is a means of ex- independent student Each article is the property ment for the rest of us. To live, change that does not rely on sacri- publication and does not of its author; all other we need food, we need shelter, we ficing the rights of some individu- necessarily represent, in content is the property need companionship, and work, als to obtain values for others. The whole or in part, the views of The Undercurrent. No and hundreds of other material and only solution is a . of the Estate of Ayn Rand, portion may be reproduced spiritual requirements. Healthcare If we want to save American or the . in whole or in part without is a necessity—and after a car ac- healthcare, we have a moral and The views expressed and the express written consent cident, or during a flu infection, it practical obligation to seek less facts contained in each of The Undercurrent. “Anti- may be the most important neces- government intervention—not article are the responsibility Smoking Paternalism: sity. But it is not the only require- more. of the author. A Cancer On American ment for life. ” is reprinted with When people talk about a Laura Mazer is a second year medical permission from the Ayn ‘right’ to healthcare, they mean an student at Emory University. She has Rand Institute. © 1995- entitlement to healthcare. They a BA in biology from the University 2007 Ayn Rand ® Institute mean that unlike other goods of Chicago. (ARI). and services that must be earned through individual work or trade, healthcare should be provided for 3

in defense of corporations o say “Corporate America” today is al- ing a getaway. The success of prosperous most to say a dirty word. Corporations corporations is ultimately built on quality, areT viewed as organizations that systemati- trust, long term planning, sound decision- cally abuse consumers, fleece taxpayers, ex- making, and most importantly, on offering ploit employees, deceive investors, disrupt honest value to customers. It is virtue, not communities and poison the environment. vice, that drives the profitability of success- CEOs and board members are portrayed as ful businesses. faceless men huddled in dark boardrooms, Contrary to common denunciations, smoking cigars while colluding about how by Noah Stahl making money is a rational, moral pursuit. to redirect money into their own pock- It is the means by which we attain the ma- ets. Employees in the corporate world are terial values necessary to sustain our lives characterized as hapless drones mindlessly groups of people to do together what neither and make possible the pursuit of happiness chasing raises and promotions in cramped could do separately. Provided the business in whatever form we choose. For the ratio- cubicles. Corporations themselves are of- is a success, both gain; the investors receive nal individual, money is not an end in itself, ten spoken of not as organizations of indi- a return on their money while those who but the means to making other values pos- viduals, but almost as entities with minds of work for the corporation make a living. sible. This fact is crucial in defending the their own. The value of the corporate form cannot goodness of corporations, because while the Absent from these criticisms is any ac- be overstated. It is only because corpora- corporate form itself holds profit as its fun- knowledgement of the ways Corporate tions exist on a large scale that the comforts damental goal, the people who make it up America has benefited our lives—for exam- of modern life are possible. Even the avail- do not. Every individual involved, from the ple, by making possible our abundant sup- ability of a pack of gum in a convenience CEO to an entry-level employee and from plies of food and energy, efficient transpor- store—let alone a text message on a moun- the smallest stockholder to the wealthiest tation, ubiquitous digital communication, taintop—requires the convergence of a vast investment banker, is participating volun- comfortable clothing, effective painkill- array of people and capital. Without the tarily in the pursuit of what he judges to ers, and an entire entertainment industry. advent of the corporation, the existence of be in the interest of his own life and happi- Indeed, it’s difficult to find any valuable such things would not be merely unlikely, ness—whether that means a love for his job, product or service that has not been made but impossible. a need for temporary income, or a means for possible in some form by the existence of a Given that corporations represent an retirement savings. corporation. enormous benefit to our lives, what then ex- As such, the corporation is the quintes- It is the corporate form that provides plains the hostility they are confronted with sentially American institution. It makes the means to transform the genius of a few on a daily basis? Why do so many people possible the collaborative pursuit of goals into the convenience of many. The inventor despise and distrust all things corporate? and dreams by thousands of individuals, all alone, while deserving credit for his insight, The common objections are not econom- expressing their right to freedom of associa- cannot turn his lab prototype into a product ic—that the corporate form is economically tion. This is the ultimate, inescapable jus- on store shelves. To do so requires a fur- efficient is rarely debated. Rather, the com- tification for the existence of corporations. ther essential ingredient: enough money in plaint is a moral one. It centers on a single Corporations, like individual men, do not the hands of that inventor to transform his word—profit. The corporation was explic- exist for the sake of consumers or society or invention into a marketable product. Things itly created to achieve a single goal: making the public good—they exist by right, not by like oil wells and iPods cannot be created a return on investment. Those who create permission. without both human ingenuity and material and manage a corporation openly seek to Unfortunately, the tremendous value of resources. turn their ideas into profits, and the inves- Corporate America has been forgotten in a But these two ingredients rarely exist to- tors they attract are openly motivated by the sea of ridicule. The media castigates CEOs gether. Those with creative ideas and skills same purpose. Hence the common refrain for receiving “obscene” salaries—neglecting often lack enough money to put their ideas of the critics: “all they care about is making the magnitude of the decisions they face into action, while many people with savings money.” and the immense value they create by mak- lack the ability to put their money to pro- In an important sense, the statement ing the right ones. Politicians threaten to ductive use. is true—the central goal of any (for-profit) take away profits from companies that make This is precisely the problem the corpo- corporation is to create a return for inves- “too much”—disregarding the owners’ right rate form was created to solve. A corporation tors. It is the unspoken conclusion of that to their property and the effort it takes to provides the framework to allow one group statement—“and that’s wrong”—that is fun- achieve such a feat. Companies have been of people (investors) to provide the money damentally flawed. Those who condemn a shackled with oppressive restrictions like for a business goal, and another group corporation for seeking profits ignore the Sarbanes-Oxley, which mandates corpora- (management and employees) to provide the distinction between a businessman and a tions to comply with a slew of inefficient and time and skill necessary to use the money thief, not recognizing the fact that making costly requirements; such restrictions are to realize that goal. By separating owner- money is far different and far more diffi- advocated on the premise that all corpora- ship and control, the corporation allows two cult than fooling one’s victim and mak- (continued on page 7) 4 How Not to Lie with Statistics: The Good, the Bad, and the Average day maintains that people’s beliefs about intimacy. Unsurprisingly, however, a sta- food “can seldom be shaken by rational ar- tistical majority choose the less risky (al- guments” (all people?); Associated Content beit less gratifying) route. This is the truth pontificates that the more time someone that’s captured by the article’s statistic. surfs the web, the more socially awkward What statistical surveys actually tell us, he or she will be. But what do any of these supposing they are accurate and scientifi- claims mean? cally valid, is what will happen if we let our- by Gena Gorlin To answer this question, we must dis- selves be driven by external influences—if tinguish between a statistic and a fact of we don’t judge the influences for ourselves human nature. Most psychological studies and choose the best (if not easiest) ways in he formula is painfully familiar— simply report such findings as statistical which to conduct our lives. The theoreti- “According to a recent survey by X averages, without implying that they are cal articles and newspaper op-eds that cite fromT the University of Y,” followed by a universal. But then something happens: them should be conveying the opposite of statement about married couples’ tenden- the media pundits who report the findings their current message. Rather than imply cy to get bored with their sex lives (ABC lose the distinction between statistical av- that the statistics are inescapable, and then News), or thin women’s tendency to think erage and universal truth. What starts as a blame the external influences that alleged- themselves fat (Psychology Today), or older conclusion about the way most people hap- ly determine human behavior, they should people’s tendency to become increasingly pen to be, turns into a prognosis about the treat statistical trends as a reminder of the religious (Harris Poll, 2006)—or any way you have to be. importance of independent thought: if and number of statistically proven and so pre- The plain fact is, you don’t have to toe when you don’t consciously direct your life, sumably unquestionable claims about hu- the line of the statistic. People can help external influences take over. Peopleshould man nature. their behavior. Plenty of women real- be told that other people, on average, tend But what are you really supposed to ize from common sense and observation to absorb cultural standards unthinking- make of such claims? To take the first that they don’t need a Mary-Kate Olsen ly—and then be taught that they are free to case, should you really avoid wedding bells waist to be attractive. Plenty of web surf- do otherwise. like they toll the death of all fun? ing enthusiasts maintain bustling social You are not fated by statistics. You al- Many of the reputable psychological lives without hiding behind their screens ways have the choice of becoming one of surveys so often cited by the media seem as a defense against confrontation. And as the “outliers,” those independent thinkers to think so. The ABC News “sex survey” anyone knows who has ever browsed the who don’t just blindly fall where they will concludes that “sexual excitement declines stacks of a Barnes and Noble, the shelves on the standard normal curve—but rather with the duration of a marriage or com- overflow with advice and innumerable take control of the variables governing mitted relationship—losing the spark.” techniques for spicing up one’s sex life – so their destiny. The evidence for this rather disheartening that any committed couple can enjoy de- generalization? “Among couples who’ve cades of adventurous love-making. Gena is a senior undergraduate psychology been together less than three years, 58 per- This is not to deny that the statistical major at Tufts university, currently working cent call their sex lives very exciting. At tendencies described by these studies do as a clinical and research intern at Mass Gen- more than 10 years, only half as many, 29 exist. It is true that, for instance, there is eral Hospital. percent, say so.” real potential for internet junkies to use the The statistical interpreters don’t seem to web as a crutch, avoiding live interaction recognize that those other 29 percent are in favor of the less stressful, more safely real people, in long-term committed rela- smokescreened medium of virtual commu- tionships, who report exciting sex lives— nication. But while the internet offers this so clearly the “losing the spark” phe- potentially enticing escape to those who nomenon is not universal or inevitable. choose to exploit it, the decision is up to Yet the mistake is common; readers see an every individual user. Cyber communica- article’s sweeping conclusion about the de- tion methods like AIM and Facebook can cline of sexual excitement with time, and just as easily be used to supplement and perhaps come to fear (or even avoid) long- enhance live social interaction as to replace term committed relationships—thinking it. Even the shyest among us, who sincerely they know where it leads. dread the perils of a live conversation, can This assumption that statistical ten- choose to confront their fears, and to reap dency equals human nature abounds in re- the rewards that eventually follow. There cent news: Science Daily reports that “men is no cyber-menace stealing their will and overcompensate when their masculinity is compelling them to hide behind their text threatened” (all men?); Medical News To- messages, avoiding the risk of genuine 5 Faith and Reason: Friends or Foes? Contrary to popular belief, faith and reason are incompatible.

the one hand, voted to promote Dr. Lewis the recent past, especially during his five because of his exemplary past achieve- years as faculty member. President Benz, ments. Not only was Dr. Lewis an active Ashland’s former president, interpreted participant in many of the school’s academ- the university’s mission statement pri- ic affairs, but he was also a “well-prepared, marily as an educational mission largely respectful,” and “demanding” instructor separate from religion. Faculty members who worked conscientiously to “meet the were expected to respect the University’s by Kelly Cadenas needs expressed by the students.” These values, but not to embrace them person- credentials, along with Dr. Lewis’ schol- ally. In fact, the university administration arly achievements, were enough to con- was well aware of Dr. Lewis’ alignment he way to see by faith is to shut the vince committee members that Dr. Lewis with Objectivism, and gladly accepted a eye of reason.” Like many before was “a valuable member of the university substantial grant from the Foun- “Tand after him, Benjamin Franklin recog- community.” dation for Objectivist Scholarship so that nized that faith and reason are opposites. But Dr. Lewis’ commendable portfolio Dr. Lewis could devote part of his time Men, he thought, can seek truth by using did not satisfy three officials, who argued specifically to the study of Objectivism. either reason or faith, but not both. Many to deny Dr. Lewis tenure for reasons that The new President, however, interprets the people today, however, do not believe that went beyond his previous accomplish- school’s mission primarily as a religious there is a conflict between faith and rea- ments— that is, for his religious beliefs. mission. Convinced by the arguments of son. They are quick to point out that faith All three officials admitted to writing the three administrators, he has cast aside has nothing to fear from reason because that Dr. Lewis “[exceeded] the standards as relatively unimportant all other criteria reason is not the enemy of faith, but its al- set for promotion…as stated in the Rules for tenure and fired Dr. Lewis for holding lied partner in a common search for truth. and Regulations.” Six years worth of feed- views contrary to Christianity. But serious practitioners of faith today are back from students, Provost Suggs admits, The issue here is not whether a uni- more than willing to shut their eyes when provided good evidence that “Dr. Lewis is versity has the right to hire or fire profes- reason contradicts their beliefs, and as a not an ideologue” who preaches his atheist sors who support or fail to support certain result, censor those who exercise rational viewpoints, but “appears to set his beliefs values. University administrators do have thought. The results of this conflict impact aside while he teaches.” Dean John Bee the right to make hiring decisions, as long every aspect of human life. Today, more so agrees that Dr. Lewis’ scholarship is ex- as they do not violate the requirements than during Franklin’s time, faith is ex- emplary. In his evaluation letter, he affirms outlined in faculty contracts. What is im- erting an alarmingly strong influence in that “Dr. Lewis’ recently published book portant to grasp from this incident is the America’s culture. on Solon is…a sturdy work of scholarship” fundamental conflict between reason and For many decades, American univer- and “a fine display of [his] strong classical faith. Reason, in essence, demands that sities—including religious ones—have training.” one form conclusions and answer ques- chosen to subordinate faith to reason by The problem with Dr. Lewis arose tions based on concrete, real-world obser- stating in faculty contracts the rights of when they considered “[his] loyalty to and vations. In the case of Dr. Lewis, his study university professors to full freedom in advocacy of Objectivism,” which surface of history has led him to criticize certain research. However, a recent incident at in his writings published in The Objective religious eras and doctrines. Faith— Ashland University in Ohio points to an Standard and The Intellectual Activist. In whether faith in God, another individual, administration that has accepted such his summary letter, the university provost or any entity—demands that one form standards, but later chose to do otherwise. damned Dr. Lewis by directly quoting a conclusions based on another’s judgment Professor John Lewis, for six years Assis- passage from the Ayn Rand Institute web- and independent of evidence. Ashland’s tant Professor of History at Ashland, was site, which noted that, for Objectivism, administrators used a standard of faith denied tenure this spring because, in the “reason is man’s only proper judge of values to decide Dr. Lewis’ future employment. words of Provost Suggs, his “writings” and his only proper guide to action.” This, They ignored all evidence that pointed to show that Dr. Lewis’ “views [are] in direct History and Political Science Department Dr. Lewis’ competence as instructor and opposition to Judeo-Christian principles,” chair David Foster emphasized, “implies a scholar and violated his contract simply principles which he claims constitute the rejection…of any superior being,” a view because his conclusions, which are based very essence of the university’s mission. very much at odds with Ashland’s Judeo- on his study of history, conflict with their The decision concerning Dr. Lewis’ Christian character and a compelling rea- faith in religious doctrine. future employment was the result of many son for Dr. Lewis’s dismissal. In isolation, the incident at Ashland back-and-forth disputes among faculty In an interview with The Undercurrent, University may appear to have only local committees and three high-ranking ad- Dr. Lewis pointed out that the situation significance, but it takes only a quick glance ministration officials. The committees, on at Ashland University was different in at our culture to realize that the method of (continued on page 7) 6 Anti-Smoking Paternalism: A Cancer on American Liberty by if one smokes relatively infrequently, paternalistically dictating how we plan and they see smoking as offering defi- for retirement (Social Security) or what cross the country, state and local nite value, such as physical pleasure. medicines we may take (the FDA). governments are banning smok- Are they right? Can it be a value to Indeed, one of the main arguments Aing on private property, including bars, smoke cigarettes—and if so, in what used to bolster the anti-smoking agen- restaurants, and office buildings. This quantity? This is the sort of judgment da is the claim that smokers impose is just the latest step in the govern- that properly belongs to every indi- “social costs” on non-smokers, such ment’s war on smoking—a coercive vidual, based on his assessment of the as smoking-related medical expens- campaign that includes massive taxes evidence concerning smoking’s benefits es—an argument that perversely uses on cigarettes, advertising bans, and and risks, and taking into account his an injustice created by paternalism to endless multi-billion dollar lawsuits particular circumstances (age, fam- support its expansion. The only reason against tobacco companies. This war ily history, profession, tastes, etc.). If non-smokers today are forced to foot is infecting America with a political others believe the smoker is making the medical bills of smokers is that our disease far worse than any health risk a mistake, they are free to try to per- government has virtually taken over caused by smoking; it is destroying our suade him of their viewpoint. But they the field of medicine, in order to relieve freedom to make our own judgments should not be free to dictate his deci- us inept Americans of the freedom to and choices. sion on whether and to what extent to manage our own health care, and bear According to the anti-smoking smoke, any more than they should be the costs of our own choices. movement, restricting people’s freedom able to dictate his decision on whether But contrary to paternalism, we are to smoke is justified by the necessity of and to what extent to drink alcohol or not congenitally irrational misfits. We combating the “epidemic” of smoking- play poker. The fact that some indi- are thinking beings for whom it is both related disease and death. Cigarettes, viduals will smoke themselves into an possible and necessary to rationally we are told, kill hundreds of thou- early grave is no more justification for judge which courses of action will serve sands of helplessly addicted victims a banning smoking than the existence our interests. The consequences of ig- year, and expose countless millions to of alcoholics is grounds for prohibiting noring this fact range from denying us unwanted and unhealthy secondhand you from enjoying a drink at dinner. legitimate pleasures to literally killing smoke. Smoking, the anti-smoking Implicit in the war on smoking, us: from the healthy 26-year-old un- movement says, in effect, is a plague, however, is the view that the govern- able to enjoy a trans-fatty food, to the whose ravages can only be combatted ment must dictate the individual’s 75-year-old man unable to take an un- through drastic government action. decisions with regard to smoking, be- approved, experimental drug without But smoking is not some infectious cause he is incapable of making them which he will certainly die. disease that must be quarantined and rationally. To the extent the anti- By employing government coercion destroyed by the government. Smoking smoking movement succeeds in wield- to deprive us of the freedom to judge is a voluntary activity that every indi- ing the power of government coercion for ourselves what we inhale or con- vidual is free to choose to abstain from to impose on Americans its blanket op- sume, the anti-smoking movement has (including by avoiding restaurants and position to smoking, it is entrenching become an enemy, not an ally, in the other private establishments that per- paternalism: the view that individuals quest for health and happiness. mit smoking). And, contrary to those are incompetent to run their own lives, who regard any smoking as irrational and thus require a nanny-state to con- on its face, cigarettes are a potential trol every aspect of those lives. value that each individual must assess This state is well on its way: from Don Watkins is a writer and research spe- for himself. Of course, smoking can be trans-fat bans to bicycle helmet laws cialist at the Ayn Rand Institute harmful—in certain quantities, over a to prohibitions on gambling, the gov- (www.AynRand.org) in Irvine, CA. The certain period of time, it can be habit ernment is increasingly abridging our Institute promotes Objectivism, the phi- forming and lead to disease or death. freedom on the grounds that we are not losophy of Ayn Rand—author of “Atlas But many individuals understandably competent to make rational decisions in Shrugged” and “.” Con- regard the risks of smoking as minimal these areas—just as it has long done by tact the writer at [email protected]. 7 of altruism. Altruism is a moral code sarily conflict with the goal of national self- iraqi freedom which judges an individual, or a nation, by the preservation. Iraqi insurgents—and terrorists continued from page 1 standard of how much one sacrifices to others. around the world—are emboldened by every As an altruist, Bush believes that morality re- sacrifice offered to the Iraqi people. They hide Judged by the standard of World War II, Oper- quires America to sacrifice for other nations. It in mosques and disappear into the civilian pop- ation Iraqi Freedom has been an abysmal fail- requires that American soldiers be slaughtered ulation, knowing they will not be pursued. ure. Our lack of success is underscored by the in order rain gifts on the Iraqis. The true lesson of WWII is this: in order to fact that our military is vastly superior to the One can see the stamp of altruism all over defeat a powerfully motivated enemy, a nation Iraqi opposition. The Japanese were a much Operation Iraqi Freedom, from the publicly must fight proudly and openly for its own self- more formidable foe, and yet the U.S. was able touted goals of the war, to the methods used to defense, doing whatever is necessary to secure to achieve complete victory against them in less wage it. From the very beginning, U.S. forces victory. And we must understand what victory than four years. What is the difference? have taken great care to minimize damage to truly means: the unconditional surrender of The difference lies in the moral philoso- Iraqi civilians, infrastructure, and even feel- the enemy and the destruction of his ability to phy guiding our nation's leaders. WWII was ings. The rules of engagement forbid U.S. wage war. a war of self-preservation, waged to protect the soldiers from attacking mosques—which our A nation can either fight to defend its own lives and interests of U.S. citizens. It would enemies often use as bases of operations—in citizens (as we did in WWII), or sacrifice for have been considered treasonous to call the order to avoid offending Iraqi religious sensi- the benefit of enemy civilians (as we are doing U.S. operations in Japan, "Operation Japanese bilities. New recruits must endure Islamic sen- in the Iraq War), but not both. If America is Freedom". Securing freedom for Americans, sitivity training before they are deployed. All to enter a war, it should be for one reason only: not the Japanese or German people, was the the while, American soldiers keep paying the to eliminate foreign dangers to American free- purpose of the war. That purpose guided every price for these policies with their lives. dom. We should identify any threat to our na- American decision, from which weapons to use The U.S. military is functioning more like tional security, annihilate it as quickly as pos- to which constitution to impose on the defeated the Peace Corps than an occupation force. Al- sible, and then bring our soldiers home. enemies. Even the U.S. reconstruction efforts lied soldiers build bridges, dig toilets, and se- in Japan after the war were aimed at keeping cure public markets for Iraqi use. Many U.S. Dan Edge is a 29-year old small business owner the Japanese permanently non-threatening. forces are engaged in protecting and support- living in Pomona, NY. He earned his BA in Phi- What is the goal of the Iraq war? Is it to ing the impotent Iraqi government. As allied losophy from the University of South Carolina, secure American freedom and relentlessly pun- soldiers face daily attacks from insurgents, and he is currently a Sophomore at the Objectivist ish those who threaten it? No: "Our men and Iraqi politicians—some of which explicitly Academic Center. His academic interests include woman are fighting to secure the freedom of support the insurgents—bicker over which fac- military history, psycho-epistemology, and roman- [Iraqis]," Bush has declared. Bush's aim is not tion should benefit most from state-owned oil tic love psychology. His non-academic interests in- to secure American freedom, but to engage in a production. clude fitness training, dining out, and swing danc- worldwide crusade for democracy. These altruist goals and methods neces- ing with his lovely fiancée, Kelly. The moral foundation of this goal is the

a few dishonest, irrational men in cases like member how much Corporate America has corporations Enron and WorldCom have been inflated to created and what we enjoy as a result. And continued from page 3 cast the businessman as conniving and im- most importantly, we must remember why tions should be held guilty until they prove moral—ignoring the vast majority of honest the corporation is good—because it epito- themselves innocent—an idea contrary to and rational corporate leaders. mizes the American ideal of free individu- freedom and proper principles of justice. If we want to continue to enjoy the ben- als working cooperatively in pursuit of their This is not to say that no corporation has efits that corporations offer us, we need to values and happiness. ever done wrong. There are clearly cases come to their defense and reverse the hos- Noah Stahl, a recent graduate of Iowa State tility that is unjustly directed towards them. where corporate leaders have been guilty of University, works as software engineer in We must remember that a corporation is offenses like fraud or negligence, and such St. Petersburg, Florida. crimes can and should be punished accord- nothing more—or less—than an ingeniously ingly. But the degree of criticism does not effective way of voluntarily bringing people match the degree of offense. The actions of with common goals together. We must re-

this is a trend worthy of concern. leaders, who choose the former course on a Faith and reason Benjamin Franklin was indeed right majority of very important issues. But the continued from page 5 when he observed that those who “see by character of our culture can change, and its faith used by Ashland’s administration is faith…shut the eye of reason.” When a course will depend on which eye you, the shaping our policies, laws, and system of person attempts to use both eyes simulta- reader, choose to use. education. From President Bush’s position neously to reach a decision on a particular against abortion to Governor Romney’s issue, he discovers that the two eyes often Kelly Cadenas is a fourth year undergraduate opposition to gay marriage to the growing see things differently. Ultimately, he either at Harvard University, where she currently popularity of creationism and intelligent follows God—a feeling for which he has pursues a degree in Biochemistry. design in education—faith-based thinking no evidence—or he follows reason. No is permeating the American scene. And in other alternative is possible. Unfortunately, light of the fact that faith erodes reason, our culture is bag-full of people, especially 8 Speakers, Events, & Meetings

University of Florida Archives, a special collection of the Ayn Regular One-Time Rand Institute. The exhibit will include a (Gainesville, FL) reception open to the public on the date of Objectivist Club Events the novel's fiftieth anniversary, October 10, Ayn Rand Club 7 pm, as well as four public talks devoted Meetings Contact: furman university to the ideas of Atlas Shrugged and their [email protected] contemporary importance. New York University (greenville, sc) Exhibit space at: Frances Howard University of Maryland Goldwyn Hollywood Regional Library, (New York, NY) "Global : The Solution to 1623 N. Ivar Avenue, Hollywood, (College Park, MD) World Oppression and Poverty" by California. NYU Objectivist Club What: Regular meetings Terrapin Objectivists Date: November 8, 2007 Contact: Kara Zavwarella What: Weekly meetings Location: Furman Hall #214 GENERAL [email protected] Contact: Campus Map: http://www.furman.edu/ [email protected] general/campusmap.html ANNOUNCEMENTS Harvard University Time: 7:00pm Club Contact: Christopher Mills, The Ayn Rand Institute (Cambridge, MA) Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA) [email protected] Free video and audio selections online: Harvard Objectivist Club What: Weekly meetings www.aynrand.org What: Regular meetings, Mondays Contact: cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/aynrand University of Michigan Where: Loker Commons/Memorial Hall (Ann Arbor, MI) "The Road to 9/11: How America's Contact: Kelly Cadenas university of colorado, Selfless Policies Unleashed the Jihadists," [email protected] "Atlas Shrugged and Ayn Rand's Morality by www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hoc boulder (boulder, co) of Egoism" by Craig Biddle "The Rise and Fall of Property Rights in Date: November 14, 2007 America," by Adam Mossoff What: Boulder Objectivist Club Location: TBA University of California, Contact: [email protected] Totalitarian Islam's Threat to the West: A Los Angeles Time: TBA panel discussion featuring , Contact: University of Michigan Daniel Pipes and Wafa Sultan (Los Angeles, CA) Tufts University Objectivist Club (http://www.umso.org/) "The Separation of School and State: (Boston, MA) The Case for Abolishing America's LOGIC University of California, Government Schools," by C. Bradley What: Weekly meetings Tufts Objectivist Club Thompson on UCLA campus Los Angeles What: Regular meetings "Atlas Shrugged—America's Second Where: Humanities A48 (Los Angeles, CA) Where: Tufts University, Mayer Campus Declaration of Independence," by Onkar When: Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Center Ghate Contact: www.ClubLogic.org Contact: Gena Gorlin Affirmative Action Panel "Religion and Morality," by [email protected] [email protected] Monday, November 5, 2007 "Democracy vs. Victory: Why the UCLA Campus: Ackerman Grand 'Forward Strategy of Freedom' Had to University of California, Ballroom Fail," by Yaron Brook Metro Detroit Panelists: Peter Schwartz, Ward Connerly, "Passing Judgment: Ayn Rand's View of Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) Richard Sander Justice," by The Objectivist Group Hosted by LOGIC Free Speech and the Danish Cartoons: A Objectivist Club of Berkeley What: Monthly meetings http://www.ClubLogic.org panel discussion featuring Yaron Brook What: Weekly meetings When: Third Wednesday of each month and Daniel Pipes Contact: Katie Brakora Contact: "Why Conservatives Are Anti-Business," [email protected] [email protected] costa mesa, CA by Yaron Brook "America's Foreign Policy: Self-Interest Wednesday, November 7, 2007 vs. Self-Sacrifice," by Peter Schwartz University of California, San Francisco, CA ARI Public Lecture: "Religion vs. Self- Irvine (Irvine, CA) Esteem" by Dr. Edwin A. Locke Golden Gate Objectivists Location and Details: Hilton Costa The Lucidicus Project Objectivist Club at UCI Contact: Mesa, 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, Free books to medical students interested Contact: [email protected] www.goldengateobjectivists.com CA (At Bristol and the 405 Freeway), in learning about the moral and economic theobjectivistclubatuci.blogspot.com [email protected] 714-540-7000 case for capitalism. Time: 6:30 PM, bookstore opens; 7:30 Contact: Jared Rhoads—jared.rhoads@ PM, lecture; 8:30 PM, Q & A University of California, Washington, DC lucidicus.org San Diego (La Jolla, CA) DC Objectivist Salon (DCOS) hollywood, CA layout & design for What: Monthly study/discussion group UCSD Objectivist Club e Undercurrent What: Weekly meetings Contact: www.dcobjectivistsalon.org October 8th through December 11, 2007: Where: Sequoia Room of Sierra Summit The Ideas of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, provided by Commemorating the 50th anniversary of When: Mondays at 7:00 pm Toronto, Ontario Contact: [email protected] Atlas Shrugged, 1957-2007. Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged is OPAR Study Group the subject of a new exhibit to open Contact: Dalia Tubis red queen San Fransisco State on October 8, 2007, at the Frances DESIGN STUDIO University [email protected] Howard Goldwyn Hollywood Regional .. @ . (San Fransisco, CA) & Guy Barnett Library. Commemorating the fiftieth [email protected] anniversary of the novel's publication, the exhibit is jointly sponsored by the SFSU Students of Objectivism logos, letterheads, brochures, Los Angeles Public Library and the What: Weekly meetings Ayn Rand Institute, and is curated by business cards, websites, & more Where: Cesar Chavez Student Center , archivist of the Ayn Rand .. Contact: [email protected]