aynrand.org/impact Volume 18, Number 8, August 2012

Summer Internship Program A Record-Setting Year for ARI’s Free Books to Has a Big Impact Teachers Program n June ARI welcomed thirty interns to our Iheadquarters in Irvine, California. The A Message from ARI Executive increase in participation in all of our education students chosen to participate in this highly Director programs geared toward young people. competitive program (close to 230 applications were received) came from top schools, such as Dear Impact Reader: • First and foremost—and as a direct consequence Harvard, Georgetown and Emory Universities, of the success of this year’s Free Books to Teach- pursuing majors ranging from history and politi- I am very pleased to provide ers Program—our high school essay contests cal science to and English. you with a report on the results have set an all-time record, with some 29,000 The interns spent three weeks at ARI, taking of our Free Books to Teachers participants. classes on ’s ideas and their applica- program for the 2011–2012 • Our new Books to Students program tion to issues today, helping ARI staff with school year. As you will see, we have enjoyed the provided Ayn Rand’s books to students attending office work and learning important office skills. most successful year in the history of this program. summer programs in free market education and Debi Ghate, vice president of Education and internship programs. In its first year, the program Research, commented on the program: “Our Free Books Program Results had more than 8,000 participants; the program’s annual internship program gives us the oppor- As of today, we have received requests from educa- second year is just beginning and we are optimistic tunity to engage closely with students very new tors for more than 412,000 free copies of Anthem, We that interest and participation will grow in 2012. to and intrigued by Ayn Rand’s ideas but pas- the Living, and . • We have increased participation in our summer sionate to learn more. This year’s students were This represents a 50 percent increase over the total internship program in our Irvine office, with thirty a remarkable group of college students, many requests for the 2010–2011 school year. interns this summer—up from twenty last year. from top universities, many of whom are headed Adding this year’s results to our previous years’ [Editor’s note: see related article on this page.] for an intellectual career.” totals, the cumulative results over the program’s continued on page 3 “During their time with us,” Ms. Ghate now-nine-year history are as follows: continued, “these students gained a deeper understanding of Rand’s and novels, • 2.5 million copies of the novels have been sent to and they left with greater appreciation for her teachers and students. as a serious thinker. We expect their interest • More than 45,000 teachers have participated in the in Rand to continue developing. Some interns program since its inception. will apply to the Objectivist Academic Center, • The novels have been taught in an estimated our distance-learning program; we hope all of 65,000 high school classrooms. the interns will discuss the ideas they learned • Finally, given the fact that the novels are reused in here with their professors and peers for years to subsequent years, we now estimate that roughly come.” six million students have been introduced to One intern said about the program, “I have Ayn Rand’s novels since this program began. left this three-week internship with more than work experience for a resume—I have left with The Broader Impact of the Free Books to a new manner of thinking.” Teachers Program Every day the students took several classes, As a result of our free books program success, taught by ARI staff and other ARI-associated over the past year we have observed a significant intellectuals. ARI senior fellow gave several lectures on Rand’s views on rea- Ayn Rand Featured in Playboy Magazine

OAC instructor Keith Lockitch discussing environmentalism with the interns son and the purpose and practice of morality. He also spoke about religion in America. OAC instructor Keith Lockitch lectured on The Foun- tainhead, Atlas Shrugged and environmentalism, while fellow instructor Doug Altner spoke about the nature of government, individual rights and Ayn Rand in the July/August 2012 issue of Playboy Ayn Rand in the March 1964 issue of Playboy Rand’s views on economics more broadly. ARI policy director delivered yn Rand gave a wide-ranging interview tion is particularly notable for its breadth. a lecture on egoism in foreign policy, and ARI A for the March 1964 issue of Playboy maga- Topics covered include: guilt, original sin, fellow spoke about the growth of zine. In the July/August 2012 issue, Playboy has emotions, motherhood, religion, morality, romantic government. In addition, John A. Allison, who reprinted excerpts from that discussion. love, sex, hedonism, promiscuity, charity, com- is retired chairman and CEO of BB&T Corpora- In the interview, Rand discusses her work and passion, literature, government, free will, foreign continued on page 2 the implications of her ideas. The frank conversa- policy, nuclear treaties, politicians and others. ARI Participates in Conference on Moral Foundations of

n May ARI staff participated in the annual BB&T I Moral Foundations of Capitalism Conference in Clemson, South Carolina. Hosted by the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism, the conference sible under a free economy—and a man’s position brought together scholars involved with BB&T Socialism vs. Fascism is determined, not by his productive ability and Foundation programs for the study of the moral achievement, but by political pull and force. foundations of capitalism. In addition to ARI and In this section, Impact highlights writings from “Under both systems, sacrifice is invoked as CISC scholars, close to eighty college professors Ayn Rand’s corpus for fans who wish to learn a magic, omnipotent solution in any crisis—and and deans from around the country attended this more about her philosophy, . ‘the public good’ is the altar on which victims three-day event. are immolated. But there are stylistic differences “The conference brings together scholars inter- tatism, the political doctrine that man’s life of emphasis. The socialist-communist axis keeps ested in learning about and discussing the implica- S belongs to the state, has many guises. Two promising to achieve abundance, material comfort tions of Rand’s ideas, especially how they relate to of the dominant forms in which statism mani- and security for its victims, in some indeterminate the theory and practice of capitalism,” commented fested itself in the twentieth century were social- future. The fascist-Nazi axis scorns material com- Debi Ghate, ARI vice president of Education and ism and fascism. As both of these terms are fort and security, and keeps extolling some unde- Research, on ARI’s participation in the event. being used today to characterize the U.S. gov- fined sort of spiritual duty, service and conquest. “Such a gathering,” she continued, “is an ernment’s growing intervention in the economy, The socialist-communist axis offers its victims an ideal venue for ARI’s scholars to engage and it is worthwhile to revisit Ayn Rand’s careful alleged social ideal. The fascist-Nazi axis offers discuss Rand’s moral and political thought with disambiguation of the two. nothing but loose talk about some unspecified form academics from various disciplines, including “The difference between [socialism and fas- of racial or national ‘greatness.’ The socialist-com- economics, philosophy, law, business and politi- cism],” Rand writes, “is superficial and purely for- munist axis proclaims some grandiose economic cal theory. This engagement and discussion con- mal, but it is significant psychologically: it brings plan, which keeps receding year by year. The fas- tinues well after we’ve left Clemson—there has the authoritarian nature of a planned economy cist-Nazi axis merely extols leadership—leadership been a mutual interest by an increasing number crudely into the open. without purpose, program or direction—and power of professors in continued collaboration with ARI “The main characteristic of socialism (and of for power’s sake.” (“The Fascist New Frontier,” after the conference ends each year.” communism) is public ownership of the means of The Ayn Rand Column) ARI staff participated as speakers for seve- production, and, therefore, the abolition of private Elsewhere, Ayn Rand elaborated on the funda- ral events at the conference. ARI senior fellow property. The right to property is the right of use and mental attribute of all forms of statism. “A statist Onkar Ghate hosted a breakout session for new disposal. Under fascism, men retain the semblance system—whether of a communist, fascist, Nazi, attendees, introducing them to Ayn Rand’s ideas. or pretense of private property, but the government socialist or ‘welfare’ type—is based on the . . . Dr. Ghate also spoke on a panel to all attendees holds total power over its use and disposal. . . . government’s unlimited power, which means: on about the role of philosophy in economics. ARI “Under fascism, citizens retain the responsi- the rule of brute force. The differences among statist executive director Yaron Brook spoke to first- bilities of owning property, without freedom to act systems are only a matter of time and degree; the time attendees about Rand’s views on capitalism and without any of the advantages of ownership. principle is the same. Under statism, the govern- and participated in a panel about Ayn Rand’s for- Under socialism, government officials acquire all ment is not a policeman, but a legalized criminal mulation of the trader principle. Ms. Ghate spoke the advantages of ownership, without any of the that holds the power to use physical force in any about ARI Campus on a panel on innovative responsibilities, since they do not hold title to the manner and for any purpose it pleases against teaching methods in economic education. property, but merely the right to use it—at least legally disarmed, defenseless victims. The Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scho- until the next purge. In either case, the government “Nothing can ever justify so monstrously evil larship, a 501(c)(3) organization, separate from officials hold the economic, political and legal a theory. Nothing can justify the horror, the brutal- ARI, that provides funding to colleges and uni- power of life or death over the citizens.” ity, the plunder, the destruction, the starvation, the versities whose academics are engaged in serious “Needless to say,” Rand continued, “under slave-labor camps, the torture chambers, the whole- scholarship based on Objectivism, also exhibited either system, the inequalities of income and sale slaughter of statist dictatorships.” (“War and at the conference and provided professors with a standard of living are greater than anything pos- Peace,” The Objectivist Newsletter) range of resources.

Summer Internship Program Has a Big Impact, continued from page 1 tion and an ARI board member, hosted a Q&A a life-changing experience. The ideas you learn session on the application of Objectivist prin- here are so great and glorious, and the people ciples to business. you meet embody those ideas. I have made con- At the end of the program, one intern nections that I know will last the rest of my life, remarked: “This internship changed the way that and in only three weeks.” I view and understand Objectivism. I will never This year’s internship program was the larg- be able to approach life and its obstacles the est ever, surpassing last year’s class of twenty same way again.” interns. Applications for the 2013 summer The students also had the opportunity to internship program will be available later this attend smaller breakout sessions with ARI’s summer at aynrand.org/internships. intellectual staff to interact with them on a more OAC instructors answering interns’ questions individual level. In addition, the interns helped various departments with a variety of office tasks. For example, some students conducted research for policy writers on topics such as health care and foreign policy. Others assisted with the creation of marketing materials for next year’s internship program, including shooting a promotional video. The interns also attended daily seminars to develop key office skills, such as how to interview effectively, write profes- sional emails and maintain professionalism in the workplace. Another major component of the internship program was students preparing for and par- ticipating in one of three debates, the topics of which were public education, income inequality and the validity of environmentalist ideals. ARI faculty judged the debates, chose the winning sides and provided each student with individual feedback on their participation in the debate. Said one intern about the overall program: “I came to California to have a really great experience. I didn’t know that it was going to be This year’s interns 2 Top OAC Students for 2011–2012 Academic Year Announced

very year the detailed Objectivist content which fills gaps in my needed to join the intellectual staff of the Ayn Rand E Objectivist understanding and further integrates what I already Institute. I entered the OAC as a newly minted PhD Academic Center— know. Discussion with professors and feedback on who had already studied Objectivism on my own

ARI’s premier pro- assignments allow me to test and stretch my grasp for a number of years. However, after having com- gram of advanced of philosophic principles. pleted the program, I now have a much more mas- instruction in Objectivism—awards the top student “Since Objectivism is a philosophy for life on terful grasp of Ayn Rand’s philosophy as well as a in each class. This year’s winners are: earth, the OAC enlightens my approach to life in much stronger ability to communicate Objectivist general. It helps me to understand reality and my ideas in writing and speaking. Year 1: Carl Svanberg goals within it. Working to meet class objectives “There is no substitute for receiving direct feed- Year 2: Joseph England and also provides an opportunity to improve my think- back on your work from experts who specialize in Eric Harvey (tie) ing and writing skills. I know better what effective teaching Ayn Rand’s ideas. The OAC has made a Year 3: Ross England and thinking is and that helps me expand my knowledge night-and-day difference in improving my thinking Paul Stafford (tie) in other areas. I better understand what communica- and communication. I’m looking forward to now Year 4: Doug Altner tion requires, which helps in academic writing and teaching in the program.” in speaking up for my principles. Each student received an award of close to “In total, the OAC has been an incredible The Objectivist Academic Center offers courses, $3,000, made possible by the Betty and Daniel source for important and profound knowledge.” seminars and career training to future Objectivist Bloomfield Scholarship Fund. The Bloomfield Fund intellectuals. Visit objectivistacademiccenter.org for was established in 2004 by the Bloomfields’ son, Year 3: Ross England more information about the program and to learn Charles, shortly before his death, in memory of his Ross is in the fifth year of a how to apply. father and in tribute to his mother. The Fund is held combined MD/PhD program and managed by the California Community Founda- at Temple University School tion and makes annual distributions to ARI in order of Medicine in Philadelphia, Three New Books Releasing Next Month to support and reward accomplished OAC students. Pennsylvania. He is finishing Meet this year’s recipients and learn the value researching and writing his Next month will see the release of three books about which ARI they derive from the OAC program: dissertation on anti-inflamma- is extremely excited. Be sure to pre-order the books by visiting tory cell signaling in vascular the sites listed below. Year 1: Carl Svanberg disease. The DIM Hypothesis: Why the Lights of the Carl is pursuing a career as a l e o n a r d p e i k o f f West Are Going Out writer. He currently works with “The OAC has been incredibly rewarding to me in the DIM Releasing September 4 children at a daycare center helping me to gain a better grasp of Objectivism. I hypothesis By , a close associate of why the lights of the west in Espoo, Finland. He holds a was already pleased with the quality of the curricu- are going out Ayn Rand’s and her legal heir bachelor’s degree in practical lum and instruction for the first and second years philosophy from Lund Univer- of the program, and the third year left me no less Available for pre-order at Amazon sity in Lund, Sweden. impressed. “I thought the assignments for the third year “As a writer, I personally found the writing and course were the most difficult assignments I’ve The Financial Crisis and the Free Market speaking course to be of greatest value. Before ever had, but working through them and discussing Cure: Why Pure Capitalism Is the World entering the OAC I had already spent a considerable my errors with Dr. Onkar Ghate during class time Economy’s Only Hope amount of time on studying the art of communica- allowed me to learn a great deal about how to take Releasing September 12 By John A. Allison, retired chairman and tion; I read books such as The Art of Nonfiction by an inductive approach to philosophy. I’m eager to CEO of BB&T Corporation and an ARI Ayn Rand, and I listened to courses such as Objec- learn even more as I move on to the fourth and final board member tive Communication by Leonard Peikoff. year of the program.” “I quickly realized, however, that no amount of Available for pre-order at Amazon self-studying could possibly substitute what I got Year 3: Paul Stafford Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s out of the OAC. Beyond the brilliant lectures on Paul is an orthopedic trauma Ideas Can End Big Government writing and speaking, you will also receive invalu- surgeon at St. John’s Hospital in Releasing September 18 able feedback on your work from your teacher; Tulsa, Oklahoma. He holds an By Yaron Brook, ARI executive director, and you will not be able to find this kind of feedback MD from Indiana University. Don Watkins, ARI fellow anywhere else. In general, the OAC will put you through many really challenging assignments, “I have found tremendous Pre-order at freemarketbook.com to receive an exclusive bonus offer from ARI: which require a lot of thinking and hard work. But, value in the OAC and can’t a $25 credit at the Ayn Rand Bookstore it is worth it because you will notice your progress.” begin to adequately convey my appreciation for the existence of the program. I Year 2: Joseph England first began studying philosophy in medical school A Record-Setting Year for ARI’s Free Joe is a fourth-year medical and have been independently reading and learning student at Temple University for ten years. However, the structure, feedback, and Books to Teachers Program, continued from School of Medicine in Phila- guidance of the OAC have proved irreplaceable in page 1 delphia, Pennsylvania. He will refining my understanding of Objectivism. Conclusion graduate next May with an MD “The OAC has also given me awareness of sig- The key to winning the future lies in our young and pursue residency training nificant errors in both my thinking and implementa- people. We must do all we can to attract, cultivate in diagnostic radiology. tion of Objectivist principles. Without knowing it and support the future advocates of freedom and and despite my best efforts, I held many Objectiv- capitalism. “The value I find in the OAC is primarily in the ist principles as floating abstractions prior to this We at ARI are convinced that there is no better quality of instruction. Much of the classroom mate- program. The OAC has helped reveal my errors in recruiter for young advocates of reason and the free rial is literature that I could easily read on my own, method of thinking and has improved my under- market than Ayn Rand. In our view, if you want but the expertise of the professors in explaining the standing of philosophy in general. My excitement change, then you need to get young people to read material and answering questions provides a much and ‘ah-ha’ moments regularly continue as I work Ayn Rand. And that is precisely what we have been richer educational experience. through the OAC coursework. doing through our Free Books to Teachers and other “I took several philosophy and writing courses “I cannot give enough praise to those who educational programs. as an undergraduate at Penn State, and the OAC have developed and continue to run the program. Ayn Rand’s books and ideas are clearly moti- professors are superior in their teaching ability, their It is truly irreplaceable for those who wish to fully vating the next generation of defenders of freedom availability for questions, and in the individualized understand and live an integrated philosophy.” and capitalism. The current political and economic feedback they provide on writing assignments. In environment—both in the and around the last two years I have become a far more capable Year 4: Doug Altner the world—makes the expansion and redoubling of thinker and communicator.” Doug is an analyst and instruc- our efforts all the more urgent. Your support for the tor at ARI, where he focuses on ’s Free Books to Teachers program Year 2: Eric Harvey topics in capitalism and eco- for the coming year will enable us to do just that. To Eric is a junior at the Univer- nomics for both scholarly and contribute, please visit aynrand.org/freebooks. sity of Texas at Austin, pursu- general audiences. He holds I hope that we can count on your support! ing a bachelor’s degree in a PhD in operations research psychology. from the Georgia Institute of Sincerely, Technology. “The OAC enriches my life in Yaron Brook many ways. It offers deep and “The OAC has helped me develop the skills that I Executive Director 3 Employment Opportunities at ARI

New Content at Forbes.com ARI is currently recruiting for the following positions:

• Education Marketing Manager RI executive director Yaron Brook and ARI fellow Don Watkins write regularly at Forbes.com—under Athe title “The Objectivist.” Visit http://blogs.forbes.com/objectivist to keep up with their writing. We encourage you to comment on, share and “follow” the column. Below are excerpts from recent articles. • Instructor

July 30, 2012: President Obama vs. My Grandfather • Research Assistant By Don Watkins • Senior Instructor My grandfather, a gruff and uneducated but whip-smart guy, started out poor. Following a stint in the Army, he spent a few years working and scrimped together enough money to start his own • Writer/Analyst/Fellow restaurant in a small town near Philadelphia. He—and the rest of his family—worked incredibly long hours, first to keep the restaurant in Please visit aynrand.org/employment for business and then to turn it into a success: cooking the food, managing the employees, sweeping more information. the floors, keeping the books, pleasing the customers, and a great deal else. It was a struggle, but he ended his life as a modestly wealthy man. But according to President Obama, “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” No, Mr. President, “somebody else” didn’t. My grandfather did. Impact is published monthly by the Ayn Rand® Institute (ARI) and is complimentary to current donors who contribute $35 or more per year. For information on how you can support ARI and to learn about our projects, please visit our website: aynrand.org. Atlantis Legacy®, the Institute’s planned giving program, and related indicia are registered July 12, 2012: The Dog-Eat-Dog Welfare State Is Lose-Lose trademarks. The Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights (ARC) is the By Yaron Brook and Don Watkins public policy and outreach division of the Ayn Rand Institute. Objectivist Conferences (OCON) and the Ayn Rand Bookstore are owned and operated by the Ayn Rand Institute. The Ayn Rand Institute does not John Maynard Keynes—not exactly history’s greatest opponent of government spending—is reported necessarily endorse the content of the lectures and courses offered. to have said he would be worried if government outlays ever surpassed 25 percent of GDP. Well, in All photos of Ayn Rand are used by permission of Leonard Peikoff. Purchases from the Ayn Rand Bookstore and OCON do not qualify as recent years both American and British government expenditures have hovered around 40 percent of tax-deductible contributions to the Ayn Rand Institute. GDP. The bulk of that spending, perhaps as much as 70 percent in Britain, goes to feed the ravenous Editor: Rituparna Basu welfare state. Editorial Advisers: Yaron Brook, Mark Chapman, Julie Ferguson, Debi Ghate, Elan Journo, Anu Seppala, Lin Zinser Clearly it’s time to question the welfare state. But such questions are too often viewed as taboo. Designer: Simon Federman Anyone who challenges it is viewed as seeking a return to the “dog-eat-dog” world of unfettered Printing: David Antonacci Copy Editor: Donna Montrezza capitalism—a world where sellers supposedly exploited buyers, employers exploited workers, the rich Headquarters: 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 250 exploited the poor. Irvine, CA 92606-4926 Phone: 949-222-6550 Fax: 949-222-6558 But capitalism, to say nothing of poor old Fido, has gotten a bad rap. © The Ayn Rand Institute 2012. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission. ARI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions Capitalism—real capitalism, not the mixed economies that have existed for the past century—is to ARI in the United States are tax-exempt to the extent provided by law. the system based on private property, free production, and voluntary trade. It’s not a zero-sum game where people battle over a fixed pie. Each person is free to create wealth and to trade it with others, such that they all benefit.

Recent PJTV and Other Media Appearances

very week ARC intellectuals appear on the PJTV.com news show Front Page with Allen Barton. Visit E ARC-TV.com regularly to keep up with these and other ARC media appearances. Here is a selection. • July 27: Doug Altner on Front Page (“Does It Pay to Host the Olympics?”; “Audit the Fed”; “Big Labor Battling with Caterpillar over Wages”) • July 27: Don Watkins on KFMB’s The Mike Slater Show (San Diego) (“What Can You Say about Chick-fil-A?”) • July 23: Onkar Ghate on KFMB’s The Mike Slater Show (San Diego) (“Obama’s ‘You didn’t build that’ Remark”) • July 20: Yaron Brook on Front Page (“You Didn’t Build That! President Obama Dismisses Individual Achievement”; “Canadians Are Now Richer Than Americans”; “A Down Economy Getting Worse?”; “Tax Bomb! Big Tax Hike Coming for Seniors and Savers”) • July 19: Yaron Brook on NPR’s All Things Considered (“Romney, Obama Butt Heads on Role of Government”) • July 13: Don Watkins on KFMB’s The Mike Slater Show (San Diego) (“Should We Buy American?”) • July 13: Don Watkins on Front Page (“Going for Broke: Another California City Files for Bankruptcy”; “Rags to Rags, Riches to Riches: Study May Shatter the American Dream”) • July 12: Yaron Brook on WINA’s The Schilling Show (Charlottesville) (“Obama the Collectivist”) • July 6: Yaron Brook on KFMB’s The Mike Slater Show (San Diego) (“The State of the Economy”) • July 3: Don Watkins on KFMB’s The Mike Slater Show (San Diego) (“America’s Entitlement Culture”)

of the enclosed envelope or email your request to Impact by Email [email protected].

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4 More Than 400 Ayn Rand Enthusiasts Gather in San Diego ast month more than 420 Ayn Rand fans met in San Diego, California, for ARI’s annual Objectivist summer conference. Held at the Sheraton L San Diego Hotel and Marina, the event offered opportunities to learn about Ayn Rand’s ideas, socialize and network. The conference featured a Q&A with Leonard Peikoff, a long-time associate of Ayn Rand’s and her legal heir. Also on the program were events relating to the current issues of the day, such as the Supreme Court’s ruling on Obamacare and, more broadly, the state of the political culture. There were also events arranged for those new to Ayn Rand’s ideas or attending the conference for the first time.

Attendees at the opening reception

Yaron Brook delivering his annual State of ARI talk

Here, we present some highlights from the the Islamic Golden Age to capitalist solutions to the State of ARI presentation at the conference, in conference. Check out some more snapshots of the today’s problems. which he discussed ARI’s various initiatives and conference on page six. the progress we have made thus far in the fight for Next year’s conference will take place July Classes for Attendees New to Ayn Rand’s Ideas a rational culture. 5–11 in Chicago at the Westin Michigan Avenue. ARI organized six stand-alone classes that pro- The conference also featured a moving tribute Information about the schedule of events and vided an introduction to Ayn Rand’s philosophy to the late [see the February registration will be available early next year at for those new to her ideas. These sessions were 2012 issue of Impact for ARI’s written tribute to objectivistconferences.com. taught by Objectivist Academic Center instructors Dr. Lewis]. The program included family members, Doug Altner, Onkar Ghate and Keith Lockitch. colleagues and friends, all of whom spoke about the Courses The first two classes were taught by Dr. Lock- immense passion and drive Dr. Lewis held, not only Attendees had a wide variety of offerings to choose itch, who discussed the nature of philosophy, the for his intellectual work, but for all of the values he from. There were ten general sessions offered, each Objectivist metaphysics and Rand’s views on human pursued in life. of which lasted approximately ninety minutes and nature and the source of moral values. Dr. Altner covered topics ranging from Ayn Rand’s life and taught the next two classes, in which he focused on Events for First-Time Attendees her philosophy to the current state of our political the Objectivist virtues and Rand’s views on individ- ARI organized two events for first-timers to wel- culture. ual rights and the purpose of government. The fifth come them to the conference and give them the One of the sessions featured Leonard Peikoff, class featured Dr. Ghate and focused on reason and opportunity to engage with ARI staff and to learn a close associate of Ayn Rand’s and her legal heir. emotion. The last class was an open Q&A period about ARI’s programs. Before the reception on the Dr. Peikoff held a Q&A session, answering ques- with Dr. Ghate. opening night of the conference, first-time attendees tions submitted in advance and those asked live as could attend a reception held just for them, where well. Dr. Peikoff discussed, among other things, Social Events conference speakers and ARI staff were present. how to properly choose a career and his own expe- The conference offered many opportunities to meet ARI executive director Yaron Brook also held a rience with writing and speaking about Objectiv- and socialize with other fans of Ayn Rand. In addi- Q&A for first-time attendees, in which he answered ism over several decades. tion to opening and closing banquets, there was a questions on topics ranging from Rand’s philosophy of the University of Texas at Austin karaoke night, during which attendees could sing to the Institute’s various initiatives. delivered two lectures, one on a culture’s sense of alongside a live band. The Objectivist Academic life and the other on what it means to take ideas Center also hosted a mixer for current students and Special Lunches seriously. ARI fellow Don Watkins discussed how alumni. ARI organized four lunches during the conference, to move from an entitlement state to a free market, On July 4, ARI organized an Independence Day during which attendees could learn about some of while Clemson University professor Brad Thomp- celebration, featuring music, a talk about America’s the Institute’s exciting initiatives. One lunch fea- son described why the state should not be involved fight for independence, and the reading and oration tured ARI executive director Yaron Brook and ARI in funding or planning education and discussed of patriotic passages, such as the Declaration of fellow Don Watkins, who described their forthcom- how to establish a fully private system in America. Independence and Patrick Henry’s famous “Give ing book, Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Peter Schwartz discussed how to dissuade an altru- Me or Give Me Death” speech. Ideas Can End Big Government (Palgrave Macmil- ist, a subject prominent in his book-in-progress, lan, September 18, 2012). tentatively titled “The Tyranny of Need.” Shoshana Networking Opportunity for Tea Party Activists At another lunch, ARI invited scholars and Milgram of Virginia Tech talked about Ayn Rand’s More than sixty people attended three impromptu others involved in academia to discuss what a career history as a writer and her goal in writing and edit- meetings led by Lin Zinser, ARI’s director of public in academia entails, especially a career studying ing various Objectivist periodicals. outreach, on Tea Party engagement. Most attendees Objectivism. The panel featured John A. Allison, Three of the general sessions were in the format were already involved in Tea Parties, several in Distinguished Professor of Practice at Wake Forest of panel discussions. The first included ARI execu- leadership roles. The purpose of the meetings was University; Debi Ghate, vice president of Educa- tive director Yaron Brook and Peter Schwartz, who to share information on best practices on becoming tion and Research at ARI and senior director of the discussed the state of America’s political culture. involved with Tea Parties, how to leverage indi- Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship; The second discussion was on strategic con- vidual involvement to promote ARI products, such Tara Smith, professor of philosophy at the Univer- stitutional litigation, featuring attorneys from the as our upcoming book Free Market Revolution, and sity of Texas; C. Bradley Thompson, professor of Institute for Justice—Dana Berliner and Deborah how to move into leadership roles. Beginning in late political science at Clemson University; and and Steve Simpson. Larry Salzman of IJ moderated July, Ms. Zinser will host monthly phone calls for Darryl Wright, professor of philosophy at Harvey the event. those interested in enhancing these efforts. For more Mudd College. The third panel focused on the implications information, contact [email protected]. The third lunch was hosted by the Ayn Rand of the recent Supreme Court decision on President Archives. Curator interviewed Obama’s health care law. On the panel were Paul Special Events Michael S. Berliner, the first executive director of Beard of Pacific Legal Foundation; Dr. Brook; ARI included a late addition to the conference—a ARI, on the first years of the Archives and then Peter LePort, MD, ARI board member; and Rich- panel discussion about the recent appointment of provided details about present projects to advance ard E. Ralston, executive director of Americans for John A. Allison to the position of president and awareness of Ayn Rand in the culture. Archivist Free Choice in Medicine. Mr. Simpson moderated CEO of the CATO Institute. The discussion featured Jenniffer Woodson offered attendees a glimpse the discussion. Mr. Allison, who is retired chairman and CEO of into the Archives’ new digital future. In addition to general sessions, attendees could BB&T Corporation and an ARI board member, and The last lunch was on the topic of Ayn Rand sign up for optional courses, which met for an Yaron Brook, ARI’s executive director. After their Institute Campus, ARI’s newest educational initia- hour each day for three to four days. There were opening remarks, the panelists took questions from tive. Attendees were updated about the program and thirteen optional courses to choose from, topics audience members. treated to a tour of the virtual classroom and online of which ranged from the history of England and As he does every year, Dr. Brook delivered campus, including course selections and features.

5 Peter Schwartz delivering his talk, “How to Dissuade an Altruist”

Leonard Peikoff answering audience questions at an open Q&A

Left to right: John A. Allison, Tara Smith, C. Bradley Thompson, Debi Ghate and Darryl Wright speak at the group lunch, “Academic Panel: Objectivism in the Universities”

Conference Speakers on The Mike Slater Show Attendees singing alongside a live band during RockStar Karaoke ARI speakers are on the air weekly with KFMB’s The Mike Slater Show, which broadcasts from San Diego. During the conference, the show held “OCON Week with Mike Slater.” Each day two conference speakers traveled to KFMB’s station and interviewed with show host Mike Slater about issues in the culture.

July 2: Doug Altner on the assault on private equity Yaron Brook (left) and Don Watkins with a galley proof copy of their forthcoming book, Free Market Revolution, at a special lunch and off-shoring Photo courtesy of Godfrey Joseph July 2: Harry Binswanger on the proper language of freedom July 3: Eric Daniels on the Supreme Court and its decisions related to economic freedom July 3: Don Watkins on the rise of America’s Gena Gorlin giving her course, “Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: An Introduction for Objectivists” entitlement culture July 4: Onkar Ghate on Independence Day, the

Attendees line up to get their copy of meaning of America and Atlas Shrugged Understanding Objectivism signed by July 4: Brad Thompson on the Declaration of editor Michael S. Berliner. Independence July 5:  on the moral and practical defense of capitalism July 5: Amy Peikoff on cultural trends July 6: Yaron Brook on the state of the economy July 6: Peter Schwartz on the nature of altruism

Speakers at Objectivist Summer Conference 2012: (left to right): Paul Beard II, Luc Travers, John L. Dennis, Richard M. Salsman, Andrew Lewis, Peter Schwartz, Thomas Shoebotham, Tara Smith, Edwin A. Locke, Amy Peikoff, John A. Allison, Peter LePort, David Harriman, Doug Altner, Gena Gorlin, Eric Daniels, Shoshana Milgram, C. Bradley Thompson, Deborah Simpson, Steve Simpson, Yaron Brook, Larry Salzman, Richard E. Ralston, Don Watkins

Speakers not present: Dana Berliner, Andrew Bernstein, Onkar Ghate, Keith Lockitch, Leonard Peikoff, Barry Wood

Attendees at the closing banquet

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