"Enlightened self-interest" would be the way to go, but "rational" was a word Ayn Rand insisted on using. Rational as opposed to emotional. Emotions, such as empathy or sympathy, could lead one to being tempted to try to help someone who has had a run of bad luck with one's own resources. Or worse! Have the government tax your excess wealth and use it to help "parasites and freeloaders" (such as the sick and elderly).

Can't have that sort of thing!! Not in her ideal world.

Yet, she was quite emotional herself. Perpetual smoldering anger seemed to be her default emotion.

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American democracy is far from perfect. But it can be fixed.

Goofball is one of those who bellows "a pox on both your houses!" in reference to the two dominant political parties, but he doesn't suggest any solutions beyond "Throw the bums out!!" And like Ayn Rand, he seems to object to any attempt to assist people who might be in need of assistance, such with a good health care program.

Civilized countries—and even some relatively primitive countries—have better health care and ways of paying for it than we do.

Reagan's "Shining City on the Hill?" I don't think so.

Any idiot can see what's wrong with the system and sit around pissing and moaning about it. But it takes a little thought and effort to come up with a way of fixing it.

Too much work?

Don Firth