Jesus Christ.

Edit: The full debate is here. I highly recommend listening to it.

Yaron Brook is the chair of the Ayn Rand Institute - he's very well spoken, has very good debate skills, and is highly intelligent. I can easily see how he would run circles around most people. But this is where Sam Seder's brilliance shines through. He is also well spoken, has good debate skills, and is intelligent. He was able to counter each point Brook made and further the conversation till the natural end.

The debate was civil and w/o any insults while still being challenging and intellectually stimulating. So completely unlike the usual online debate-bros. One of the things I tried to do while listening was pause it and try to form a counter to Brook on my own w/o listening to what Seder said. I needed to take far more time than Sam did and my answers were nowhere near as precise or well-articulated or counterattacking.

  • Grownbravy [they/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Love how this guy equivocated “building owners knew the extent of the damge” with “everyone who lived inside the building are completely aware of the appraised conditions of the structure they live in”

    • LeninsRage [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      This is where neoliberal ideology bleeds into Randian ultraliberalism. Neoliberals assume everyone is a perfectly rational actor on the free market with unfettered access to all the information and resources they need to make the most rational decision. If they don't, it's never the result of systemic biases against them or - God forbid - market failure or other structural forces of capitalism, but rather whatever individual moral failing led them to fail to consult the available resources.

    • LibsEatPoop [any]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      I'm not going to spoil the debate but Sam did address that point. The entire debate is incredible to watch.

      • Grownbravy [they/them]
        ·
        3 years ago

        I’m not going to, i cant sit through the mad ramblings of a poisoned mind without some way to personally remedy the trapped worms living in that guys head.

        • LibsEatPoop [any]
          hexagon
          ·
          3 years ago

          Fair enough. I'd still recommend bookmarking it and watching it when you feel like it, though.