What To Do About the 'Talentless Masses'? Ayn Rand Answers

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This was Ayn Rand's answer to a question about a speech on the subject of the welfare state.

Question: What do you think of the masses, those people who have no talent, but want to earn a living?

TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) - Intro
(00:09) - What do you think of the masses, those people who have no talent, but want to earn a living?

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[gymw]

"What to do with the talentless masses"?
Kick them out of public office

[robertclark]

I was incredibly smart in high school. But back then, I couldn’t attend college because at 18, I was on my own. I got a job in construction. Basically digging ditches. Which eventually turned into becoming a heavy equipment operator with a yearly income that would surpass base salary for someone with a bachelors degree. The only talent needed was a desire to listen and learn, operate an alarm clock, and live a clean and uncluttered life. Now comfortably retired, I look back with no regret. Every job is important, every worker is important, and every life must be important.

[marktrain]

"... the people who want to carry their own weight and make something of themselves, and that's the overwhelming majority of Americans." Well, that *was* the overwhelming majority of Americans.

[mustang]

Kind of like, be all you can be, as opposed to something more evasive like, diversity is our strength.

[hypnaudiostream]

Be the best you. It’s the greatest service to this world. ❤

[septembersurprise]

"All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out."
- Mark Twain

[theophrastus.]

Good answer! There’s nothing wrong about being a hard working laborer, craftsman, mechanic or technician. They’re all noble & vital contributors to society. Being an “intellectual” these days more often than not means a worthless leech.

[elultimo]

Contrary to "A man's reach should exceed his grasp., " I concur with Clint Eastwood's line: "A man's got to know his limitations." (It saves a lot of pain and frustration).

[LouisEmery]

I was going to object to the premise of "masses" as though there are a large fraction of useless people. Ayn Rand handled that pretty well.

[juliekovich-recordingartist]

I am glad to hear her say everyone has talent (if they use their mind) and there are no little people.

[Daisy-tllh]

I know so many people mainly under fifties who don't know how to cook, clean, make any thing or even grow anything

[Starrjet]

The rebuttal: But they will die. The answer: Yes, as each of us ultimately will.

Fight for the best within you, and let all others do as they please—it’s their lives, not yours.

[vcab]

The dismantling of the public educational system is not by accident and not a matter of negligence but a matter of design. The creation of an underclass that would create cheap labor is in the interest of corporate America. The Ruling Elite do not want an independent, educated and informed critical mass of society. Why would an increasingly frighten Oligarchy want to afflict itself with an intelligent and assertive citizenry?

Lewis Lapham

[ATomRileyA]

One of the greatest Women ever.

Reading Atlas Shrugged as a boy was one of the best things i did.

[shawnpatrick]

Consider the change in the majority of Americans in the time having passed since Ayn spoke these words.

[FarleyMan]

There used to be a majority of Americans with pride that carried their own weight.

[acedia]

'Should not aspire to more than they can handle with their mind.' Now we have an education system that hands out degrees like candy based on race and gender.

[jchapman]

When I was a young boy, I had heard disparaging remarks about Ayn Rand. Of course, those casting said aspersions were Democrats and welfare state proponents. Unfortunately, I was too young to understand that fact. Now, that I've grown, lived and learned, Ayn Rand's perspectives ring truer than ever, especially in this day and age.

[donmertz]

Sometimes it takes one who came from a depraved society (the USSR in this case) to best appreciate what a superior society can and should be. Ayn Rand's been my life mentor for over 10 years; I'm forever in her debt.

[paulkuzia]

“What to do with the talentless masses”? Offer a financial incentive to not have children! The opposite of what we’ve been doing for generations.