I’ve been re-watching Tony Gilroy’s masterpiece Andor. In the first season, the story reaches one of its most evocative moral crescendos when Andy Serkis’ character, Kino Loy, delivers one of the most stirring monologues in contemporary screenwriting.
Well said, Mike. I liked your mention of the “neo-Randian worship of the self,” because the Rand poison has long been an obsession of mine. It permeates not only the tech-bro community but pretty much all of the right, from Paul Ryan to Donald Trump (who, I once read, was actually a fan of her books. No, really!)
As an ex-Objectivist, I’ve been digging into the pernicious effects of her philosophy as well. Including how I managed to accept it for so many years when I now realize how wrong it is.
I wrote at length about the beginning of my realization that it's not my philosophy. It was very recent. But I've made some headway into understanding where I went wrong. Here's that piece, if you're interested:
Mike, Tony Gilroy, deeply grounded in history, did indeed create a two season masterpiece with Andor — superb ensemble acting, laser-sharp writing, gorgeous visual design, and most importantly, a vision of the costs of resistance — to everyone, stripped of romanticized narrative. The heart-breaking scene in “Only One Way Out” brings home- yes, resistance is the only way, but not everyone can swim😿
You've cast new light on a couple of terms, and I think we'll gain from it. "Pragmatism" is one of those curious defections to failure of vision; who needs it? And "prison" for the headspace around those afflicted with arbitrary discipline, its consequent mistrust, and the predatory scapegoating of algorithm-laden media (it's a large, invisible, indoor-outdoor prison where everyone's a victim)
"But their choices were not in service of any greater good, but in service of greater profit."
The concept of "fiduciary responsibility" prioritizes profit over greater good: could a legal redefinition of the term mitigate these kinds of obvious social lapses?
I've been saying it a long time, those words, "there is only one way out", perhaps we mean something different, but I simply do not see this ending with an election. The American holocaust is upon us, I genuinely cannot believe how many don't see it, and are still treating this as "politics as usual", nothing could be further from the truth. It tempts me to despair, the moral blindness of so many, this is wrong, it is wrong by every metric, the Johnsons and Vances et al have gone too far, there is no turning back for them now, THAT is what people are not grasping. They are NOT going to walk away from this with an election, it's do or die now, they know the consequences will be severe, they won't go down without a physical fight, we should be preparing for that. There truly is only one way out, I don't know what will spark it, but I know it's coming, let's hope the revolutioonary spirit that founded this republic still exists, because a new "Declaration of Indepedence" could be written right now, with pretty damn close to the same list of crimes for Trump, as there were for King George...
Thank you, Mike - refreshing honesty and heart from one who “knows”. You were there and could have stayed silent while your investments grew - but you broke ranks and chose to be human. BRAVO! Thank you sincerely. This nation needs to hear your voice more than ever.
Thanks Mike for enlightening us on the fight ahead!
IMHO unregulated capitalism is our underlying enemy, a Medusa of many snakeheads!
Beware!
The nihilistic Republican Techno-fascists will survive Trump’s crypto scams! Republican billionaires will continue to support the corrupt Supreme Court’s dictatorship of wealth!
Indeed, billionaires lurk behind the easy cultural liberalism of the wealthy blue states (New York, California Illinois +++)!
The corrupt infrastructure of the traditional Democratic Party is built on corporate donations!
To overthrow this destructive and demoralizing greed will involve more than ridding ourselves of MAGA!
Indeed MAGA may become our strongest ally in fighting this many-headed monster!
Watch for these catch-words: “commie”, “communist,”extremist,” “ Islamic terrorist,” and radical extremist!”
Our fight to save our democracy is just beginning!
Thank you. This has inspired me to reach out to reach out and join a local resistance group so I can figure out how to do this. While I truly believe that “love always wins” and that “we’re all in this together”, I haven’t been able to break through on my own.
Mike, I thought I would let you know that I am never able to restack your pieces here there's always an error. It only seems to happen with your account not sure why
Mr. Brock, I too have very much enjoyed watching Kino Loy’s moment of pure free thought, which is essentially what happened as he helped everyone who heard him by speaking truth long-felt, but never fully expressed, that they were never going to be allowed to leave and to stay meant sure death; and so in that moment he was free from being a mini-tyrant acting in his own interests. I have often wondered what the backstory might have been for Kino Loy.
Regarding the topic of “neo-Randian worship of the self,” while I do not consider myself an Objectivist of the Ayn Rand school of thought, I have never perceived her writings or stories to be self-centered in the sense frequently portrayed. My first and primary exposure to her was Anthem, followed by some of her essays and other materials, and later The Fountainhead. Over the years I came to care less for her fiction, because it read like the work of someone who needed money and crafted stories that satisfied cravings—while in the fifties and sixties, the unleashed version of capitalism without ethical constraint, has as others argued, fed a generation of Americans a worldview that became essentially sociopathic when it came to money.
It also seems to me that people frequently either are unaware of her immigrant background story and her hatred of Stalin and communist Russia; her early to middle adult life makes for a very interesting study. Toward the latter years of her life she was once invited to West Point to give a commencement address.
My primary mission here at Substack is to help people see clearly. Your writing in this essay moves in that same direction, and I appreciate the clarity and moral orientation you have brought to this moment.
Well said, Mike. I liked your mention of the “neo-Randian worship of the self,” because the Rand poison has long been an obsession of mine. It permeates not only the tech-bro community but pretty much all of the right, from Paul Ryan to Donald Trump (who, I once read, was actually a fan of her books. No, really!)
As an ex-Objectivist, I’ve been digging into the pernicious effects of her philosophy as well. Including how I managed to accept it for so many years when I now realize how wrong it is.
That’s interesting!
I wrote at length about the beginning of my realization that it's not my philosophy. It was very recent. But I've made some headway into understanding where I went wrong. Here's that piece, if you're interested:
https://brainsmatter.substack.com/p/holy-shit-but-i-was-wrong?r=1tjpzi
Mike, Tony Gilroy, deeply grounded in history, did indeed create a two season masterpiece with Andor — superb ensemble acting, laser-sharp writing, gorgeous visual design, and most importantly, a vision of the costs of resistance — to everyone, stripped of romanticized narrative. The heart-breaking scene in “Only One Way Out” brings home- yes, resistance is the only way, but not everyone can swim😿
He rationalized that the complete collapse of democratic institutions would be preferable to paying a higher capital-gains tax.
Great piece!
You've cast new light on a couple of terms, and I think we'll gain from it. "Pragmatism" is one of those curious defections to failure of vision; who needs it? And "prison" for the headspace around those afflicted with arbitrary discipline, its consequent mistrust, and the predatory scapegoating of algorithm-laden media (it's a large, invisible, indoor-outdoor prison where everyone's a victim)
Andor was amazing.
Yes, and inspiring off screen solidarity! From NYC No kings March.
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ I realized that Substack does not allow photos on comments. I had tried to share my photos from the last NYC No Kings march- lots of “ We have friends everywhere” signs! Link to my note (dogs, of course! At March with this sign♥️) https://substack.com/@talkingcat88/note/c-167805330?r=2fluad&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Beautifully said Mike!
"But their choices were not in service of any greater good, but in service of greater profit."
The concept of "fiduciary responsibility" prioritizes profit over greater good: could a legal redefinition of the term mitigate these kinds of obvious social lapses?
"He rationalized that the complete collapse of democratic institutions would be preferable to paying a higher capital-gains tax."
And that is the essence of what has dragged USA down. Petty greed of people who never had it so good.
To coin a word Antolipatriotism.
Oops, should be
"Antipatriotism"
I've been saying it a long time, those words, "there is only one way out", perhaps we mean something different, but I simply do not see this ending with an election. The American holocaust is upon us, I genuinely cannot believe how many don't see it, and are still treating this as "politics as usual", nothing could be further from the truth. It tempts me to despair, the moral blindness of so many, this is wrong, it is wrong by every metric, the Johnsons and Vances et al have gone too far, there is no turning back for them now, THAT is what people are not grasping. They are NOT going to walk away from this with an election, it's do or die now, they know the consequences will be severe, they won't go down without a physical fight, we should be preparing for that. There truly is only one way out, I don't know what will spark it, but I know it's coming, let's hope the revolutioonary spirit that founded this republic still exists, because a new "Declaration of Indepedence" could be written right now, with pretty damn close to the same list of crimes for Trump, as there were for King George...
Thank you, Mike - refreshing honesty and heart from one who “knows”. You were there and could have stayed silent while your investments grew - but you broke ranks and chose to be human. BRAVO! Thank you sincerely. This nation needs to hear your voice more than ever.
Thanks Mike for enlightening us on the fight ahead!
IMHO unregulated capitalism is our underlying enemy, a Medusa of many snakeheads!
Beware!
The nihilistic Republican Techno-fascists will survive Trump’s crypto scams! Republican billionaires will continue to support the corrupt Supreme Court’s dictatorship of wealth!
Indeed, billionaires lurk behind the easy cultural liberalism of the wealthy blue states (New York, California Illinois +++)!
The corrupt infrastructure of the traditional Democratic Party is built on corporate donations!
To overthrow this destructive and demoralizing greed will involve more than ridding ourselves of MAGA!
Indeed MAGA may become our strongest ally in fighting this many-headed monster!
Watch for these catch-words: “commie”, “communist,”extremist,” “ Islamic terrorist,” and radical extremist!”
Our fight to save our democracy is just beginning!
Brilliant assessment. Thank you. Andor is the perfect media piece for explaining our choices in this moment, IMHO.
We need to continue showing accountability is coming maybe not tomorrow or today but it comes
Thank you. This has inspired me to reach out to reach out and join a local resistance group so I can figure out how to do this. While I truly believe that “love always wins” and that “we’re all in this together”, I haven’t been able to break through on my own.
Mike, I thought I would let you know that I am never able to restack your pieces here there's always an error. It only seems to happen with your account not sure why
Can you send me a screenshot?
I was just able to restack multiple articles of yours…. I'm not sure why it does not work at times. All appears to be working well now.
Mr. Brock, I too have very much enjoyed watching Kino Loy’s moment of pure free thought, which is essentially what happened as he helped everyone who heard him by speaking truth long-felt, but never fully expressed, that they were never going to be allowed to leave and to stay meant sure death; and so in that moment he was free from being a mini-tyrant acting in his own interests. I have often wondered what the backstory might have been for Kino Loy.
Regarding the topic of “neo-Randian worship of the self,” while I do not consider myself an Objectivist of the Ayn Rand school of thought, I have never perceived her writings or stories to be self-centered in the sense frequently portrayed. My first and primary exposure to her was Anthem, followed by some of her essays and other materials, and later The Fountainhead. Over the years I came to care less for her fiction, because it read like the work of someone who needed money and crafted stories that satisfied cravings—while in the fifties and sixties, the unleashed version of capitalism without ethical constraint, has as others argued, fed a generation of Americans a worldview that became essentially sociopathic when it came to money.
It also seems to me that people frequently either are unaware of her immigrant background story and her hatred of Stalin and communist Russia; her early to middle adult life makes for a very interesting study. Toward the latter years of her life she was once invited to West Point to give a commencement address.
My primary mission here at Substack is to help people see clearly. Your writing in this essay moves in that same direction, and I appreciate the clarity and moral orientation you have brought to this moment.