I’m attempting to read the Fountainhead by Ayn Rand for the 18th time in my life. It is a huge task. At least 700 pages and written in old-timey language, but I like it. So this week I’m totally obsessed with Ayn Rand and I’m Youtubing clips about her and I stumble upon this. A clip of her on the Phil Donahue show I’m guessing somewhere late 70′s early 80′s.
What’s astonishing about this appearance is the level of intelligence for a popular television show. They discuss the existence of God, ethical duty to (my favorite) “subnormal” kids aka retarded kids and why altruism is bunk. The use of honest language is so shocking – at one point Ayn says she doesn’t believe in helping subnormals because it takes money away from developing geniuses. It’s shocking to hear someone speak their truth, but it shouldn’t be. People say crazy shit in the privacy of their homes all the time. Why are we so afraid as a society to say it in public? Even Miss California saying she doesn’t belive in gay marriage – as stupid as she is – is entitled to her opinion. Why are we so afraid of someone else’s stupid opinion?
But I digress…the point is, how is it in 2009 we are actually less progressive in our thought and speech than we were in the 70′s and 80′s? If humans are constantly evolving – both technologically and socially, how are we even dumber than we were 30 years ago? This episode would NEVER air by today’s standards. Networks would say that it went over people’s heads and the content is too controversial to get sponsorship. But if it worked in the past, can’t it work again? And shouldn’t we all be outraged that someone else is essentially telling us we’re too stupid to have intelligent programming?
Let’s go back even further, to 1959. Mike Wallace interviews Rand in what I consider to be a normal, human-paced conversational manner. It takes 48 whole seconds before he even says his first words. 48 whole seconds that the viewer has to just patiently sit and watch in anticipation. By today’s standards, that’s 48 seconds too long that could be filled with soda ads or cutaways to tits. Again, the level of language and topic is astonishing and the best part is, at one point, he lights a cigarette. God forbid, a nasty cigarette. Anyone but Johnny Depp would be crucified for smoking on television.
This is proof that human beings are devolving into mindless tards. Have you seen the movie Idiocracy? It is one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen and eerily prophetic.
And by the way, Idiocracy is Dax Shepard’s finest work. I mean it, he’s fucking awesome in it.
And look, I’m not saying everyone has to be a genius. Lord knows I’m far from Mensa material, but at least aspire to it, godammit!
At one time, people wanted to be considered intellectual. Now you’re seen as a pretentious asshound for enjoying the occasional book. What’s so bad about wanting to be smart? Or at least trying to be? Has “get er done” completely fucking ruined American civilization? Maybe not so much ruined it but tapped into something that was already there – a whole flock of lazy people who need a mascot for their shitty excuse of existence.
I just wish television would stop catering to the lowest common denominator of human life. We weren’t always this stupid and these clips are proof. There is hope in the form of HBO and Showtime shows and the occasional “hard” book like A New Earth…Oh, and p.s. A New Earth is not a hard book. I’ve heard from a few people they can’t understand it. If you can’t understand a new age self-help book of the Oprah club variety, you are officially subnormal. Bam! How’s that for smart talk?
All I’m saying is that as a society we should hold ourselves up to a high standard of intelligence. If we don’t, the Sarah Palins of the world will keep winnin’ and mediocrity will win and it’ll be nothing but Dancing with the Stars forever and ever. And I’m not above enjoying Dancing with the Tards. I like tons of stupid stuff – reality shows, stupid dog calendars – but just be a decent person and read a book every now and then for Christ sakes.
Until we become evolve into the supermasterrace, I leave you with the trailer for Idiocracy. Time for me to get back into my glass house and throw stones.