I've never seen so much pandering. At least I hope it's just pandering. If McCain and Obama actually believe what they are saying then our time is short.

Supplement rather than bitch about the next generation would be a start

There *is* such a call, from Objectvism, and it is echoed right here. But I frankly don't know how to get through to, like, airheads addicted to, like, "cool."

Unfortunately, the only call for teenagers to get out of their solipsistic, mindless self-absorbed behavior are the altruists who say forget your little self and go and do something BIG! The altruists hide behind the slogans like get a purpose which is bigger than yourself. It is rather sad.

I wish we could have a call to rational self-interest that inspires teens to see who they really are, that their problems aren't really that important and to get a dream that is BIG, to endeavor BIG to become part (invest) of something BIG which they would get a huge kick out of. To live BIG. That should be the call rather than selling the story that the only way to get a big purpose is to sell yourself off and sacrifice for some other collaborative benefit.

For what it's worth, I've never heard of the guy until now.

... I've led a very sheltered life.

Yes. Rick Warren is very famous not just in America but all over the western world. He wrote two very influential books "Purpose driven life" and "Purpose driven church" which have been at the center of study for youth groups, home groups, church seminars etc. His main influence would be in the non-denominational protestant churches but also your general ones.

When I used to go to church we had to be clued up on this guy.

"Who is John Galt?"

Leaving aside the ghastly obligatory bromides about something greater than yourself, etc., McCain was clearly the superior candidate. The two did not confront each other directly but appeared separately for extensive questioning by Pastor Whoever, who apparently is world-famous in America. McCain was strong on Georgia, terror, Islamofascism, drilling ("here, now!"), taxes, eternal vigilance as the price of liberty ... even on issues where Objectivists would disagree with him he was impressively forthright and free of waffle. His POW anecdotes were irresistible. He was energetic and focussed, more so than his vauntedly younger adversary.

Both candidates share the same mystic/altruist premises that have hamstrung freedom from the get-go, to be sure, but McCain still gets my vote as not only the lesser of two evils but a demonstrably decent fellow with a genuine commitment to liberty, however confused its expression, at a time when we simply can't afford another Jimmy Carter. Besides, I couldn't face the prospect of eight years of Obama's ears.