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Objectivists and Objectivism

In 1987 I attended a summer conference of Ayn Rand’s philosophy called Objectivism. The conference was held at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in La Jolla and was attended by the Who’s Who of Objectivism. It was organized by George Reisman and his wife, Edith Packer. George Reisman was an economics professor at Pepperdine University and a prominent Objectivist. The UCSD campus was high up on a rock overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful and clean campus. Perfect weather. It was great to be there, and to be alive. I was only 22 years old then. I didn’t have much of an education, but I had a great interest in ideas after reading The Fountainhead .
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Dossiers du Rocher Scandal — Patrice Pastor Investigation

The investigation into the "Dossiers du Rocher" continues to make headlines in Monaco.

At the center is Patrice Pastor, chairman of Groupe Pastor. Pastor is represented by Thierry Herzog, one of France’s most prominent lawyers.

The scandal has raised questions about influence and real estate dealings in Monaco’s highest circles.

Prince Albert II has distanced himself from those implicated in the scandal by throwing his advisers under the bus. 

The Dossiers du Rocher has raised questions about how much Prince Albert himself knew about the corruption.

And who is to say Prince Albert wasn’t on the take himself. In Monaco his crown may be above the law, but he is not above the temptations of greed, immorality and vanity. History has shown this to be the diet of all European monarchs. 

Patrice Pastor, despite denying any involvement in leaking the emails that exposed the Dossiers du Rocher scandal, may ironically be one of the unlikely heroes in this saga — exposing what many believe was long-hidden misconduct at the highest levels of Monaco’s monarchy.

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
— Lord Acton

Patrick McGoohan as Number 6 behind bars in the TV series The Prisoner, used metaphorically for the Dossiers du Rocher scandal
Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner 1967



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