The story is real, without the politics, and I didn't see anything said about allegory. But the logic of the mentality was shown in Atlas Shrugged with Phillip Rearden, revealed later in the plot as giving Hank Rearden's money to a progressive organization.

Most Progressives won’t go that far, but they feel entitled to the earnings of others, just like this psycho. A modicum of humanity stands in the way of their desires, until they hide behind government lynch mob enforcement.

Obviously the story is allegory as described, not literal.

He may be, but there isn't anything about his politics in the background articles on this since the murder 4 1/2 years ago. He is portrayed as a socialite surfer with neurotic behavior. Neither he nor his father were apparently active in politics or its ideology.

He is no Hank Rearden and is more like the brother Phillip. But unlike Phillip, this murderer is not politically-ideologically motivated, and that isn't related to the lifestyle or the murder. Whatever superficial political beliefs he may identify with, politics is a consequence, not the cause of what someone is. Even most progressives don't behave like that.

Actions speak louder than words. Living at home without a job at 30 speaks volumes. Any asserted politics would be a whisper.

High IQ, a little less IQ supplemented by cash from a "legacy" alumnus, or credits for ethnicity. This one got in to play football. But the article didn't identify their politics.

Just three periods in an ellipsis.

.....?

Don Gato, Mr Galto, John Galt

A John Galt

He will be a cute one, unless they get him a sanctuary prison with just one golf course.

I vote for one bullet, and a new flavor of Alpo.

Who is John Gatto... :)

He wasn't mentally ill. He was liberally ill. Didn't think that the rules applied to him because it made him triggered to have to actually earn any money.
I wonder how he will like being a prison wife.

Ya get what ya pay fer

Free = Valueless.

Value for value must be stated before any trade is made. Assumption of "free" is the worst of situations I've encountered. For 30 of 38 years of adult life I have made my way in this world operating my own business endeavors. When I look critically at how the systems of money, legality, public address, regulation and education are intertwined I'm not surprised at the results of ignorance, apathy, fear and anger manifesting in this culture.
Morris Massey's lecture from 1976; "What You Are Is Where You Were When" expresses self-evidently, how values are shared in a culture, developed through early adulthood. The most compelling thing he addressed was the escalation of the rate of change of "values" on an ascending curve......toward valulessness. "Future Shock. What is it? Too much change in too little time; and for those who are unprepared, the effects will be devastating" Alvin Toffler.....interesting....he died two years ago yesterday.
This kid the posting refers to is "our child" of valulesness or, by Rand's permutation, one who's subjective values associated with the choice to live in absolute freedom does not preclude murder.

Where was this learned? I think an excellent question.

I liked the book that dealt with living free in plain sight, or something like that. The essence of it was to live a quiet life surrounded by like minded people, and not drawing the attention of people who could interfere with you.

I hope so!

Tenure is on its way out. Its un-natural to have some sort of guaranteed future in a changing world, however.

We have to roll with the punches in order to remain competitive.

Who said anything about 'studying' at any time?

I used to be a fan of free primary education, but it has become a breeding ground for whining leftist bacteria

Montessori practice is the resistance to compulsory educational system, along with the home-schooling shift. Youngsters discover their interests and pursue these with vitality. Self Interest. The best read I've found is by John Gatto. "Dumbing Us Down; The Hidden Curriculum Of Compulsory Education. It's quite a compelling work.
This is only part of the process to living a happy healthy life.

Every time!

Also, history has shown us again and again that political movements that resort to the ideological indoctrination of these students always produce utopias on earth rather than murderous hell holes.
/s

Exactly.

I never put two and two together, but your assertion is sensible. Just like the backstop of insurance causing medical industry costs to ballon, it is entirely reasonable to view college costs ballooned the same way, without the checks and balances of capitalism.

Boy would I like tenure in my job, but have to perform, year after year...

I think we are ripe for new approaches to learning. I find for example that YouTube is pretty good in teaching me practical things, as well as a lot of high tech stuff and even philosophy.

Colleges got expensive cause they were subsidized by government backed student loans given to people who really shouldnt have gone to college in the frist place.

Colleges are also expensive because they stick to the antiquated 'tenure" idea and actually pay a LOT to the professors who rarely actually teach these days.

And costly.