Rand-O-Rama: The Long Shelf Life of Ayn Rand’s legacy
by Nick GillespieWith the publication of The Fountainhead in 1943 and Atlas Shrugged in 1958, Rand became a full-blown cultural phenomenon, selling millions of books and inspiring countless readers-ranging from former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to actress Angelina Jolie-with her moral defense of capitalism.
A refugee from Soviet Russia, Rand argued that capitalism was the best way of organizing society not simply because it was more efficient than communism but because it allowed the individual to fill his or her potential. A self-declared “radical for capitalism,” Rand emphatically rejected collectivism of all stripes and embraced “man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”
Decades after her death, Rand’s work is hotter than ever.
In an age of massive government intervention into every aspect of the economy and personal lives, sales of her books are way up and a movie version of Atlas Shrugged is in the works. References to Rand are everywhere from Mad Men to The Colbert Report to The Simpsons and there’s even a new critical appreciation, as evidenced by two new biographies, Ayn Rand And The World She Made and Goddess of The Right. As Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) puts it, “Ayn Rand makes the best case for the morality of democratic capitalism.”
Approximately four minutes long and produced by Meredith Bragg and Nick Gillespie, “Rand-O-Rama” analyzes the 21st-century Rand renaissance.
It is part of the Reason.tv series Radicals For Capitalism: Celebrating the Ideas of Ayn Rand. Go here for more information, other videos, and related materials.
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63 Comments
Who is John Galt?
That is an age old riddle and question. I can answer that question. I am John Galt; and you, and you, and that guy over in the corner is, and that girl walking down the street. We all are. All of US.
Everyone that is tired and fed up with the status quo, of being lied to, and sold out by career politicians; by the Intelligencia, by Academia. We are fed up, and we aren't going to take it much longer.
We'll see how well things work, how smoothly things run, when WE bring the engine of the world to a screeching halt. Keep pushing, we just might push back………
there have been clear thinkers in every generation. Problem is that the idiots have the loudest voices. Liberals in their arrogance believe that socialism is the way to go and when confronted with example after example of it having failed suggest that the others just did not do it the right way. My credo in life is "Life is too short to waste time with A##holes"
If you can't make it to DC this Thursday, consider sponsoring someone who can go in your place! I just listened to the Glenn Beck show and buses from MN and Ohio are going! I send one organization enough to cover the cost of someone going in my place! $125! and it covered bus and hotel.
You can also rent the her biography (Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life) from Netflix or other rental places. Very interesting.
Great! You can read more about Ann Rand in a book "Architects of the Culture of Death".
There are certain truths that will stand the test of time, like water seeking its own level (i.e. – flowing down hill). The urge of man to be Free is one of them. Now some people don't hear this urge, or they bury it deep, because they don't know how to get out of their current predicament (her fellow Russians, people living under dictators). But it's still there.
Our Founding Fathers recognized and put this ability to follow that urge, but ALSO using a fair social contract – what we call the Constitution – to give The People the Greatest amount of Freedom. So people would have the Freedom to prosper, while also counting on each other for their safety. This enabled man to be ABLE to find the advances we have known throughout our History because each person DIDN'T have to til his own field and raise his own cattle and walk their own water from the well every morning, so he could trade/barter with those that has extra, and in doing that could trade for products and services (clothes, tools, employees) that they needed. The more this happened, the exponential advancement in our society was achieved. (I can't find it now, but there was some postulation that if America hadn't won their Freedom when we did, we might only be starting to fly right about now, and maybe would have had cars around 1990's. Think about that – because how many of any of the advancement in the last century, even from OTHER countries, were because America was FREE and advancing and those other countries didn't want to get left behind.)
Those who wanted to prosper started businesses, and didn't horde their wealth as some "think" they do. They HIRE people, EXPAND their buildings and open up new locations, stores and factories and hire even more people and those people also prospered. Those who were on the other side who didn't like that someone else could have something they themselves couldn't have. They became politicians and were greedy, had enough idle time on their hands to think up ways to "get in on" that prosperity and take from those who did earn it and give it to others (mainly themselves and their friends) by force of the government. We see what happens when that second group goes unchecked for too long – whether by apathy or coercion and collusion.
The Founding Fathers have given us ways to stop it, and we need to use them.
Ann Rand (and there are others) had the great mind to SHOW us what happens when we don't stop it.
I love these Rand based threads. It gives Rand haters the opportunity to display their hatred and ignorance. Now, I'm not talking about reasoned, thoughtful people who take issue with specific aspects of her views; I'm a fan and I don't agree with her 100%. No, I'm talking about people who make generalized, non-specific attacks, just because her ideology is against the collectivist dogma that they worship.
I wonder how many of them will comment on this thread today.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Juli and Big Government, DNC Fail!. DNC Fail! said: #tcot #sgp #orca Rand-O-Rama: The Long Shelf Life of Ayn Rand’s legacy http://url4.eu/gobd [...]
There is a book of Ayn Rands that doesn't get nearly the attention it SHOULD "Return of the Primitive, The Anti Industrialist. This book is about "The New Left" aka Progressives and who they are the radicals that came out of the 60s and 70s. A Must read if anyone wants to understand the Progressive Movement that we as a People are experiencing right NOW. We were warned.
The war on the news will be televised just not on any channel anyone is watching
Selling the Drama, Who’s Competing For Your Attention? Cable News War.
I added a link to Rob Bartlett’s Blog he put up everyone’s top 5 favorite books.
I can come up with 2 so far
http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot...
http://www.amazon.com/Return-Primitive-Anti-Indus...
Buy the book know your enemy – In both parties.
I learned of Mrs. Rand in college when I was actually chosen to debate against her point of view. I began to read her materials & writings & they began to make much more sense than the arguement I was going to make against her politics. I went to my professor & told him I agreed with most of what she said & was having a hard time not agreeing with her. I was told by my professor," She is a dangerous person & her teachings go aginst all he stood for". I asked if I could be excused from this debate & was told to debate aginst her policies or fail the class. I walked out then & there & retook the class during the summer. My mother was behind me 110%.
I have found that it's actually VERY good to find ways to debate AGAINST something you support – Gun Control, Lower Taxes, etc. What it does is gives you insight on what you need to totally debunk what those against it are going to try and bring up.
The thing is, you can't research too deep for that other side, because then you will find out how right you are in the first place. You could have shown that idiot professor why his side of the argument never delves too deep, specifically BECAUSE it would actually prove their side wrong, although he still probably would have failed you for making a fool of his beliefs.
Those against those things 99% of the time stop with "feelings", or because it "feels right". Those other 1% are the politicians or professors. The politicians I can see and understand, they are power hungry and greedy. But the professors, who "should" know how to research and study should actually KNOW better.
Its interesting the duplicity of some of the Hollywood stars and their embracing Ayn Rand. In seeing Steven Speilberg in the pictures of the fans of Ayn Rand, it made me wonder, what is up with that? Many of these actors in the video pictured are true conservatives or libertarians, but Speilberg? He backed BO in the 2008 election, so whats with his interest in Rand other than to make a buck? Is he free market like Ayn or Keynesian like Obama?
we are of two minds on the estimable Ms Rand…
Her treatise on capitalism and the merits of selfish self interest- as a rebuttal to Soviet style collectivism- is her greatest contribution.
Her rejection of self sacrifice, and complete embracement of Free Will actually can hinder spiritual progress.
So, like all other human constructs it should be viewed with the prism that it, too si flawed.
But brilliantly so…
See, that is my point. I tried so hard to add logic to the arguement I was supposed to present. I couldn't find a point of view that was coherent enough for me to argue for. I was actually really stressed over it & everything in my body said this is wrong. I reasearched Mrs. Rand's side so I could be ready to argue every point they would make. I will not mention this professor by name but he recently held a symposium in which many Elitists were there. I snuck in right about the time he was making the arguement 9/11 was a government controlled experiment to see what the American people would do in an actual war scenario. I dry heaved in the hallway & went in yelling. They started shouting me down & pushing as I walked up the isle towards this professor. I made it to the podium & said 3 words before I was pulled by campus security. I'm not aloud back to say the least.
The election of Obama with the ascendancy of progressives Democrats to the leadership positions in Congress is good for America and freedom. Our current federal government appears to be true believers in central planning and are pushing anti-liberty policies that are reminiscent of the Equalization of Opportunity Bill (e.g. Net Neutrality, Fairness Doctrine, Health Care Reform). The liberal comedian Bill Maher have criticized Americans as stupid for not using their brains. Well, like John Galt advocates, Americans are now using their minds and critically examining government and politicians.
The arguments of progressives are now being openly debated out side academia and the American culture is deciding again the merits of communist, socialist systems of government. America last debated these issues in the 1940/1050's. The emotional arguments fueling government policies that hurt the productive to "help" the less fortunate are more frequently encountering rational opposition. The trend for more debate among the "silent majority", the hard-working, family oriented, law abiding population, about the role of government should result in better decisions at the polling booth.
If the education of the general population on the dangers of central planning by the federal government fails, the John Galt option is certainly available. I would argue that small businesses are already beginning the process by not hiring new employees until it becomes clear that the federal government will not confiscate the products of their mind and labor.
I cringe at the thought of the dog's dinner that modern Hollywood will make of Rand's novel. It will make the revisions to Tom Clancy's work look like slavish copies.
As we head towards “Galt’s Gulch” also remember “The Conservative Retribution Movement.” Fire your liberals first! Deliver them into the warm embrace of their Messiah, Barry …blessed be his name.
Keyword-Ayn Rand was a refugee from SOVIET RUSSIA. As an avid reader of "atlass shrugged", Ive also learned about the excesses of Karl Marx, phony humanism, and Islam. FREEDOM IS THE SOLUTION TO THE HUMAN CONDITION. I suggest we should make a bumper sticker of such a statement. Ive sent my official notice to Breitbart.
I agree, especially "clear and present Danger" and "sum of all Fears"-Nazi skinheads-wonder where a skinhead can get enough plutonium to build a 15KT nuke? Only in commieland.
Read post below-Tom Clancys books have been destroyed by Hollywood to the point Clancy wont allow them to make any more movies from his novels(particulary "clear and present danger"). Speilberg likely would try to paint Ayn Rand as a nut to criticize communism.
Cowboy, Ive said for months the best way to start fighting the communists in government is to do to them what they do to there opponents. Starve them. Dont pay taxes. Dont go along with regulations. Keep your guns , the 2nd amendment and bill of rights are there to protect US from the government. I doubt most of the military will support the far left. Niether will most traditional orginazations. You are right-keep pushing back. As Glenn Beck says WE SURROUND THEM.
As a good conservative AND a small business owner, I decided last December to contribute to the cause. So, when I had to lay off several employees, I went into the parking lot, and laid off anyone with an Obama bumper sticker. Amazing how productivity has dramatically increased.
Stewart,
I'm not sure yet if we surround them.
But, as long as they have US surrounded, that is just fine. WE got 'em right where we want them,,,,,,,,,
Perspective.
Positive outlook.
I was a lucky young man, when a teacher in high school, trying to get me out of her hair, gave me Atlas Shrugged after Tolkiens' trilogy. The progressive ism just then gaining ascendancy in Orange County (California) schools didn't stick.
I've 'paid that forward' by passing out copies here and there over the years, with a fair return. What I never expected to see was this much of it coming true…. and we need a Ragnar Danneskold, not to mention some Francisco d'Anconia(s) and Hank Reardon(s). We have too many Jim Taggerts already, it appears…and all the other parasitical ilk that go with it: I remember the "Aristocracy of Pull', and think of GM… and get slightly ill. It's not too late to turn around, but I fear we may have to go down further before enough folks come to their senses.
Was wondering the very same thing myself! And Brad Pitt? Puh-leeze. Almost all of them were sporting Obama shirts last year. I don't see how those same people could tout their praise for Obama AND Rand.
Love it! I know someone who carries NRA stickers and whenever they see an Obama sticker, they will slap the NRA over it hahah.
"I remember the "Aristocracy of Pull', and think of GM"
Wrong comparison. Think of government handing out carbon credits worth billions of dollars under a cap and tax scheme and then think about the pull that will be paid for by people wanting to get their share of the government handout. Al Gore will play the part of Wesley Mouch making the decisions about which industries are allowed to exist and which are taxed out of existence by denying them any government issued credits.
"We the Living" is an equally powerful book, and more frightening because it actually happened.
Thats hilarious!
I am crushed to find out I'm not unique. I thought I was the only one who posted NRA stickers over Obammy ones…………….
Tex,
exactly correct!
That is how I envisioned Algore for years. A vile little weasel of a man. He probably walks around playing pocket pool all day long…………
They’re better off now Stewart, they are with their Barry.
these are exciting times, scary, but exciting at the same time. the line has been drawn in the sand, either you want government takeover or democracy, able to have a choice and a voice.
on all the blogs that i visit, i here the same, united voice. 1) we must unite as parents and teach our children at home our patriotic background. teach your children to salute the flag and respect it. teach your children to say the pledge of aligience. teach your children that you love living in the USA and why. teach your children to be respectuful, ect. this is the AMERICAN WAY! ONLY PARENTS CAN INSTILL THIS IN THEIR CHILDREN,
these freedoms will be lost if we don't unite. the democratice party has been hi-jacked by the extreme left and we just have to rid this infestatiion. i pray for the blue dogs to hold all at bay.
"The goal of the 'liberals'—as it emerges from the record of the past decades—was to smuggle this country into welfare statism by means of single, concrete, specific measures, enlarging the power of the government a step at a time, never permitting these steps to be summed up into principles, never permitting their direction to be identified or the basic issue to be named. Thus statism was to come, not by vote or by violence, but by slow rot—by a long process of evasion and epistemological corruption, leading to a fait accompli. (The goal of the “conservatives” was only to retard that process.)" -Ayn Rand
Uh, just to clarify for those not familiar with it: The story is fiction, but the backdrop of Soviet Russia is real, coming directly from Rand's experiences. It is well worth the read!
I'm no expert on Rand; I've only read her works of fiction. From what I've read, I think to understand her rejection of self sacrifice, you must first understand her definition of self sacrifice. From what I've read, it seems she believed that sacrifice involves giving up something that's of more value to you than the thing for which you gave it up.
So, a mother giving her food to her child would not be a sacrifice, because her child is worth more to her that a meal – or even her life. Giving money to "save the whales" would not be a sacrifice if the whales are worth more to you than the money you gave.
I might be misinterpreting her views in this area – like I said, I'm no expert – but if I'm not, it seems her view does not preclude good works or charity (as long as the definition of "charity" doesn't require "sacrifice" in her sense of the word.)
The only problem with Ayn, and its a huge one, is that she is fiercely atheist or at least agnostic. Her atheism is illustrated in her writings by her moral treatment of individual characters by those of "higher authority," such as the industrialists in Atlas Shrugged. For my interests, her novels are just that, novels and not much more. Thank God I didn't have to read her garbage for English class in college.
The more the better!
That kinda fits then with the Hollywood connection and appreciation, doesn't it? If Brad Pitt likes her, it would be for her agnostic/atheist angle maybe and not the other more conservative angles. I don't know, but I wonder if this is what they find so good about her when you'd think what she's written is antithetical to their philosophies.
That is correct!
Basically that's right. For Rand, the individual has a hierarchy of values with the topmost value being *your* life. All other values and the very notion of value steps from the fact the you are alive. She then goes on to add to that the *fact* that you have a specfic nature that determines generally what your hierarchy of values must be. Your hierarchy of values are not the same as those of a dog or a even a chimp. Man's ability to Reason is the distinctive feature of humanity that provides the clearest basis for his unique system of values.
One of the primary arguments of theist apologetics is the notion that man's morality necessarily depends of a "higher" authority. Rand stands squarely in front of that line of argument with her own definition of the source of morality. In fact, that notion of morality she develops is the basis for her defense of individualism and thus Capitalism. The religious conservatives have a very good reason to be leary of Rand: she ends up in a place they like, but she gets there by means they detest.
Yes, we expand, we hire, people prosper. I've lost 19 of my workers to this fake economy Obama is touting. I'm so angry I could chew nails. Some of them have kids and it's a crime what is being done to small business and the working family.
Spielberg is free market when it comes to HIS money, not so much when it's yours.
Not all professors are radicals – although there are plenty of liberals/socialists on my campus (even in Virginia). I have "uncomfortable" discussions in my consumer behavior classes when I bring up the "other side" of consumer regulation and liberal public policy initiatives — the only value of which, I suggest to my students, is their motivation and goal (e.g., improved nutrition), not their results and their unintended consequences. And, far too many college students are ignorant about politics in general, and our Constitution in particular. The worst is that by the time they get to the School of Business, they've been convinced by professors in the College of Humanities and Sciences (where they fulfill their general education requirements) that capitalism and profits are evil.
I agree that not all Professors or Educational institutions are liberal/socialist. I came to my Professor specifically for guidence more than anything else how I would debate against someone ideals I have come to agree with during my studies in this project. I was 1 of those ignorant college kids who could care less about politics. To be such an elitist & rude made me feel like he was using the top of his class to denigrate Mrs. Rand's ideals as an indoctrination tool in the classroom. Today the thought of shaping a person's personal politics or trying to change it in anyway is sickening. By the way, my Summer class teacher agreed with my decision to retake the class based on my stand. He was proud of me & made me feel good about my choices. Sadly he died of complications from a stroke before the new school year began.
It appears to me that Rand's issue with religion isn't religion itself, but the people who promote it…
Ayn's belief system is completely compatible with the idea of "giving of oneself" to a cause or in response to a need, as long as the "oneself" made the choice on their own without coercion by an institution (church or state).
I always got the impression she rejected religion (and the "altruistic" aspects thereof) because she saw the sacrifices demanded by that religion as imposed by a system that held out punishments for failing to serve. This kind of sacrifice was not consistent with her view of Man being the highest calling unto himself.
In the end Ayn's own logic completely justifies the nature of a God who would sacrifice Himself on His own volition to accomplish the redemption of an entire world. It was His CHOICE and no one could take it away from Him.
From a practical point of view, it also makes sense to take care of yourself before you help anyone else. It's like when you're on a plane and the flight attendant gives instructions on what to do in case of cabin depressurization: "If you're traveling with small children, put on your own oxygen mask before attempting to assist them." You won't be able to help them if you pass out.
The more stable and secure you make yourself, the better able you will be to help others – if that's what you chose to do. So, in putting yourself first, everyone can benefit.
You're a fucking idiot.
close- but not quite. One must read her later musings to see she pretty much categorically rejects selfless service. As an atheist she didn't see the possibility of spiritual redemption.
For many that is a problem. However, her rejection of collectivism for it's inherent evils and basic understanding of the concept of Christian brotherhood was her particular genius. She is to be admired…
very eloquent. perhaps another week at finishing school would do you well…
Self-help books for guilty capitalists. Good novelist but hardly a philosopher. Maybe I missed something…
My question is, by what definition of "selfless service?" Would she say a mother giving her own food to her child is an act of selflessness? or, is the mother being selfish because she values the child? It seems to me it would still come down to the definition of sacrifice.
perhaps a better comparison would be if your neighbor desperately needed something that you have- and want to keep. They are sick and need medicine you are saving for another time. Is it in your own self interest to do so? Altruism for it's own sake was not an option for her.
Make sense?
Capitalism is Ayn's religion, that is what is wrong. Unbridled capitalism is worse than socialism; look at current Russia as an example: having the extreme wealthy have complete control over the entire economy is fostering absolute corruption. There is no such thing as a good capitalist, as there not such thing as a good crook. It can be a serious problem to make Ms. Rand a saint of capitalism; extending her philosophy to the conservative cause is not tenable or realistic.
Yes, that's a good example, but it is consistent with the definition of sacrifice I attributed to her earlier. If the medicine was worth more to me than my neighbor, I think she would view my giving up the medicine as an act of stupidity.
But then again, for someone to do this, wouldn't they have to value their fellow man more than they value themselves? I guess she would reject that because such a person would be rejecting their individuality.
Like you said, brilliant and possibly flawed, but I don't fully understand it yet.
from a spiritual standpoint you wouldn't want to survive by crawling over the backs of others… it is the subtleties of kindness and noblese oblige' that are missing in her doctrines. Once again, it is a minor criticism. Her reductive take on Christian fellowship and subsequent logical thesis is brilliant. But her atheism blinds her to the Higher Questions.
Our take, of course…
"Unbridled capitalism is worse than socialism; look at current Russia as an example: having the extreme wealthy have complete control over the entire economy is fostering absolute corruption."
Russia is not an example of unbridled capitalism at all. Russia is owned by a small group of criminals under the watchful eye of a powerful central government ruled by Putin. At best they are an oligarchy with central economic control, and at worst they are communists masquerading as capitalists to bring in investment capital while the government pulls the strings to make sure it all goes to the companies they want. If you meant to say Russia was an example of unbridled government power over the economy blended with unbridled corruption at the highest levels of the public and private sector, then you would be closer to reality.
To be honest, I thought she was only above average as an actual writer.
Although brilliant and quite prescient with regard to her philosophy and plotting, she needed an editor in a BIG way. Melodramatic and stilted dialogue, but as I said, very good plotting and pretty decent characterization. I thought The Fountainhead was much more entertaining than Atlas Shrugged, which should have been cut by at least 300 pages – I mean, Jeez! When Galt takes over the tv station as Mr. Thompson is about to speak to the world, he goes on for 50 pages of rhetorical diatribe, saying the same thing over and over and over and over and over (you get the point).
She also doesn't really acknowledge that there are SOME times when capitalism either needs to be guided or managed (could you imagine if Teddy Roosevelt had not gone after the trusts or not established the national park system? How do we deal with the destitute mentally ill?)
…oh and the most obviously prescient piece of Atlas Shrugged…the $1 Billion-per-year-loser…AMTRAK.
I agree. Not all professors are liberals. At my university (in Missouri), there are a small collection of us–in the humanities department, nonetheless! We are trying to give our students exposure to the other side of things rather than the liberal dogma they are being handed in other classes. However, rather than spouting our own dogma, we try to teach students both sides of an issue and ask them to think critically about that issue.
Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." We can't adequately love our neighbor without applying the same love to ourselves. In other words, if I regularly rake leaves for my neighbor but neglect my own yard, I am in error. While I did benefit my neighbor, I created an eyesore for my neighbors and caused a potential problem with fungus (a result of not removing leaves) that could damage the entire neighborhood.