Ayn Rand's Problem With the Right

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I will agree that the author of a narrative does not have exhibit the acts enacted into their work. However, if one is trying to take a work and implicate it into a grand scheme or bigger picture (our government). Then the author's actions should in fact be taken into consideration. If this is not done all we are left with is an empty theory. Is this not what the Right is currently doing to President Obama? Are they not calling him a man of all action and no words? I believe the answer to this is yes, and I thus find it both ironic and amusing that people like Glenn Beck will attempt to glorify Ayn Rand and condemn President Obama. The fact is Ayn Rand was neither conservative nor liberal. She was an atheist, and amongst other things lived a very "un-conservative" life. However her views of capitalism do not coincide with the liberals form of government. Thus she was neither. Ayn Rand was an objectivist, and for us to try and mold her ideals to fit into a political party is absurd and an insult to her great work.

Eddie of TX 5:20AM December 30, 2009

Once conservatives discover the essence of Ayn Rand's philosophy, they'll hate her just as much as the liberals do. Notice Beck's statement "Marriage is the building block of the universe." This is, essentially, Hillary Clinton's famous phrase "it takes a village" simply repackaged. Instead of the individual requiring his neighbors for validation, he requires his spouse. It's still what Ayn Rand called second-handedness (ie: defining yourself by your relations to others), just with a different target.
Ayn Rand's ideas are fundamentally opposed to both conservative and liberal thought precisely because conservative and liberal thought are fundamentally identical.

Grant of FL 9:56PM November 06, 2009

A lot of what I hear has to do with "Atlas Shrugged" and the story that it tells. While the author is definitely part of the story I don't necessarily expect them to live by the same virtues. Just as a murder mystery writer isn't necessarily a murderer and a fantasy writer doesn't spend time with dragons. Ayn Rand's personal motivations are of little use in the discussion of the ideals being related in her story. The comparison of the looter in "Atlas Shrugged" and the idea the current administration tries to prepetuate that we are somehow owed health care, better jobs, more money, and green vehicles is a valid argument.
The idea of working hard for what you have and being proud of it is entirley American. The idea of not wanting the gov't. stepping in and arbitrarily saying you make too much money, because you make over $500,000, you need to pay more in taxes. Having gov't. say you took our money now we're cutting your pay by up to 90%. Sounds a lot like the looter or the thief.
So while Ayn Rand may not be what the right is "looking" for, the ideal of earning what you have and being thankful to those that have come before is a well learned lesson in a thought provoking story.

TheFarmer of IA 10:01PM November 02, 2009