Time to go back to the basics. Watch these interviews of Ayn Rand on Donahue.

Jackson Jambalaya ^ | Feburary 11, 2009 | Kingfish

[prplhze2000]

JJ is posting a treat for you today as I found these clips of Ayn Rand, Objectivist philosopoher and author Atlas Shrugged, appearing on Phil Donahue's show decades ago. Even at her advanced age, her wittiness and sharp intellect is on full display as she enjoys the give and take with Phil. She makes some statements conservatives today would do well to heed. Enjoy.

[Former Proud Canadian]

mark

[matginzac]

Thanks - saved it for later enjoyment. Gagging at Dona-peeuw, though. Brings back memories of shear disgust. Thank God he’s gone...

[DariusBane]

Ping for later

[prplhze2000]

Actually Phil isn’t too bad in these clips. He is clearly enjoying the give and take with her, doesn’t take himself too seriously, and is funny at times. this was from when his show was strictly a local show in Chicago if I’m not mistaken.

[techcor]

Thanks. Ping for later.

[righttackle44]

Really be interested to know why I
as a conservative should be interested
in what Rand has to say, especially when
both she AND her followers seem to relish
bashing whatever Faith and compassionate
philosphical positions I hold.

No thanks. Ayn Rand, as a remedy, is as
bad as the poison.

[unkus]

Thanks-ping for later

[paulycy]

[prplhze2000]

another Bible thumper who got his feelings hurt. And I’m writing that as a Southern Baptist fundamentalist.

[paulycy]

Really be interested to know why I as a conservative should be interested in what Rand has to say

Undiluted, Objectivism is a bit harsh and stark for real life.

One thing a conservative can get from her books is an in-depth study of the kinds of arguments that collectivists make and the direct results of their philosophies.

Nowhere else have I, at least, found a more powerful explanation and indictment of how evil and destructive the collectivist mentality is. You end up with a very valuable education in how to think and speak about the issues we see *today* with the collectivist Obama administration and all the lefties being unleashed on us right now.

Ayn Rand was an adamant atheist, but that was not her main point, besides self-autonomy which, to her, does not include God.

If you trash the rest because of this one issue then you do so at your own loss, IMO. :0)

[Ghengis]

bttt

[romanesq]

Wow, what a score. Awesome and if anything reveals how shallow TV is today.
Of course with the rest of our “culture.”

[romanesq]

You hit it on the head. People are forgetting that it is not all of her views that are the threat to our society today, but the polar opposite that she illuminates and that is now holding power in government, media and other institutions.

She is an ally of those who wish to think, see and oppose the collective.

For that alone, her work is perfectly applicable to today.

[EternalVigilance]

When I read Ayn Rand’s stuff I find much to admire. But I always have an empty feeling when I’m done. It lacks a certain essential Essence, shall we say.

Which is one of the reasons I say that Libertarianism, which draws heavily on Rand’s Objectivism, is, broadly speaking, conservatism minus God.

Which, of course means that it always ultimately falls short of the mark. It goes astray.

America’s cornerstone founding principle, after all, is that our rights come from the Creator, not from any man, and that therefore they are unalienable.

[prplhze2000]

My take on Atlas Shrugged was evenutally I was reading Beyond Good and Evil set to fiction.

[posterchild]

I saw the first 3 clips and was impressed to see real conversation happening. The interview included real questions relevant to the topic instead of a bunch of insipid formulaic questions designed to elicit a soundbite. He had his quick tirade but overall it seems like a good interview. Hadn’t seen such behavior on TV in a long time.

[alloysteel]

I watched all the parts of the interview, and Ayn Rand was solidly founded in her belief system. That is, there is no God as imagined by many people, but there is a profound order to the universe. We are not merely an assembly of atoms, but part of a very intricate web of life, each with discrete capability of action, and we remain, always, responsible for our own well-being. It is our right, our duty, to extend that well-being only so far as it remains of value to ourselves, than would be in the case of sacrificing ourselves to a lesser value, or no value. Altruism is the worst sin of all, as it proves to be a total abnegation of self, and the complete opposite of self-awareness and personal responsibility.

The perfect founding statement for libertarians. Ayn Rand never pretended to be anything but.

Greed may not be an unmitigated good, but it is a darned sight better than surrender and retreat. Becoming somebody else’s supper is no justifiable fate for anybody.

[CanadianLibertarian]

Definitely true. Rand’s work starts with a definite sort of “Hellenistic” spiritual feel to it....but as her relentless rationalism went on squeezing the life out of it, it became arid and dried out. Strange thing is, she makes the same sort of error that liberals do....try to reduce everything to strict mathematical rationality. And then wonder why all joy and juice and spirit goes out of it.

[youturn]

mark for later