Posted on 04/23/2009 8:15:13 AM PDT by Bob J
We've been having a discussion on what makes one a conservative on another thread here.
But I thought I would also get FReeper opinions on this question because it goes to core of the issue.
I wouldn’t describe Ayn Rand as a “conservative” in the American political sense. She is best described as an “objectivist”. She’s probably much closer to a libertarian than a conservative. However, her views on economics and freedom mirror modern day conservatives very closely.
She could be a conservative, just not a religious conservative. Must we all fit into one shape size box?
So would you call her a conservative or not? Pretty much a yes or no question.
No, of course not -- despite William F. Buckley's attempts to the contrary. She believed in the liberty of the individual. That should be the overarching requirement for consideration as a conservative. IMHO.
Ayn Rand was very much a libertarian.
Go to youtube and search Ayn Rand for some great interviews.
.....Bob
Ayn Rand had no use for conservatives and would have been insulted if you called her one. She considered herself an Objectivist, which is a far cry from a conservative.
Rand DID have a sense of the “moral” and the “immoral” and she came to correct conclusions on many issues.
Rand wrote in another time, where the economic liberals, the socialists, the communists, were on the march.
Rand says little or nothing about gay marriage, abortion, euthanasia, prayer in schools or any other religious issues, and she is absolutely correct in her portrayal of the moral degeneracy of socialism.
That is good enough for me, but I do pray that God gave her a chance to know the Truth, on the religious issues as well.
Many people have a “box” contructed of their own views and if you don’t fit in it you are not a conservative in their book.
ALL Ayn was concerned about was money. Money was her god.
If you think money alone is the root of our problem you are as silly as Ayn Rand. Social morality was nothing she had any time for since she was an EXTREME social liberal. I would hope that some people have matured beyond this narcissistic, self centered view.
Among authors and philosophers, Ayn Rand is noteworthy for her atheism and uncompromising opposition to religion. Unlike many non-believers who see utilitarian value to religion, Rand is somewhat unique in seeing (with minor exceptions) virtually no value to religion.LINK:http://www.solohq.org/Articles/Parille/Ayn_Rand,_Objectivism,_and_Religion_(Part_1_of_4).shtml
We’ll never win elections again though if we are too narrow and fragmented.
I wouldn’t call her a conservative, at all.
Conservatism has 3 planks: national security, shared values, and fiscal discipline. I have taken lately to adding a 4th out of current necessity: protection of free markets.
Rand was probably the most purely consistent libertarian that I’ve ever read. Atlas Shrugged is amazingly on point to this current Administration. Barney Frank starring as Wesley Mouch. . .
I respect Rand’s fiscal viewpoint of government. I wish more Republicans had a similar viewpoint. That’s not the same as her being a Conservative.
She believed in Government staying out of business “laisse fare” mentality. The little I know about her seemed to be for Capitalism and against Socialism/Communism.
Does not sound like she believed in God...DUH!
It depends on your definition of:
conservative
liberal
objectivist
libertarian
progressive
I’m sure John McCain’s definitions diverge from mine.
Rand based her philosophy on pure logic. She absolutely disregarded anything remotely mystical or faith based from her philosophy. She’s no more a “conservative” than Aristotle.
It depends on if she is for deficit ‘free’ trade deals and being world’s super nation builder.
Correct. However, she believed liberty was secondary to freedom. This is the very reason she criticized Libertarians.
“shared values”
What are those?
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