Remembering the Real Ayn Rand

Wall Street Journal ^ | 4/14/11 | DONALD L. LUSKIN

[BCrago66]

Tomorrow's release of the movie version of "Atlas Shrugged" is focusing attention on Ayn Rand's 1957 opus and the free-market ideas it espouses. Book sales for "Atlas" have always been brisk—and all the more so in the past few years, as actual events have mirrored Rand's nightmare vision of economic collapse amid massive government expansion. Conservatives are now hailing Rand as a tea party Nostradamus, hence the timing of the movie's premiere on tax day.

When Rand created the character of Wesley Mouch, it's as though she was anticipating Barney Frank (D., Mass). Mouch is the economic czar in "Atlas Shrugged" whose every move weakens the economy, which in turn gives him the excuse to demand broader powers. Mr. Frank steered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to disaster with mandates for more lending to low-income borrowers. After Fannie and Freddie collapsed under the weight of their subprime mortgage books, Mr. Frank proclaimed last year: "The way to cure that is to give us more authority." Mouch couldn't have said it better himself.

[Durus]

I’m relaxed, no worries.

[KC Burke]

I have always thought that the Whittaker Chambers’ review of Atlas Shrugged at the time it was published was the perfect counterbalance for conservatives to understand its appeal and flaws.

Chambers, like Rand, was schooled non-traditionally and where she grew up in the Soviet Russia, he grew up in the Soviet sphere, albeit here.

What budding young intellect doesn't identify and find affirmation in the celebration of intelligence and productivity in Rand's story. It is difficult not to read it and look at Objectivism flavors of libertarian ideology subsequently. Most find the ideology rather thin as a basis for all of life, social order, economics, world history and politics. With me, I have often said there is a bay leaf of this sort of thought in my stew of general conservatism. It wouldn't be stew without it — but you don't eat it or make a dish of it alone.

Chambers’ review:
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/222482/big-sister-watching-you/flashback

[WOBBLY BOB]

that’s bill buckley in a wig!