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Paul Ryan Suddenly Decides That He Hates Ayn Rand
New York Magazine ^ | 4/27/2012 | Dan Amira

Posted on 04/28/2012 11:29:19 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Yesterday, Ryan claimed that Ayn Rand's philosophy "reduces human interactions down to mere contracts and it is antithetical to my worldview." But in 2005, Ryan said, "The reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand," and in 2003, he claimed that he gave out copies of Atlas Shrugged as Christmas presents. And those two examples are really only the tip of the Rand-love iceberg. Is this how you impress Mitt Romney? By proving that you can flip-flop as egregiously as


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: aynrand; paulryan; rand
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To: Secret Agent Man

Exactly!


21 posted on 04/28/2012 12:40:40 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: shalom aleichem
The art is always greater than the artist who made it. In real life Rand wasn't anything close to her alter-ego Dagny Taggart...but she was able to give us Dagny Taggart.

As for Ryan, he is a Congressman - not a social worker. His job would be far better done based on Rand's principles (restraining government to the role of neutral arbiter) than those of Aquinas.

22 posted on 04/28/2012 12:46:57 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves (CTRL-GALT-DELETE)
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To: TBP

Here is an article that shows how desparately media tries to pillory Republicans because they say something nice about Rand’s philosophy. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75667.html


23 posted on 04/28/2012 12:47:26 PM PDT by shalom aleichem
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To: RIghtwardHo

I did not dive in to the “Atlas Shrugged” book, but the movie was an eyeopener. I can only asuume the book is a philiosophy book, because it sure isn’t about technological innovation. The technical/economic dscussions about Reardon metal were a joke and made Star Trek’s transparent aluminum seems much more plausible. Don’t even get me started on that stupid engine they found. An utter fantasy and complete nonsense.


24 posted on 04/28/2012 12:52:53 PM PDT by BRK
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To: greatvikingone; Impy; fieldmarshaldj
>> Rand is exciting when first read, but she is not the ultimate philosopher. It is OK to outgrow her. <<

Ayn Rand put me to sleep when first read. Glad to see Paul Ryan has the joined the "conservatives who don't like Rand's stuff" club, but I've been a member since High School.

25 posted on 04/28/2012 12:59:53 PM PDT by BillyBoy (Illegals for Perry/Gingrich 2012 : Don't be "heartless"/ Be "humane")
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To: TBP; fieldmarshaldj; Impy
But given the fervency of her acolytes (somewhat like the Paulies) <<

There's a lot of overlap between Ron Paulistians and Ayn Randroids. If I had to guess, I'd say 80% of Ron Paul worshippers also worship Ayn Rand, and vice versa. Their ultimate fantasy would be to resurrect her from the grave so she can be Paul's running mate.

26 posted on 04/28/2012 1:03:22 PM PDT by BillyBoy (Illegals for Perry/Gingrich 2012 : Don't be "heartless"/ Be "humane")
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To: All

For a look at our future, read “Anthem” by Ayn Rand.....


27 posted on 04/28/2012 1:07:28 PM PDT by JW1949
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To: nickcarraway

Lots of people, including yours truly, are conflicted about Ayn Rand and Objectivism. Aspects of her philosophy are attractive to Conservatives, especially as the Democratic (and to a lesser extent while giving lip service to freedom and individualism, the Republican) Party has become ever more overtly Marxist. But without a moral foundation based on some belief in a higher power and purpose to human existence it is coldly sterile.


28 posted on 04/28/2012 1:25:59 PM PDT by katana (Just my opinions)
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To: sam_paine

Good point.

Rand is an interesting writer, and made some good points. However, she is a cold fish when it comes to understanding normal human life. Her own history is an example.

It is rather normal for a person to have different views at different times: it is a way of maturing.


29 posted on 04/28/2012 1:47:31 PM PDT by docbnj
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
‘free trade’ isn't really free trade according to true economic principals, nor is crony capitalism, capitalism.
30 posted on 04/28/2012 1:48:54 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!-Sam Adams)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Careful, CNN, you’ve given name to one of the elephants crowding the modern conservative room... you can expect howls of astonishment and calls for your head. But honestly, as damning as it sounds, protecting our industrial base is inconsequential if we won’t even protect our own borders.


31 posted on 04/28/2012 1:50:06 PM PDT by Chiltepe
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To: nickcarraway
"reduces human interactions down to mere contracts

That the innocent should pay is the demand of those who reject the trader principle.This leads to subjectivistic egoism,force, the ends justify the means,might makes right, and violations of natural rights.

32 posted on 04/28/2012 1:51:10 PM PDT by mjp ((pro-{God, reality, reason, egoism, individualism, natural rights, limited government, capitalism}))
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To: JW1949

For a well reasined expose of our (regressively tribal) present, read “Return of the Primative” (Sharpton-Martin-Zimmerman?)


33 posted on 04/28/2012 1:57:31 PM PDT by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations - The acronym explains the science.)
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To: greatvikingone

If one is a politician nothing is ok


34 posted on 04/28/2012 1:59:31 PM PDT by woofie (It takes three villages and a forest of woodland creatures to raise a child in Obamaville)
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To: nickcarraway

I vehemently disagree with Ayn Rand’s political ploy of “going Galt”. I think it is a very dangerous way to demonstrate against the corrupt political-economic situation that the collectivist bundlers are ramming down our throats for the purpose of controlling us and seizing all our wealth.

I recently attended my local Tea Party’s monthly meeting. The speaker told us that “America will not survive another four years with Obama as President” period. He ignores our Constitution and he will have all of the “flexibility” to sell out our country to our enemies while he literally destroys our capability to sustain our standard of living here at home by “crucifying” our energy producers through his regulations and executive orders as he confiscates our wealth through higher taxes and continues his massive irresponsible, unbudgeted spending to the point that we won’t even be able to pay the resulting interest portion let alone the debt, itself.

I asked what we can do at the grass roots level. The response was, to sign up as a precinct committee member. Have a say in selecting “conservative” members for elected office. Guard against the expected massive fraud by volunteering to observe the voting procedures at your local polling place in November. Visually take notes while observing and let them see you writing your notes and don’t leave your post for anything, until well after the polls close and the votes are properly documented and turned in.

Above all, don’t “go Gault”. Don’t give up your right to the freedom that protects us all - your vote.


35 posted on 04/28/2012 1:59:52 PM PDT by Enough is ENOUGH (None dare call them "communists" per their ideologies and policies...)
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To: mjp
This leads to subjectivistic egoism,force, the ends justify the means,might makes right, and violations of natural rights.

and thus the entire record of human history. When will we ever learn?

;^)

36 posted on 04/28/2012 2:01:56 PM PDT by headsonpikes (Mass murder and cannibalism are the twin sacraments of socialism - "Who-whom?"-Lenin)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Funny thing is many have come back to the USA for quality reasons.

This is the way it usually works with any country that is not free. Free countries like Japan make junk, them better junk, then good products, them excellent products. The people advance as the quality of the products advance.


37 posted on 04/28/2012 2:02:28 PM PDT by A Strict Constructionist (We're an Oligrachy...Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. Thomas Jefferson)
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To: nickcarraway; Publius

Phone call for Mr. Publius. Calling Mr. Publius.

A rather interesting real life turn of events good sir.

May God guide our course out of this mess.
Tatt


38 posted on 04/28/2012 2:04:48 PM PDT by thesearethetimes... ("Courage, is fear that has said its prayers." Dorothy Bernard)
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To: thesearethetimes...

Saw the article. Had it been longer and more substantive, I would have pinged the book club.


39 posted on 04/28/2012 2:05:56 PM PDT by Publius
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To: Tanniker Smith

I think it is supposed to be out in the fall. Before the election...

Tatt


40 posted on 04/28/2012 2:06:59 PM PDT by thesearethetimes... ("Courage, is fear that has said its prayers." Dorothy Bernard)
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