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
Rand is exciting when first read, but she is not the ultimate philosopher. It is OK to outgrow her.
You can love the book “Atlas Shrugged”, and credit Ayn Rand for shaping your views, without actually accepting her viewpoint. Apparently, the concept that your views are shaped by hearing alternate views is something beyond the grasp of a typical journalist.
Agreed.
Rand never took into account the possibility of a huge communist nation, taking the role of “Galts Gulch”.
Unfortunately, neither have any of her adherents.
(of which I once was)
“Free trade” is a large part, of America’s decline.
Yeah. Her ideas on government relations with the citizens can be good while not having to accept living in a world without people in general.
If so, in what way is free trade to blame (as opposed to a myriad of other government actions, which dull the competitive edge)?
No offense, but all of that is sophistry.
I care not about all the theory and blame.
I simply opine that America has given away, and will never get back, the thing which most contributed to American power.
“Free trade” has been a historic blunder by America, and treachery by those who have contributed, for nothing more than monetary gain.
Selling out one’s own country for monetary gain, is called treason.
Funny thing is many have come back to the USA for quality reasons.
Well, without a magical invisibility shield, China is about as close to being able to implement Galt's Gulch as you can find ove rthe pasy decade.
Will it be able to sustain? Probably not. Neither could Rand's fantasyland. Dagny the only chick in town? It was headed for disaster.
Anyhow, Rand's philosophy about capital and commerce was ok, but her application of it to brutal, loveless passion between men and women as the only rational relationship was weirdness. That's the way genius goes I guess. Get one thing right, and misapply it to everything.
That is non-sensical hyperbole.
Specificallt WHO sold out America? And what problem do you have with "monetary gain", ie., making money?
I have a problem with monetary gain, which results in American loss.
That is treason.
Couldn’t be any simpler. All the rest is distraction.
We never did get part two of that movie, did we....
I don’t care. I find Rand dull and naive. I’ve yet to figure out why ppl get all excited about her. Atlas Shrugged is an utter bore.
Hand in there Ryan.
Santorum 2012
Very well put
I saw an obviously heavily edited video of Mike Wallace interviewing Ayn herself. Her eyes were darting back and forth and her admissions were damaging (although as I say must have been edited a lot because they do nto jive with her real beliefs in some instances) So Ryan probably saw this hit video where a lot of Republicans are shown saying they were influenced by Ayn etc, and making them look horrible by painting her as a witch. A huge Alynsky/media/rat tactic is to attribute to their targets “everything” an objectionable person stands for or says unto their target. Such as if Romney would say he listens to Rush, they then accuse Romney of believing and standing for EVERYTHING Rush espouses. Crazy. [But NEVER attribute any of Rev Wright’s crap to Bambi or Mooch-elle - his 20 year disciples]
I don’t see how Ryan could say he is a acolyte of Ayn Rand and vote for TARP and endorse the auto company [union] bailouts.
Great job of standing on your principles, Paul. But then, I doubt he ever understood Rand anyway.
There is much in Rand that is correct, some even inspiring, and some of it just blighted. But nobody makes the moral case for market capitalism, rather than the practical case, more passionately.
I still remember her commercial for the New York Daily News. They had a campaign where they had writers (from Rand to Jimmy Breslin) endorse the paper. Literally the only words you could make out in the entire ad were "Ayn Rand" and "Daily News." But given the fervency of her acolytes (somewhat like the Paulies), that was probably enough.
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