: First, I must take issue with the reference to Ayn Rand as being "the bitch from hell." One, it is an ad hominem argument, and two, the word "bitch" is a sexist term. What if one were to refer to a African-American or Hispanic whom one disagrees with as "a 'nigger' or 'spick' from hell?" I think perhaps the offensive term should speak clearly for itself.Referring to her as a bitch from hell is perfectly defensible. She EARNED the epithet by her repulsive philosophy.
: About Ayn Rand: I agree with many of the arguments presented against Ayn Rand. For example, she (conveniently?) ignores that the maverick American capitalist built his fortune on slaughtering a race of people who occupied the land before him, and our "self-made" American capitalists such as the oil, railroad, automotive, telephone & telegraph, computer, and air travel industries were heavily subsidized by the government. After all, only a centralized industry could have had the resources and coordination available to create a massive communicative and transportative infrastructure such as exists in the U.S.
: Nevertheless, she is on the mark with much of her argument against religion, although her arguments were borrowed from David Hume and Bertrand Russell among others. But maybe I should save this argument for religion/anti-religion debate pages.
WHy is she on the mark? She isn't any more right than either of those thinkers was. They were both under the impression that in the absence of any proof one way or teh other about the existence of God, it amde more sense to disbelieve tahn to believe. Well, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, to quote the late great Carl Sagan. You have to make a choice about whether or not to believbe in God, and either one of the alternatives involves a leap of faith. Why si it anhy more sensible to "assume" that God doesn't exist? The problem with being anti-religion is that it takes away a major source of transcendental valeus, and leaves people like Ayn free to exploit others for personal gain. Well I've got news for Ayn. There are more important things then what you want, Ayn./ You do not ahve the right to exploit others for your eprsonal gain. Self sacrofice is better than selfishness, that is a message of every great religion. there is a God, and thsoe who follow capitalism and greed are not following in the divine path.
: Also, I feel that Rand's experience with Russian Communism is a crucial influence that makes her react negatively to any collective effort, even by those who do not intend to enslave or be enslaved.
This does not excuse her from promoting teh enslavement and exploitation of others. her bad experience does not invalidate the merits of communism, nor does it make her an authority on communism.
: A side note: Rand also thought the then-Govenor Reagan was a wonderful example of an individualist "no-government-interference" kind-of-guy. Interesting indeed since Reagan's presidental government displayed some of the heaviest state intervention policies in recent years, not in social programs, mind you, but in using miltaries to invade or bomb countries who display positions contrary to the US corporate agenda. Or worse, actively worked to subvert or overthrow popularly elected governments in Central America.
: Replies anybody?
yes, it's typical that Ayn would be a follower of Ronald Reagan. Libertarians like her are only libertarian when it doesn't involve people choosing their form of economic system. If they should schoose communism, then free choice doesn't count, we must crush them with teh sword.
Another side note- just laugh teh next time you hear about Marxists succumbing to the cult of personality. Ayn Rand's followers exalt her name and her sacred writings more than the marxists ever did to Marx.
: : : My impulse for coming here was to learn more about Ayn Rand and what people on this site think of her. Growing up in a government run, capitalist controlled school system
: : A contradiction. A capitalist society would not have govt run schools. Separation of state and church, state and education, state and economics.
: : : I am shocked and dismayed at how shallow and narrow minded her...
: : I thought you were going to say *why* rather than just repeat your feelings on the matter.
: : : I'd be more than happy to provide examples of the generalizations I've stated here but I would first like to solicit a general response to Ayn Rand. Any takers?
: : Oh good, thats what I would like to see- an issue discussed. Ad homineins are boring (and are not arguments), and Rand is continuoully assaulted with them (read book reviews of her stuff, its either praise of the book or ad homineins of the person) - so insulting rand is even more boring than usual!
