General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis Raw Story piece on the number of Ayn Rand fanboys in Trump's cadre is beyond "chilling."
The scary ghost of Ayn Rand looms over the Trump cabinet
KALI HOLLOWAY, ALTERNET
15 DEC 2016 AT 00:23 ET
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/the-scary-ghost-of-ayn-rand-looms-over-the-trump-cabinet/
Ayn Rand was a terrible person who wove a philosophy of selfishness and greed out of the threads of her own psychopathy. Rands writings and speeches should be recognized as rantings suited for an audience of a well-trained therapist, instead of inflicted upon millions of English students.
Rand, who declared altruism a national disease, wrote admiringly of child-murderer William Edward Hickmans callous indifference toward others and his immense, explicit egotism. Her contempt for the poor and middle-class are pronounced by anti-Robin Hoods who brag about stealing from the thieving poor to give to the productive rich. Rand defended Native American genocide and murderous white supremacy, once stating any white person who brought the elements of civilization had the right to take over this continent. Objectivism, Rands refutation of basic human decency in favor of pathological self-interest and ruthless capitalism, was correctly identified as perfect in its immorality by Gore Vidal more than half a century ago. Today its the prevailing ethos of the GOP, embraced by Republicans going back to Ronald Reagan and especially beloved among the incoming Trump administration.
As James Hohmann of the Washington Post notes, Trump pledged his affection to Rand in an interview earlier this year with Kirsten Powers. Trump, who proudly admits he doesnt readneither books nor intelligence briefings that might slow his roll toward starting a nuclear wartold Powers he relates to Howard Roark, the architect protagonist of The Fountainhead. Roark espouses the warped belief that selfishness is a virtue (Mans first duty is to himself) and commits a violent sexual assault. Without specifics, its hard to know precisely where Trump thinks the resemblance begins and ends.
Hohmann writes that Trumps labor secretary pick Andy Puzder is the CEO of CKE Restaurants, which is owned by Roark Capital Group, a private equity fund named after Howard Roark. When the New York Times asked for a few personal insights about Puzder from one of his business cohorts, the fast-food titan was described only as an avid reader who loves Ayn Rand. Puzder recently told the Wall Street Journals Jennifer Grossman that hes advised all six of his kids to read The Fountainhead, in the hope theyll lead the kind of lives of achievement, integrity and independence that Ayn Rand celebrated in her novels.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)It's short, but gets right to the heart of the problem with Madam MeMeMe & Her Devotees. (Worst band name ever!)
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)In short "Satanism is just Ayn Rand with trappings"
vlyons
(10,252 posts)Rand's last novel, wherein all gov bureaucrats are evil "moochers," and the heros are a high-seas pirate, an industrialist, a railroad CEO, and a brilliant guy who destroys America and takes all the fellow hero's off to a remote "Galt's Gulch," where they live happily ever after in a society based on the gold standard.
Staph
(6,251 posts)There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year olds life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)Ted Bundy would be her kind of guy. What a lunatic.
This is a disease that has been simmering, and now has spread to too many on the right.
We are in for a bumpy ride and hopefully somehow this situation jolts working class people who voted for Orange guy back to whatever sense might be in them.
Ayn Rand should be in Hell right now with Hitler and his like.
zippythepinhead
(374 posts)she was addicted to amphetamines [speed freak]
Snarkoleptic
(5,997 posts)Watch her eyes darting around...looks like a speed freak to me.
superpatriotman
(6,247 posts)It sounds like a play I could get behind.
Nay
(12,051 posts)hypocrite.
MrScorpio
(73,630 posts)I guess that this explains President-elect Pussygrabber to a T.
Martin Eden
(12,863 posts)The religious right claims to love Jesus, yet they embrace Ayn Rand.
The Republican Party is an Orwellian psychosis.
zippythepinhead
(374 posts)Much like the nazis such as natural selection and survival of the fittest.
Martin Eden
(12,863 posts)Religion mixed with authoritarianism is a means of control.
zippythepinhead
(374 posts)We would never have defeated the nazis if Americans had adopted her beliefs.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Be afraid. Be very afraid.
zippythepinhead
(374 posts)"On the Road" by Jack Kerouac.