"It's Ayn Rand's America Now"

[Garrett78]

As we hope the CIA of all agencies might save us from absolute devastation in the form of Trump (and all those he's wanting to head up agencies/departments that they despise), I came across an article that I think is worth a read. "The GOP has been the party of cruelty for decades. In Trump, it's found its champion."

And I'm once again reminded of when Rand Paul's father was asked at a 2011 Republican primary debate if an uninsured sick person should just be allowed to die.

Excerpt:

In most quarters, in 1961, this stuff would have been regarded as nearly sociopathic nonsense, but, as Vidal noted, Rand was already gaining adherents: “She has a great attraction for simple people who are puzzled by organized society, who object to paying taxes, who hate the ‘welfare state,’ who feel guilt at the thought of the suffering of others but who would like to harden their hearts.”

Because he was writing at a time when there was still such a thing as right-wing guilt, Vidal couldn’t possibly have foreseen what would happen: Ayn Rand became the guiding spirit of the governing party of the United States. Her values are the values of that party. Vidal couldn’t have foreseen it because he still saw Christianity as a kind of ineluctable force in America, particularly among small-town conservatives, and because Rand’s “philosophy” couldn’t have been more anti-Christian. But, then, Vidal couldn’t have thought so many Christians would abandon Jesus’ teachings so quickly for Rand’s. Hearts hardened.

The transformation and corruption of America’s moral values didn’t happen in the shadows. It happened in plain sight. The Republican Party has been the party of selfishness and the party of punishment for decades now, trashing the basic precepts not only of the Judeo-Christian tradition, but also of humanity generally.

Vidal again: “That it is right to help someone less fortunate is an idea that has figured in most systems of conduct since the beginning of the race.” It is, one could argue, what makes us human. The opposing idea, Rand’s idea, that the less fortunate should be left to suffer, is what endangers our humanity now. I have previously written in this space how conservatism dismantled the concept of truth so it could fill the void with untruth. I called it an epistemological revolution. But conservatism also has dismantled traditional morality so it could fill that void. I call that a moral revolution.

[ucrdem]

1. Yep.

Even Putin has more compassion than the Houston oil boys. Depressing isn't it.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

2. Where do I get the cigarettes with dollar signs on them?

It's hard for me to grasp how adults can fall for Ayn Rand's nonsense.

[classof56]

5. Rational, thinking adults can't.

I'd hate to believe those that do are as pathological as she was, but alas, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Which makes me wonder, who's gonna clean the mansions, cook the meals, and roll those dollar sign cigarettes when Randians are the only ones left on the planet? Be interesting to see how they fare in the post-Apocalyptic world they're determined to unleash on all of us. One can only hope their well-deserved kharma is gonna kick in big time. Sadly, it won't be soon enough to save Mother Earth and those who care about her. I weep at the prospect.

.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

7. Anyone who read her books might have the impression...

... that people like Nikola Tesla would be the most successful in an unfettered capitalistic society, but all it takes is a quick historical review to realize that's not how it works.

I can forgive some dumb teenagers who might get swept up in her fantasy world, but not anyone who's old enough to see the system in action.

[andym]

3. Mike Wallace interviews Ayn

Note the section about changing the American way of life:

[MANative]

4. She was a fucking lunatic, in a truly clinical sense.

It makes total sense that the psychopaths and sociopaths who are the core of conservatism would worship her idiocy. FSM, I hate that she lived.

[classof56]

6. Great post.

You do your DU family proud.

[Garrett78]

8. Thanks, ma-in-law.

[resistance2016]

9. Ayn Rand is burning in the deepest pit of Hell right now, and will forever

Right next to goddamn Reagan. Rand and her "philosophy" is not compatible with life. Whenever someone dies due to hunger to poverty, SHE is directly responsible.