It has no worth.

It creates no value.

This weekend I saw "Who is Ron Paul" spray-painted on a sign on 50th in Wallingford. I puked a little in my mouth. Right-wing Libertarians ARE NOT the same as Obectivists.

Has anyone seen the "Who is Ron Paul" sign on 50th? It made me yak in my mouth a little.

you wouldn't think ayn rand & buddha could meet, but in his mind, they do.

@16 and @24: Excellent.

http://www.anti-state.com/article.php?article_id=332

Or, just place it above the urinal. ;-)

I remember my senior year in highschool my mom tried to make me apply or a scholarship that was awarded based on essays on The Fountainhead. I despised the book and never wrote the essay, but I was amused that the winners of the essay contest were decided by committee.

Ayn Rand represents a viewpoint that exists, and to that end, I find thinking about her ideas interesting. I don't feel the need to entirely agree or disagree with her.

But, to dismiss her absolutely is certainly ironic.

I'll light the match, since I'm most fit to burn it, as a former Burner and member of the Fremont Fire Circle.

Oh, I'm kidding guys. All in good fun. All in good fun.

2. Auction it off and donate the proceeds to the IWW.

3. Auction it off and use the proceeds to buy a really good fire extinguisher, then set fire to Charle's cubicle.

4. Ask Rathke to do a portrait of Bertolt Brecht in a similar style, then auction both off and see which one fetches a higher price.

(note: this is only funny if you have read Sewer, Gas and Electric. and if you haven't, what the hell is wrong with you?)

Added irony: Make anyone bidding on it buy a copy of "Atlas Shrugged" and donate the proceeds from that as well.

Burn, baby, burn.

How embarrassing that yet another person doesn't have the slightest idea of what fascism actually is and why the Nazi's were in fact fascists to the extreme.

Perhaps if you actually read her books you might be enlightened enough to understand the difference between her beliefs as they are written in her books and true fascism.

Slinging the word Nazi around for everything you disagree with lacks intelligence and makes you seem somewhat doltish.

Ayn Rand is to literature, what Larry King is to Journalism.

next.

Though I can easily imagine her taking Leni Riefenstahl's place had she been a German film maker with a suitably masterful German man/Nazi party member around to hold her in his treetrunk arms. Of course, her complete lack of sex appeal might have nixed her chances.

You must be quite the collectivist parasite.

Also it rightly belongs collectively to my montreal loft, so you can send it on over. I guess we would join forces to do the whole essay thing as proof if it's really necessary.

All poor Ayn needed was a good editor, and she could have been the Jackie Collins of her time. Unfortunately, there was no one to save her from her inner Libertarian.

Except Bill. Bill's the Man.

Or have Savage present it to Hugo Chavez so he can say, "I'm still sooo cool and ironic".

It's a kind of madness, you see. It's like being colorblind. It's like autism. I think they will teach her one day in psychology; she certainly shouldn't be mentioned in advanced philosophy or lit.

While little Ayn deserves to be berated to no end for her endlessly faulty way of thinking, I don't think most people who criticize her quite understand what's going on in those books of hers, nor do they quite grasp why she continues to maintain a kind of thrall over teenagers and maladjusted freaks much like herself.

Kudos for Ayn, though, for being such an addicting meme that she should still attract so much attention, and so many commenters.

Posted by NaFun | March 19, 2008 2:54 PM

NaFun, you're not right about that. Check it.

http://www.objectivistcenter.org/cth--406-FAQ_Virtue_Selfishness.aspx

Like any philosopher, some of Ayn Rand's ideas bear contemplating and others are off in left field. I think people get caught up in her use of the word "selfishness" and her dislike of altruism but ignore her love of the driven passionate spirit and the uncompromising artistic spirit.

Although that statement would probably make her crazy as Objectivism was sort of an all or nothing proposition for her.

I've read the linked page several times and can't see anywhere where it says "Ayn Rand says charity is bad."

It does say "self-sacrifice is irrational and therefore evil" but I think there's a wide gulf between those two statements.

Basically: Martyrdom is bad, but giving to/helping others can be good, depending on the situation and the (in)tangible benefits to the self.