…when Ayn Rand quotes become adequate.
This one was always adequate about capitalism. It’s the rest that is problem. Do remember that libertarians are completely delusional in that they criticize capitalism but see even more capitalism as a cure.
Yes. Many years ago, I had a hot summer affair with Ayn Rand. Moaning with pleasure, I read “Atlas Shrugged” through (including 181-pages long programmatic monologue of John Galt). When I finished reading, I looked around, and said to myself, “No f… way!”
Historically, that was my turning point towards anarchism.
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Atlas Shrugged is a great book. You don’t need to agree with Ayn Rand’s politics to say so. This quote is spot on, and applies to Capitalism as well (which Rand probably didn’t have in mind, but still).
Atlas Shrugged is a great book.
Lmao no it’s not, have you actually read it? It is a long and incredibly boring mess. It is drawn out and incredibly badly written to the point of being one of the biggest chores to read ever, it is absolutely filled with multi-page character monologues about how the world would be a great place if literally everyone in it was the biggest piece of shit ever.
All you need to read is the introduction to Hank Reardon to understand Ayn Rand. Skip the rest because it will bore the fuck out of you.
Hank Rearden is introduced as the Ubermensch industrialist, a titan of industry, who has just invented a new type of steel alloy (rather, he takes credit for the invention by his scientists) that’s twice as strong but half as heavy. In his introduction we get to see it through his eyes and what you learn is: he’s a miserable fuck who thinks his wife is a terrible shrew for having the gall to get annoyed that he wasn’t present for the wedding anniversary that she invited him to, and that when he finally does show up, he gifts her a bracelet described as being ugly and brutalist made out of his new steel… then gets even more annoyed when she doesn’t seem thrilled by it.
And you too can become an objectivist today! You too can be a miserable fuck who hates anyone that has the gall to ask for a little bit of your time and emotional support! You too can steal other people’s work!
Shit ideology but also a shit book. The most common complaint is that it’s BORING. Even Ursual K Le Guin said so.
“What books didn’t influence me?” she writes. “If only someone would ask that! I’ve been waiting for years to answer it. Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand, I will say, had absolutely no influence on me except to cause hours of incredulous boredom. I thought in all fairness I ought to try The Fountainhead. I gave up on page 10.”
Boring.
