Saturday, March 14, 2009

On The Left-Wing Reaction to John Galt, Ayn Rand, and Tea Parties

Why the "tea parties" are taking off:

On The Left-Wing Reaction to John Galt, Ayn Rand, and Tea Parties by Edward Cline -- Capitalism Magazine
The nation -- indeed, the world -- is waking up to the idea that ideas have consequences. One idea is that sacrificing is not a life-enhancing option and will lead to misery or death. Another is that the heedless policy of a spendthrift is not a rational course of action. Another is that adopting the policy of a spendthrift benefits no one but a politician who advocates it as a sound fiscal policy. Envy is not a paying proposition. “Class warfare” in the form of “soaking the rich” to help the poor assures mutual impoverishment. There are so many more altruist and collectivist ideas that are being grasped by millions as a collective prescription for penury and extinction.




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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting version of Christianity you've got going there, Ron. I'm not a believer, but from what I've read, I seriously doubt that Jesus would have advocated "going Galt."

Ardsgaine said...

Just out of curiosity, how do you square the rejection of self-sacrifice with Christian ethics?

Ron Ballew said...

Both interesting observations. I would tend to not agree with Rand in many areas, and never said that I did.

I tend to advocate small government simply because government by its nature is inefficient. I think that some on the conservative side like Rand because they feel that Obama is taking government to new extremes (think new deal II).

Rand "supported laissez-faire capitalism, holding that the sole function of government ought to be the protection of individual rights, including property rights." Is very enticing to many. Concerning her views on Christianity, or religion in general, I reject them (this concerns her philosophy of objectivism).

All in all interesting stuff, certainly not Christian though elements can be held by Christians.

Personally, I would like to see Christianity get back to its community relational model.

Anonymous said...

I believe that Rand advocated for selfishness. That strikes me as going directly against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Ron Ballew said...

Among other things, she was also very anti religion.

Some of her concept of selfishness is a reaction to her own child hood and the Bolshevik revolution that she lived through.

I think why she is becoming popular is that she advocated a type of protest when the wealthy (industrialists etc.) take a time out when they are over taxed.

That is resonating with many.

When you get right down to it, capitalism is based on selfishness. Which is the normal state for humanity without Christ.