Ayn Rand on Ron Paul

[milo10]

Yes, as an objectivist I have questioned many of Rand's positions. Rand was not always perfectly rational. She was wrong about many things, and I have a personally refined philosophy that I feel is fully compatible with her core values while reconciling certain positions with reality.

Sorry you felt compelled to respond to the level of criticism of Rand that we see here. I am familiar enough with her work to know how bogus the negative comments here are.

But, I'd rather ask you about something more interesting, because an active Ron Paul supporter who also self-describes as an objectivist is a rare find, and my hat is off to you. I already know how worthless and neoconned ARI are, but how do the more heterodox Ayn Rand groups and individuals view Ron Paul? Also, do any of them tend to be subject to the same Zionism that we see in such an extreme form with ARI? Ayn Rand herself mentioned Israel exactly once in all of her writing, and that at a time when the Palestinians had very little voice in the west.

 

[low preference guy]

But, I'd rather ask you about something more interesting, because an active Ron Paul supporter who also self-describes as an objectivist is a rare find

I wouldn't describe myself as an Objectivist because it wouldn't be 100% correct, but I share Ayn Rand's justification of ethics and capitalism, her view of reason, emotions, aesthetics, and metaphysics. I disagree in a few points though, like intellectual property rights, which I don't think exist, and foreign policy.

 

[Feeding the Abscess]

Most of the hate towards Rand in the movement is because of the ARI, not Rand herself.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

You are aware Ron Paul is a big Rand fan right? Hence Rand Paul

His given name is Randal. I believe he decided he didn't like the common nickname of Randy, so he came up with Rand himself.

 

[milo10]

I disagree in a few points though, like intellectual property rights, which I don't think exist, and foreign policy.

Honestly, did Ayn Rand's foreign policy differ that much from Ron Paul's? I think they were pretty similar. I know ARI presents a vision that makes Cheney and Bolton look like cupcakes, but that was never how I interpreted Rand's own writing.

 

[milo10]

Most of the hate towards Rand in the movement is because of the ARI, not Rand herself.

Exactly. They are absolute scum.

 

[Chrysamere]

Ayn Rand was a disgrace to humanity.

 

[Xenophage]

Sorry you felt compelled to respond to the level of criticism of Rand that we see here. I am familiar enough with her work to know how bogus the negative comments here are.

But, I'd rather ask you about something more interesting, because an active Ron Paul supporter who also self-describes as an objectivist is a rare find, and my hat is off to you. I already know how worthless and neoconned ARI are, but how do the more heterodox Ayn Rand groups and individuals view Ron Paul? Also, do any of them tend to be subject to the same Zionism that we see in such an extreme form with ARI? Ayn Rand herself mentioned Israel exactly once in all of her writing, and that at a time when the Palestinians had very little voice in the west.

Well, I know *several* self-described objectivists, we're all heterodox, and all but one of us are big Ron Paul supporters. There is one particular self-described objectivist who simultaneously idolizes Murray Rothbard and refuses to vote for moral reasons... except that after I wrote him a single, long winded e-mail, he became an activist for Ron Paul and may in fact vote for the first time in thirty years or so.

The non-Paul-supporting objectivist I know has got some sort of ridiculous hang-up about voting for a creationist, as if that had something to do with voting for a politician. Still waiting to see if he'll stop denying logic on this one!

You know, I really have never met an objectivist that the ARI wouldn't think was a heretic. Just goes to show how damaging the ARI has been, and how false the accusation is that we're all part of some cult that idolizes and reveres every word Rand muttered.

 

[low preference guy]

Honestly, did Ayn Rand's foreign policy differ that much from Ron Paul's? I think they were pretty similar. I know ARI presents a vision that makes Cheney and Bolton look like cupcakes, but that was never how I interpreted Rand's own writing.

Her writings are not interventionist, but her comments in interviews sometimes are. She said the U.S. government should help Israel. It's none of its business.

 

[low preference guy]

Ayn Rand was a disgrace to humanity.

Wow! I'm convinced! You gave a very compelling argument.

 

[apriori]

Ayn rand was a racist, eugenicist pig hellbent on destroying the family and society. She and Ron Paul are polar opposites and shouldnt even be mentioned in the same sentence.

Whoa...Rand was NOT a racist. She explicitly denounced racism as the ugliest, most base form of collectivism. Also, Rand was not "hellbent" on stopping people from forming families; she took issue with the concept of "the family" as a collectivist institution, in the sense that Santorum uses it ("What about the rights of the family?"). Ron Paul, I think, would agree with her on this.

I have many problems with Rand's philosophy, but she was NOT racist or hellbent on breaking families up.

 

[niklarin]

Don't you people see that Ron Paul and his philosophy are just a politically correct interpretation of the philosophy of Rand?

 

[Napolitanic Wars]

She argues that Arabs haven't done much to become a first-rate civilization.

 

[Xenophage]

She argues that Arabs haven't done much to become a first-rate civilization.

Yeah, she's right, but she isn't arguing for foreign aid to Israel, either. I actually agree with her in this video. Israel deserves our moral support. However, if she ever argued we should go to war for Israel or send them money, I think she was probably having a stroke at the time.

 

[freshjiva]

If you mean who's side one should be on, Israel or the Arabs, I would certainly say Israel because it's an advanced, technological, civilized country, amidst a group of almost totally primitive savages who have not changed for years and who are racist and who resent Israel because its bringing industry and intelligence and modern technology into their stagnation.

Ayn Rand's work is admirable and I think much of it would be compatible with constitutional libertarianism, but her foreign policy would align right into the neoconservative agenda today.

 

[Xenophage]

Ayn Rand would fit right into the neoconservative agenda today.

Not quite. Her denunciation of the 'arabs' is a collectivist fallacy that massively oversimplifies a complicated situation and demonstrates extreme cultural ignorance, but she would NOT support, and NEVER DID SUPPORT, going to war for the defense of Israel, or sending foreign aid TO ANYBODY. Find me a single time she ever DID and I'll eat my shorts.

 

[tremendoustie]

Don't you people see that Ron Paul and his philosophy are just a politically correct interpretation of the philosophy of Rand?

I don't think so at all. Rand was pro-war in many instances, and opposed private charity. She lauded "selfishness".

Paul's pro-peace, and he wants power shifted back down to the state and local level, and individuals. He thinks we should reach out and help one another, but it shouldn't be done by the federal government.

Other than her opposition to socialism, I don't share very much of Rand's philosophy.

 

[low preference guy]

and opposed private charity.

Ayn Rand: "There is nothing wrong in helping other people, if and when they are worthy of the help and you can afford to help them."

Ayn Rand: "What I am fighting is the idea that charity is a moral duty and a primary virtue."

 

[jmdrake]

Honestly, did Ayn Rand's foreign policy differ that much from Ron Paul's? I think they were pretty similar. I know ARI presents a vision that makes Cheney and Bolton look like cupcakes, but that was never how I interpreted Rand's own writing.

Judge for yourself. Ayn Rand.



Ron Paul.



If Ron Paul adopted Ayn Rand's rhetoric on Israel he would probably be at 35% in the polls, have the support of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin, and he would also lose my respect and my vote.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

I believe quite sincerely that if Ayn Rand were alive in 2011, she would say the same about Ron Paul.

I know ARI presents a vision that makes Cheney and Bolton look like cupcakes, but that was never how I interpreted Rand's own writing.

Unfortunately, we will never know what Ayn's position would be today.

But I would like to believe that she would be a Ron Paul supporter!