Reasons to be Optimistic about Ayn Rand's Influence on American Culture

http://www.aynrand.org

Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of The Ayn Rand Institute discusses why he is optimistic about Objectivism's prospects to impact the culture.

One million copies of Ayn Rand's books have been distributed to high schools, and millions of students will read her every year. As of 2009, 50 universities have her as required reading. Objectivists are on TV every week. Resistance to teaching Ayn Rand is fading in academia.

Dr. Brook notes that it is a big job to change the culture, and that everyone can contribute. Writing books, articles, blogging, making donations to the Ayn Rand Institute, writing letters to the editor, writing comments on blogs and newspapers can all help.

This is a Q-&-A excerpt from "The Market Failure Fallacy," by Brian P. Simpson delivered January 31, 2008, in Costa Mesa, California.

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[TheMrSeagull]

@aubreydsinger "was" being the key phrase - When he became Chairman of the Federal Reserve, he decided that "...in a democratic society individuals have to make compromises with each other..." He compromised on a core principle of the philosophy, and in taking a position with the Federal Reserve, he essentially renounced the fourth principle of Objectivism – laissez-faire Capitalism.

[aubreydsinger]

Greenspan was an acolyte. And he basically ruined the economy. Well done.

[Anglagard1]

@g0ssage You seek to dismiss the greatness of Jack London's work with a single word (plagiarist). I suggest you and everybody else read The Apostate (available on the web for free) and judge for yourself its worth. This single short story is worth more than the entire collection of dreck Ms. Rand ever produced.

[g0ssage]

@TheAmazingMorse What I was trying to express is that if I thought people made a big fuzz out of a worse writer than Jack London (a plagiarist) I would be upset as well.

[TheAmazingMorse]

@g0ssage I understand that it is not only English speaking people who use YouTube, so I shall simply say that I don't understand the idea you're trying to express.

[g0ssage]

@TheAmazingMorse I would get viscerally angry as well if I thought someone worst than a plagiarist got all the fame and fortune.

[TheAmazingMorse]

@g0ssage I get viscerally angry at the mention of Ayn Rand's name for the same reason I get angry at the mention of 50 Cents name: because they are mediocrities one cannot seem to avoid while people of true ability are ignored. Again, I recommend you read some of Jack London's work and ask yourself if he is not the superior author.

[g0ssage]

"Why do they become viscerally angry at the mention of Ayn Rand's name? Why do they slander and smear her without actually engaging her ideas? Clearly, there is something they fear in Rand's philosophy, something they don't want you to read. What is it?" - Search: "An Open Letter to America’s Students by C. Bradley Thompson"

[TheAmazingMorse]

Ayn Rand is a crap writer and yet every kid that gets through college seems to at least know of her if not read some of her crappy books. Jack London was perhaps the greatest American writer, and yet I know precious few people who have read his work because he was a socialist. Don't tell me that the country is ruled by socialists because I'm not going to buy it. Rather, it is run by a few selfish bastards that have nothing but contempt for the rest of humanity.

[80sJerm]

Truth definitely counts, Ayn Rand knows socialism and she knows capitalism, freedom comes from God, whom I wish Ayn Rand understood, acknowledged, and gave credit to for the wisdom of liberty -- freedom to choose is from God!!! It is necessary for our growth here! Her ideas on liberty being the best method for the most happiness, prosperity, and morally good society surpasses all governmentally controlled solutions, proposals, controls, and ideas!!!