Miss Rand's ethics and politics are far more widely influential than in 1957, both among intellectuals and the general public. Entrepreneurialism, startup cultu

Miss Rand's ethics and politics are far more widely influential than in 1957, both among intellectuals and the general public. Entrepreneurialism, startup culture, modern self-esteem, and individualism have prospered along with the cultural changes Rand was a part of far beyond what seemed possible when that book was written. And the Western nations are nowhere near socialism. In the 1950s tax rates topped out around 90%, banks had a stranglehold on capital guaranteed by state run cartels, and you needed a license from a state mandated monopoly to even connect to a telecom network which they would grant rarely at their pleasure if they liked what you might do with it. You couldn't carry money through most countries in person or via a bank and trade often required renting a politician to get permission. People forget how good they have it today.