2 ms·

I'm a fan of Rand's ideas, more or less, but come on. Atlas Shrugged has some interesting ideas, which were very novel and taboo in their day (some might say s

I'm a fan of Rand's ideas, more or less, but come on. Atlas Shrugged has some interesting ideas, which were very novel and taboo in their day (some might say still somewhat taboo). Like all works of fiction though, the author had complete control over the narrative, the world, the characters. As social commentary and criticism of frequently promoted religious and neo-marxist ideas, it has value. As literature, it needed an editor. But as a realistic model for economics? Usually I'm pissed off by the anti-Rand flaming by people who prefer to misrepresent her ideas. But if you are going to play right into the cult of personality Rand worship with stuff like this, then you kind of brought it on yourself.

forgotpwtomain 11y ago
You know it's a funny thing, there were Maxim Gorky statues all over the Soviet Union - so of course post-perestroika most young people avoid him like the plague. But Gorky at his worst is a far more honest and talented writer than Ayn Rand ever was - just pick up a collection of his short stories. It's strange that a similar thing actually hasn't happened here and instead there is a Journal of Ayn Rand Studies and really at best a mediocre writer in terms of literary merit and talent has been well-preserved for posterity; which is not to say that she didn't have historical significance, she did of course, as did Lenin's writing I'm sure - but no one is praising the high literary merits of Lenin's 30+ tomes of writing today. I guess that's the difference between a defeated ideological system and one whose existence has continued to this day.
- vezzy-fnord 11y ago
  Actually Lenin's writings on imperialism are still considered relevant and influential to this day by historical commentators and left-wing movements alike.
- tamana 11y ago
  If Objectivism ever won society and then collapsed, it would be reviled. Instead, it is championed by a small to lingering few who still believe is deserves a chance.

forgotpwtomain 11y ago

You know it's a funny thing, there were Maxim Gorky statues all over the Soviet Union - so of course post-perestroika most young people avoid him like the plague. But Gorky at his worst is a far more honest and talented writer than Ayn Rand ever was - just pick up a collection of his short stories. It's strange that a similar thing actually hasn't happened here and instead there is a Journal of Ayn Rand Studies and really at best a mediocre writer in terms of literary merit and talent has been well-preserved for posterity; which is not to say that she didn't have historical significance, she did of course, as did Lenin's writing I'm sure - but no one is praising the high literary merits of Lenin's 30+ tomes of writing today. I guess that's the difference between a defeated ideological system and one whose existence has continued to this day.

vezzy-fnord 11y ago
Actually Lenin's writings on imperialism are still considered relevant and influential to this day by historical commentators and left-wing movements alike.
tamana 11y ago
If Objectivism ever won society and then collapsed, it would be reviled. Instead, it is championed by a small to lingering few who still believe is deserves a chance.