Ayn Rand saw clearly the danger posed by the resentful left. Full of hate and envy, they desire to destroy more than they desire to create. Radical progressivism is a terrifying confirmation.
She was certainly right about the 'new' left. It's more difficult to see how the old left (or at least its non-Marxist variant) was like this, especially in Britain--I have in mind the Christian socialism of William Morris, John Ruskin etc. as well as the early trade unions and even the Labour Party at and near its inception. There were similar currents of pre-Marxist socialism all over Europe, Australia and North America.
Is it necessary to point out that her blindspot was the role of her co-ethnics in the left? She seems to have sublimated any criticism she knew deep down was due to them in making all her heroes and heroines...very much *not* her co-ethnics.
I've bounced off plenty of Ayn Rand articles over the last 5 years. Whilst they piqued my interest, none of them made the connection of this article. I now 'get' Ayn Rand and I now have a deeper understanding of the Left.
"Many political observers were shocked by the left’s eruption of glee this past October 7th, but Rand, who understood the importance of ideas, would have been unsurprised." The trangressive nature of action by Hamas is the (biological) point to show formidability despite the perception of inferiority. The support for Hamas eg from Queers for Palestine has a like payoff. Atavistic.
“…Radical progressivism is a terrifying confirmation.”
Perhaps the author can clarify the difference between radical progressivism and progressivism. Personally, I think the only difference is in speed and earnestness. Ultimately, they are equally destructive—just like every other utopian ideology.
Hey Aporia, Personal reaction but I find this annoying: "Following the October 7th, 2023 massacre of over 1,000 Israeli civilians by Hamas, leftist groups across the US celebrated on university campuses, cheering this victory of the oppressed over their “colonizers.”" Because it leaves out what Israel did to those Palestinians afterwards and before because that seems a lot like "colonization" which many Zionists if not celebrate then pretend it is not really a thing and put it in scare quotes. It is a good example of leftist resentment. But supporting Israeli nationalism when most of them don't support our nationalism is cuckery.
Please show me where Rand advocated genocide. It’s telling how often her critics engage with ideas falsely attributed to her rather than with her actual ideas.
She was certainly right about the 'new' left. It's more difficult to see how the old left (or at least its non-Marxist variant) was like this, especially in Britain--I have in mind the Christian socialism of William Morris, John Ruskin etc. as well as the early trade unions and even the Labour Party at and near its inception. There were similar currents of pre-Marxist socialism all over Europe, Australia and North America.
Is it necessary to point out that her blindspot was the role of her co-ethnics in the left? She seems to have sublimated any criticism she knew deep down was due to them in making all her heroes and heroines...very much *not* her co-ethnics.
I've bounced off plenty of Ayn Rand articles over the last 5 years. Whilst they piqued my interest, none of them made the connection of this article. I now 'get' Ayn Rand and I now have a deeper understanding of the Left.
Yes she did get it right as did Hannah Arendt
"Many political observers were shocked by the left’s eruption of glee this past October 7th, but Rand, who understood the importance of ideas, would have been unsurprised." The trangressive nature of action by Hamas is the (biological) point to show formidability despite the perception of inferiority. The support for Hamas eg from Queers for Palestine has a like payoff. Atavistic.
“…Radical progressivism is a terrifying confirmation.”
Perhaps the author can clarify the difference between radical progressivism and progressivism. Personally, I think the only difference is in speed and earnestness. Ultimately, they are equally destructive—just like every other utopian ideology.
We will probably never recover from the damage Rand caused with that idiotic book.
Hey Aporia, Personal reaction but I find this annoying: "Following the October 7th, 2023 massacre of over 1,000 Israeli civilians by Hamas, leftist groups across the US celebrated on university campuses, cheering this victory of the oppressed over their “colonizers.”" Because it leaves out what Israel did to those Palestinians afterwards and before because that seems a lot like "colonization" which many Zionists if not celebrate then pretend it is not really a thing and put it in scare quotes. It is a good example of leftist resentment. But supporting Israeli nationalism when most of them don't support our nationalism is cuckery.
It's worth noting Rand's disdain for the weak. The Palestinians. Native Americans. MLKs poor peoples crusade protesting the Moon Landing.
Losers. Weak losers. Worth genocoding even if it gives the strong the resources they need, go look up the quotes.
You know, there was a lot of talk trying to rationalize strength, but ultimately strength is its own rationalization.
The irony — She relied on Medicare (socialism) to treat her cancer and excruciating pain.
Rand's thesis is confounded by China, a collectivist-socialist society and the most successful on earth.
Please show me where Rand advocated genocide. It’s telling how often her critics engage with ideas falsely attributed to her rather than with her actual ideas.