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I had a teacher who, in retrospect, was clearly a libertarian. When announcements would come over the intercom, she'd say "shhh...let's listen to Big Brother."

She had us read "Anthem" by Ayn Rand. I was just getting into Rush and "Fly by Night" was my album...my teacher let me play the first song from that album, " Anthem," for the class:

Know your place in life is where you want to be
Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me
Keep on looking forward...no use in looking 'round
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down

[Chorus:]
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
The wonders of the world, wonders of the world
Wonders of the world they wrought

Live for yourself...there's no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more

[Chorus]

Well, I know they've always told you
Selfishness was wrong
Yet it was for me, not you, I came to write this song

[Chorus]

World Wrought

Looking back, this was a downright subversive act on the part of my teacher.

Of course, when I got All the World's a Stage and heard 2112, everything came together. When I finally caught Anthem live via the Overture on their R30 Tour, one of my bucket list items could be checked off.

I can't help but imagine that a YUGE proportion of Deplorables were turned toward the Light via Rush's lyrics, notwithstanding Neil's atheism.