Ayn Rand and the Tea Party Protests

Pajamas Media ^ | 3/2/2009 | Paul Hsieh

[GVnana]

Ayn Rand and the Tea Party Protests

Protesters must couple their outrage at bailouts with a positive vision of a properly limited government.

March 2, 2009 - by Paul Hsieh

Over the past week, an extraordinary wave of “Tea Party” protests has erupted across America. Citizens around the country have expressed outrage at the government’s mishandling of the financial crisis. And one of the most intriguing developments has been a resurgence in interest in Ayn Rand’s classic novel Atlas Shrugged.

Denver’s Tea Party protest opened with a reading from Atlas Shrugged. A sign at the New York City protest read, “Ayn Rand Was Right.” One banner at the Atlanta Tea Party said, “Read Atlas Shrugged Before It Happens.” The Ayn Rand Institute reports that sales of Atlas Shrugged have nearly tripled compared to last year due to Americans’ concerns about the economic crisis.

So why has there been such a renewed interest in Ayn Rand?

Stephen Moore identified one reason in his Wall Street Journal column, “Atlas Shrugged: From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years.” Atlas Shrugged depicted a future in which America descends into economic chaos due to ever-increasing government regulations. Each new problem spawns new government controls that merely deepen the crisis. The result is a downward spiral that nearly destroys America. Many Americans are finding Rand’s predictions uncomfortably close to real-life events.

[LowCountryJoe]

This was one of the most ignorant comments I have ever read on FR. Not the most but pretty damned close.

[Jumpmaster]

I finished reading “Atlas” last week. Last Friday organized a successful Tea Party in Davenport, IA. Our participants were 1st time demonstrators from across the political spectrum. Many brought home-made signs with quotes from “Atlas Shrugged”. AAR with pictures posted on this site. Thanks Jim!

[John.Galt2012]

It used to be required reading...a few decades ago. However, between the teacher unions and community-ism organizers, the only required readings are a few Dr. Seuss books and a revisionist’s history of the United States, which by the way, points out how the evil Capitalists like Carnegie oppressed the working class. I’m not making it up. Go read a middle school or high school histroy book. It will make you vomit.

[samsmom]

Ayn Rand was not a socialist, anything but! She was about the individual not the collective. Great books—Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead, not to mention great collection of prophetics essays!