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Rand shows what happens when the economy is weakened and society must contend with an environmental challenge. The leftist wants to weaken the economy in the name of climate change so that when environmental catastrophes do occur, the public will be less able to cope with a disaster and the government will be able to assume more power.

Rand shows what happens when the economy is weakened and society must contend with an environmental challenge.

Sort of. The whole environmental thing was on nobody's map in 1957. It didn't rear its ugly head until the late Sixties.

However, as we experience weather-related disasters, such as the ice storms and floods of late winter/early spring, this year, the government does the bare minimum, leaving people to mostly fend for themselves. This actually helps foster self-sufficiency.

In AS, people just die or revert to a Medieval existence.

In both instances, all that is important is that the people at the top get theirs. The rest of humanity can die off and there is just more for the looters and thugs. IMO, the similarity between now and the world of the novel is that there is a tightening of control and an increase of looting in the _name_ of *the people*, but very little done _for_ the people.

However, as we experience weather-related disasters, such as the ice storms and floods of late winter/early spring, this year, the government does the bare minimum, leaving people to mostly fend for themselves. This actually helps foster self-sufficiency.

In AS, people just die or revert to a Medieval existence. Rand seems to have little faith in humans, per se or even in Americans. Without the Heros or the Thugs, she sees them as helpless victims and as such, they are mostly depressing background.

In both instances, all that is important is that the people at the top get theirs. The rest of humanity can die off and there is just more for the looters and thugs. IMO, the similarity between now and the world of the novel is that there is a tightening of control and an increase of looting by the ruling clique in the _name_ of *the people*, but very little done _for_ the people. A major difference I see is that in our world, this is causing a reaction _by_ the people. Some of the reaction is against the rulers and some of it is simply people taking control of their own lives as they plant gardens, prep for a future contingency, hoard weapons, ammunition, food and gold or, in a tribute to the novel, "Go Galt".