Most of Rand’s critics have no idea what she actually said. Choosing to help friends, family, or complete stangers is in fact what most normal people want to do, it gives them personal satisfaction, and it is thus a selfish act, not “altruism”. Helping others by giving them things that you have stolen from the rightful owner is what she opposed. You can’t tell the difference between altruism and selfishness unless you analyze the thoughts that accompany the act.
If you are doing as you wish you may pat your self on the back for your good works, but I contend you wouldn’t be doing them unless you wanted to. Same with me, and I have always helped a lot of people. As I recall, Rand’s reply to the question of “What shall we do about the poor?” was “Nobody will stop you from helping them.”
It sometimes seems that all ideas of actual personal freedom will be rejected out of hand by the emotional non-thinkers of the world. This is what allows demagogues to impose tyrannies and inflict misery and death on millions.
Further, dying alone and broke does not invalidate one’s ideas. If it did, half the philosphers in history would have to be ignored.
“What shall we do about the poor?” was “Nobody will stop you from helping them.”
Of course the questioner really meant, “what should i be allowed to FORCE you to do about the poor?”. Because the truth actually is, just as she sagely observed. Most people do almost nothing personally for the poor, but with great enthusiasm, they will band together in groups, and then force you to.
In Atlas Shrugged, Rand left Eddie Willers to die.
Enough said.