Ayn Rand Institute finds dilemma in radical author's evolving legacy

[Judi Lynn]

Ayn Rand Institute finds dilemma in radical author's evolving legacy

Once peripheral, Rand has veered close to the mainstream, garnering unprecedented influence thanks to US politicians

Rory Carroll in Irvine, California
guardian.co.uk, Friday 17 August 2012 10.52 EDT

As an atheist Ayn Rand did not approve of shrines but the hushed, air-conditioned headquarters which bears her name acts as a secular version. Her walnut desk occupies a position of honour. She smiles from a gallery of black and white photos, young in some, old in others. A bronze bust, larger than life, tilts her head upward, jaw clenched, expression resolute.

The Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, California, venerates the late philosopher as a prophet of unfettered capitalism who showed America the way. A decade ago it struggled to have its voice heard. Today its message booms all the way to Washington DC.

It was a transformation which counted Paul Ryan, chairman of the House budget committee, as a devotee. He gave Rand's novel, Atlas Shrugged, as Christmas presents and hailed her as "the reason I got into public service".

Then, last week, he was selected as the Republican vice-presidential nominee and his enthusiasm seemed to evaporate. In fact, the backtracking began earlier this year when Ryan said as a Catholic his inspiration was not Rand's "objectivism" philosophy but Thomas Aquinas'.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/17/ayn-rand-institue-evolving-legacy

[Progressive dog]

1. Didn't know she had an Institute

Alan Greenspan,former chairman of the Federal Reserve, was an early worshiper of Ranrd. Probably lots more within the T-thugger ranks who are smarter than Ryan and don't advertise their worship.

[jerseyjack]

8. After the blowup of the financial sector, Greenspan became disappointed in the philosophy.

It seems the greed on Wall Street overcame the desire to be morally objective. He seemed very sad because of this.

[kestrel91316]

2. How are they handling the FACT that her biggest personal hero was a serial killer???

[Cleita]

4. Yes, this is an inconvenient little fact that they like to gloss over. n/t

[Cleita]

3. That's what happens to cults.

Somewhere the illogic starts unraveling the doctrine. Interesting that he would be inspired by Thomas Aquinas. A lot of Aquinas's philosophy is quite liberal.

[Javaman]

5. I wonder how many work at the "institute" for minimum wage? nt

[libodem]

6. good lord

Thomas Aquinas was a cold hearted mean ass bitchard, who made rules such as not beating your wife with a stick any larger than the diameter of your index finger.
Not a saintly guy by any stretch!
Frying pan meet the fire. Jeesh.

[surrealAmerican]

7. I still don't get how anyone ...

... could plausibly claim that Ayn Rand was "the reason I got into public service". Surely that's a contradiction. Rand did not think public service had any value at all.

[Flatpicker]

9. Agreed

The only way that makes sense is if they intended to individually profit from their public service.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

10. Here are the ARI Board of Directors

http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=staff_board

Hmmmmmm.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

11. And here's a sampling from the Book Store

http://www.aynrandbookstore2.com/