General Discussion

Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)

78. Put down the crack pipe....

Wed Sep 18, 2013, 09:16 PM

Sep 2013

She was an abysmal novelist. Her novels were nothing more than poorly-written romance novels with a patina of sophomoric pseudo-philosophy. Flannery O'Connor, who knew a thing or two about fiction, remarked in a letter "The fiction of Ayn Rand is as low as you can get re fiction. I hope you picked it up off the floor of the subway and threw it in the nearest garbage pail."

Part of the canon for American sci fi? I don't even know how to respond to that. Are you talking about some sort of parallel universe where Ayn Rand is even considered palatable as science fiction? In writing this response, I've looked though a half dozen lists of the most notable science fiction books, seminal works, clearly part of the canon.

Spoiler Alert: Rand doesn't appear on any of them.

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Highlight:

Not the Onion: "Give Back? Yes, It's Time For The 99% To Give Back To The 1%" [View all] WilliamPitt Sep 2013 OP

Man Needs an Attitude Adjustment, Sir The Magistrate Sep 2013 #1

Or a short ride in a tumbrel. hobbit709 Sep 2013 #67

A short ride in a slow-moving, straw-filled tumbrel. What could be more fitting? mojowork_n Sep 2013 #124

My thoughts exactly. General Zod Sep 2013 #155

Plus one.................nt Enthusiast Sep 2013 #93

But wait, there's more: "Insider Trading Is A Right: Don't Shackle The Knowledge-Seekers" NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #102

i Expect It Is, Sir.... The Magistrate Sep 2013 #103

Ayn Rand again? Benton D Struckcheon Sep 2013 #2

john rogers says.... keroro gunsou Sep 2013 #75

Seriously funny. n/t Benton D Struckcheon Sep 2013 #76

I love that! telclaven Sep 2013 #109

Oh I've got plenty I'd like to "give back" to the 1% Duer 157099 Sep 2013 #3

With expanded backgound checks there will be fewer opportunities warrant46 Sep 2013 #83

They can have 8 years of *ushit that's been fermenting everywhere. Tigress DEM Sep 2013 #90

These nutters hate 'the community' unless it's on a production line leftstreet Sep 2013 #4

I love how the uber rich use the community for their benefit fasttense Sep 2013 #150

and a new derogatory term is born Enrique Sep 2013 #5

Amazing how Ford managed to build all those cars entirely by himself ... eppur_se_muova Sep 2013 #6

Ford was saved by his engineers A LOT Mopar151 Sep 2013 #18

Henry Ford was a progressive hippie compared to these evil bastards. Frank Cannon Sep 2013 #151

Henry was smart enough to help himself. Mopar151 Sep 2013 #153

So I looked up this Binswanger fuckknuckle, and found out he was one of Ayn Rand's BFFs. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2013 #7

So he's an Objectivist who built his career at public colleges. Says it all. JHB Sep 2013 #50

When Ayn went on Social Security Binswanger should have gotten a clue Fumesucker Sep 2013 #160

The worst part of the myth of the immaculate entrepreneur is.... Taitertots Sep 2013 #8

just another Ayn Rand whore Skittles Sep 2013 #9

He's come up with a new term: "mental energy". CJCRANE Sep 2013 #10

Well, confession time, Ryand is an ok fiction writer nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #11

No, Ma'am, She Is As Far From A Good Writer As It Gets The Magistrate Sep 2013 #15

I think she was a terrible writer. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2013 #17

Patrons nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #19

Well that makes the rather odd assertion that fiction is devoid of philosophy. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #22

Especially Since, Sir, She Maintained fiction Must Expound The Author's Philosophy The Magistrate Sep 2013 #23

There are forms of fiction devoid of philosophy. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #25

I Agree, Sir, But Her View Was Fiction Should Be Written Solely To Communicate A Philosophy The Magistrate Sep 2013 #28

I do the same in my books... RoccoRyg Sep 2013 #79

You May Forgive Me, Sir, for Sticking To The Non-Fiction Racks The Magistrate Sep 2013 #82

Fair enough, Sir... RoccoRyg Sep 2013 #172

So do I, but imo Rand writes like an elephant dances Swan Lake. nolabear Sep 2013 #115

Also I forgot another detail nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #27

Asimov was a good writer. Rand was not. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2013 #31

I gave you the explanation nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #36

She didnt create objectivism... shaayecanaan Sep 2013 #157

And she is given credit by philosophers nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #163

None that I know of... shaayecanaan Sep 2013 #170

I did not write it was good philosophy nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #171

I certainly don't hate her... shaayecanaan Sep 2013 #173

Mr. Vidal Nailed It Back When It Was New, Ma'am The Magistrate Sep 2013 #41

"That guy who wrote Starship Troopers" Codeine Sep 2013 #35

Not That I Like Mr. Heinlein Much Better, Sir... The Magistrate Sep 2013 #39

One would think one would know the name HEINLEIN... zappaman Sep 2013 #40

I suspect ChazInAz Sep 2013 #112

No zappaman Sep 2013 #113

...time to add another area of expertise to the resume... dionysus Sep 2013 #120

Before Climatologist and zappaman Sep 2013 #121

Awful, awful writer. zappaman Sep 2013 #20

Yes but she is a great writer when looked at by a mediocre writer Rex Sep 2013 #57

"mediocre"? zappaman Sep 2013 #60

I've been told to bee-hive. Rex Sep 2013 #73

She was actually a very mediocre writer. Gravitycollapse Sep 2013 #21

Cursor Is Jumping Around Today The Magistrate Sep 2013 #37

Great link! zappaman Sep 2013 #42

It Is Now In No. 41 Above, Sir The Magistrate Sep 2013 #43

She was a mind-bogglingly shitty writer. Her prose is utterly painful. Codeine Sep 2013 #33

Of course to you she is. Rex Sep 2013 #55

You mean Ayn Rand? deutsey Sep 2013 #59

She sucks as a philosopher nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #63

As I said, it's a matter of taste deutsey Sep 2013 #66

I recognize that as well nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #69

Put down the crack pipe.... Jeff In Milwaukee Sep 2013 #78

Did you perhaps miss what I said about long form? nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #81

Sorry I hurt your feelings Jeff In Milwaukee Sep 2013 #105

Thank you for the fact check. zappaman Sep 2013 #110

She's a terrible writer, even if you don't consider her subject matter. Brickbat Sep 2013 #84

And she took social security IronLionZion Sep 2013 #104

That is the irony I love nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #119

Where do you come up with these? Is it a form of literary Tourette's Syndrome? n/t Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #166

Did you mean to misspell her name? LiberalAndProud Sep 2013 #175

Nope. I was tired and when tired I always misspell it nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #176

He lives in a world where iPads and iPhones "spring into existence"? surrealAmerican Sep 2013 #12

They have taken from us until we are almost in the poorhouse and they want MORE???????????????? kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #13

Oh dear...you didn't read the whole article did you? jmowreader Sep 2013 #30

You're quoting a MOVIE. Those numbers are wrong; especially the "inherited wealth" part. 7962 Sep 2013 #131

I'm quoting a movie that's 26 years old jmowreader Sep 2013 #142

Believe me, I'm not feeling sorry for the rich! They SHOULD pay more. 7962 Sep 2013 #145

I would be supporting jobs, but not necessarily creating new ones jmowreader Sep 2013 #147

The author is either very, very sick or writing satire. It has to be one of those two. Scuba Sep 2013 #14

Well, it isn't satire. Curmudgeoness Sep 2013 #51

Not gonna read it MuseRider Sep 2013 #16

Save for another day. It's worth reading. WilliamPitt Sep 2013 #24

OK, I read it MuseRider Sep 2013 #106

Yeh...Here's somethin' to give back....right ovah here ! RagAss Sep 2013 #26

What A Harry Binswanger... WillyT Sep 2013 #29

A type of dementia. That figures... The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2013 #32

Maybe so, but that's not what he has jmowreader Sep 2013 #34

LOL !!! - Perfect !!! WillyT Sep 2013 #101

Is a Hairy Binswanger a relative of Yeti or Sasquash? Jack Rabbit Sep 2013 #111

It sounds like something a kid would say on the playground: Ken Burch Sep 2013 #164

Did these let them eat cake idiots ever read history? MillennialDem Sep 2013 #38

If they did, would I need this sig?: JHB Sep 2013 #46

You can't spell "The Capitalist Tool" without "Tool", capitalized. JHB Sep 2013 #44

Greedy fucker. deutsey Sep 2013 #45

Where's my clue-by-four? sakabatou Sep 2013 #47

Here it is, Brigid Sep 2013 #80

Which is right behind my dope slap. King_Klonopin Sep 2013 #148

this guy should crawl back up his ass and go galt frylock Sep 2013 #48

Rose Wilder Lane Autumn Colors Sep 2013 #49

And her family survived by taking free land from the government. OnionPatch Sep 2013 #129

It's interesting that you should mention the "Little House" books in this context Ken Burch Sep 2013 #139

Thank you Autumn Colors Sep 2013 #162

Yep, I was pretty shocked when I read that laundry_queen Sep 2013 #159

Maybe introduce them to the TV show, too Autumn Colors Sep 2013 #161

It could be the Onion with that name. "Harry Binswanger" Didn't he star with Hugh Jass? Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2013 #52

So, apparently the 99% has no value Curmudgeoness Sep 2013 #53

My guess was the WSJ or Forbes before opening the thread. Rex Sep 2013 #54

He quotes fiction and thinks it's real. 'nuff said. neverforget Sep 2013 #56

St. Petersburg in revolt gave us Vladimir Nabokov, Isaiah Berlin and Ayn Rand. Major Nikon Sep 2013 #58

Very Good, Major The Magistrate Sep 2013 #61

I consider Ayn Rand one of the low points Major Nikon Sep 2013 #72

this isn't even original. even without knowing he is a randian, I thought how very similar it niyad Sep 2013 #62

OWS had it right. kentuck Sep 2013 #64

Therein lies the problem. Enthusiast Sep 2013 #96

Of course, this is an expression of the new reality deutsey Sep 2013 #65

you make a profit by buying things and labor for less than they are worth and selling for more yurbud Sep 2013 #68

Geeze A Little Weird Sep 2013 #70

This is a very old theory mindwalker_i Sep 2013 #71

Shower them with money... Half-Century Man Sep 2013 #88

And I didn't even touch on another very important part of this issue mindwalker_i Sep 2013 #89

Hear Hear, Sir! The Magistrate Sep 2013 #99

If the 99% moved at once in any direction, the 1% would topple to the ground. nyquil_man Sep 2013 #74

thus the strtegy of keeping hundreds of factions rurallib Sep 2013 #77

The ONLY thing the 99% owe the 1% is payback Triana Sep 2013 #85

Hey 1%. Come get your deserves. PowerToThePeople Sep 2013 #86

What the rich do not realize DonCoquixote Sep 2013 #87

Oh. My. God. Unbelievable! n/t FourScore Sep 2013 #91

"a vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity"? Ken Burch Sep 2013 #92

But....but..there is no "humanity"! "Just individuals," right? WinkyDink Sep 2013 #94

So it's a vampire squid wrapped around...nothing? Ken Burch Sep 2013 #137

Let me be blunt: This man should immediately die. He has no value. WinkyDink Sep 2013 #95

I Don't Know, Sir: Gutted, Skinned, And Salted Down, Maybe A Dollar A Pound.... The Magistrate Sep 2013 #100

I always read the WSJ and Forbes - TBF Sep 2013 #97

Winners end the game n/t eridani Sep 2013 #98

I would say un-fucking-believable, but sadly it's not even mildly surprising. 11 Bravo Sep 2013 #107

I wish I could say it's unbelievable ... bread_and_roses Sep 2013 #108

Disgusting but predictable BS from a professional Ayn Rand worshipper. highplainsdem Sep 2013 #114

Is Mitt Romney more productive than my gardener? tblue Sep 2013 #116

Funniest post in the history of the internet MinM Sep 2013 #117

wow. taxes really give that asshole a sad... dionysus Sep 2013 #118

"The thing about a piniata is you have to hit it with a stick." lumberjack_jeff Sep 2013 #122

The only thing worse than Ayn Rand... beerandjesus Sep 2013 #123

Reads like a Sci-Fi novel from decades ago. Roland99 Sep 2013 #125

So he doesn't want to "tax success"--What does he want to tax? Failure?!?!? lastlib Sep 2013 #126

It is a sin, an abomination, an emanation from hell itself, that our country allows Harry Binswanger FiveGoodMen Sep 2013 #127

Go To Somalia erpowers Sep 2013 #128

Or Liberia. Quantess Sep 2013 #135

Just sick n' wrong washnwmn Sep 2013 #130

The funniest part MFrohike Sep 2013 #132

What do we have to do to get these people to go Galt? nt Progressive dog Sep 2013 #133

Surely there must be some abandoned island in the Pacific... Frank Cannon Sep 2013 #152

We may be coming to a very bloody revolution that takes out the 1% to the 7th generation emsimon33 Sep 2013 #134

I guess the stupid rich forgot what the "1%" stands for. Javaman Sep 2013 #136

There is a Wingnut radio host in Colorado SomethingFishy Sep 2013 #138

this an EVIL society now. heaven05 Sep 2013 #140

Reading this made me need to go take a binswanger. Alkene Sep 2013 #141

"...should be exempt from all income taxes..should be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor." Faryn Balyncd Sep 2013 #143

They aint getting shit from me. Initech Sep 2013 #144

BINSWANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!! RevStPatrick Sep 2013 #146

Malignant capitalism in America has become "terminal". King_Klonopin Sep 2013 #149

Too bad I don't have the power to deport the scumbag! He doesn't believe sinkingfeeling Sep 2013 #154

Seems like this guy should be named Bangs-his-wanger. love_katz Sep 2013 #156

Someone should send the fool that wrote that article to Belize. :P Walter-White Sep 2013 #158

That would be the Ayn Rand who died thirty years ago Ken Burch Sep 2013 #165

Pure Poison TheLastHeathen Sep 2013 #167

Welcome to DU gopiscrap Sep 2013 #169

"Lunch? Don't servants create lunch?" Warren DeMontague Sep 2013 #168

What a major douchebag Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Sep 2013 #174