Latest Breaking News

jumptheshadow

(3,315 posts)

33. I am right with the President on this one...

Thu Oct 25, 2012, 04:13 PM

Oct 2012

Last edited Thu Oct 25, 2012, 05:15 PM - Edit history (1)

When I was 16 and 17 I was inspired by Ayn Rand's concept of self-determination. I knew I had a lot of work to do in order to meet my life goals. Then I matured and found inspiration in people who did good works.

Unfortunately, I gave my copy of Atlas Shrugged to my brother. He bought into the philosophy and it created the basis for his radical conservatism which has persisted to this day. (He is generous to the people he loves, however.)

I can see how the pull-yourselves-up-by-your-bootstraps Randian logic could appeal to a younger person struggling to rise out of adversity and/or poverty.

I don't understand how a spoiled guy like Paul Ryan would embrace it as a lifelong philosophy, especially if he's a Catholic. It's like he's adopted everything that is regressive about the Church while rejecting its message of compassion.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

153 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Obama Says Ayn Rand Is For Teens [View all] highplainsdem Oct 2012 OP

Even as a teen I refused to read this book LynneSin Oct 2012 #1

I tried ro read Rand -- it was garbage nichomachus Oct 2012 #2

That was my experience as well ashling Oct 2012 #12

I couldn't even xxqqqzme Oct 2012 #18

You were watching it wrong. Hissyspit Oct 2012 #65

My first bad experience PATRICK Oct 2012 #152

Looked at the book. Fell asleep reading the word "Atlas.. Panasonic Oct 2012 #5

I'd rather read Battlefield Earth than Atlas Shrugged ET Awful Oct 2012 #34

Battlefield Earth is one of Romney's favorite books. pamela Oct 2012 #74

Oh My Gawd ! politicaljack78 Oct 2012 #82

Moroni help us! dchill Oct 2012 #148

It is! caraher Oct 2012 #151

I grew up tribal. The whole selfishness of it is a completely evil & alien concept to me catbyte Oct 2012 #38

As A Teen DallasNE Oct 2012 #57

I also did a book report on emmadoggy Oct 2012 #84

+1 ellisonz Oct 2012 #141

That's a pretty good analysis. Some people never grow out of the self-obsession pnwmom Oct 2012 #3

which means PBO just underthematrix Oct 2012 #69

Yeah...Her theory made sense to me for about five minutes -- Then I realized it was bullshit. whathehell Oct 2012 #107

You know that feeling when you click 'DU Rec' on something with 4 recs Newsjock Oct 2012 #4

Yup thelordofhell Oct 2012 #6

Love it Liberalynn Oct 2012 #29

LOL. exactly what I was thinking ryan_cats Oct 2012 #46

You know, I read the comments to that video, CheapShotArtist Oct 2012 #126

I think the joke is that even an idiot who just learned to read knows Atlas Shrugged is terrible /nt Ash_F Oct 2012 #131

"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and msanthrope Oct 2012 #7

there is one that really can change a 14 yearolds life IMO-Siddhartha azurnoir Oct 2012 #16

Loved it. louis-t Oct 2012 #27

agreed have not read Narcissus and Goldmund though azurnoir Oct 2012 #62

One year I gave Narcissus & Goldmund to my mom as 'my favorite book ever' duhneece Oct 2012 #76

also Ishmael Voice for Peace Oct 2012 #39

sounds interesting have you ever seen Transformation of Myth through time? azurnoir Oct 2012 #61

I think I saw parts of it, or maybe I'm thinking of the Bill Moyers series Voice for Peace Oct 2012 #121

I love Joseph Campbell's work on mythology liberal_at_heart Oct 2012 #135

Anything Herman Hesse can do that.. n/t EC Oct 2012 #44

Steppenwolf was an excellent read azurnoir Oct 2012 #60

That was the first one I gave my daughter to read.. n/t EC Oct 2012 #67

Yes. Richard D Oct 2012 #66

+1 n/t azurnoir Oct 2012 #98

Damien by Hesse is another one. smirkymonkey Oct 2012 #99

Agreed, it's on my bookshelf now. ryan_cats Oct 2012 #150

One of the Intertubes' all time top ten quotes hifiguy Oct 2012 #49

LOTR has a strong ethical & social contract component, unlike Atlas Shrugged Hekate Oct 2012 #85

Didja ever notice how "green" LOTR is? truebluegreen Oct 2012 #144

Catcher in the Rye changed mine. ncteechur Oct 2012 #92

Ditto Hepburn Oct 2012 #110

Awww, that's what I always say. FreeBC Oct 2012 #8

Genius. A brutal intellectual and moral takedown of Ryan. n/t reflection Oct 2012 #9

I actually find most teens today to be more socially conscious Fresh_Start Oct 2012 #10

they are a lot more aware than I was at their age Skittles Oct 2012 #96

Don't Kid yourself TM99 Oct 2012 #129

I agree JonLP24 Oct 2012 #132

she was a satanist - she may not have been yelling "hail satan" but she lived under his law leftyohiolib Oct 2012 #11

Satanist, you're too kind. ryan_cats Oct 2012 #63

a regular born-again hedonist leftyohiolib Oct 2012 #105

You forgot to add a forger, armed robber, child kidnapper, serial murderer promoter fasttense Oct 2012 #139

you ain't whistlin dixie, look here. DonCoquixote Oct 2012 #89

'do what thou will' shall be the whole of the law leftyohiolib Oct 2012 #103

The whole quote - Do What That Whilt Shall Be The Whole of the Law Hestia Oct 2012 #143

yep but i think rand ignored that part too leftyohiolib Oct 2012 #153

Mr. President, you are (one of my) soulmate(s). JDPriestly Oct 2012 #13

The entirety was an understatement, & about something so emotional. Our prez: 1 classy guy. nt JudyM Oct 2012 #77

I recently tried to read it and was horrified by the writing. nt Lost-in-FL Oct 2012 #14

I read it when I was younger. dorksied Oct 2012 #17

To quote Truman Capote hifiguy Oct 2012 #51

Touche! smirkymonkey Oct 2012 #100

I prefer Virginia Woolf: "There's no there there" (said about the city coalition_unwilling Oct 2012 #111

read Rand at about 14 azurnoir Oct 2012 #15

He's a smart man treestar Oct 2012 #19

We have a wise leader. Paul Ryan is immature. The Wielding Truth Oct 2012 #20

And you can't spell Ryan without Ayn! SoapBox Oct 2012 #22

When I was 18, I read everything she wrote & loved every word duhneece Oct 2012 #21

I think a lot of people have that reaction. hifiguy Oct 2012 #54

We hosted a foreign exchange student from Thailand a couple of years ago central scrutinizer Oct 2012 #23

Well, Obama's right about Ayn & lyinryan Justice4All1 Oct 2012 #24

Can't make myself read her crap missingthebigdog Oct 2012 #25

Maybe for teenage bullies. JohnnyRingo Oct 2012 #26

Christians Danang1968 Oct 2012 #28

I read it at 20 and found it interesting, but quickly realized that it didn't fit with the real truthisfreedom Oct 2012 #30

She wasn't directly involved in politics while she was alive... We People Oct 2012 #123

Hi We People sheshe2 Oct 2012 #124

Standing up for her principles? Not. truebluegreen Oct 2012 #145

I thought "The Fountainhead" wasn't too bad. MicaelS Oct 2012 #31

The Fountainhead isn't too bad until... ryan_cats Oct 2012 #48

That got me too.. MicaelS Oct 2012 #59

Bullseye, Mr. President. Paladin Oct 2012 #32

I am right with the President on this one... jumptheshadow Oct 2012 #33

I hope the shade of John XXIII comes back and haunts him. hifiguy Oct 2012 #115

I wish Ryan's Rand obsession would get more press Ratty Oct 2012 #35

Obama is a smart man.. sendero Oct 2012 #36

That is so true. RoccoR5955 Oct 2012 #37

Dorothy Parker said it best (about Atlas Shrugged, IIRC): neeksgeek Oct 2012 #40

+1 ProudProgressiveNow Oct 2012 #55

Dorothy, I've always loved you! infidel dog Oct 2012 #83

I still love her comeback to Claire Booth Luce the best alcibiades_mystery Oct 2012 #93

That is one of history's all-time great hifiguy Oct 2012 #116

Dorothy Parker was absolutey brilliant. smirkymonkey Oct 2012 #101

ha-ha. That's priceless! - n/t coalition_unwilling Oct 2012 #113

Well said, Mr. President! And all too true. The reason Rand rings a bell with teens.... Moonwalk Oct 2012 #41

This image sums it up for me olsondr Oct 2012 #42

LMAO!!! Welcome to DU. hrmjustin Oct 2012 #43

Thanks for the funny pic. Unknown Beatle Oct 2012 #130

Made it through about a third of "The Fountainhead" before I returned it to the library NICO9000 Oct 2012 #45

God, I love this President. nt onehandle Oct 2012 #47

I don't think it is self absorption of a teen that makes them like it. ieoeja Oct 2012 #50

I read all of her books when I was sixteen Sekhmets Daughter Oct 2012 #52

Slam! ProudProgressiveNow Oct 2012 #53

I spoke about this at my Dad's funeral last month Patiod Oct 2012 #56

+1 Historic NY Oct 2012 #79

I agree. I was hooked in high school. Quickly recalibrated once I enter the real world. nm rhett o rick Oct 2012 #58

I read Fountainhead and didn't get it, don't remember anything about it. Dont call me Shirley Oct 2012 #64

Bazinga! sarcasmo Oct 2012 #68

Couldn't have said it better. Normal adolescent stage. Adult, not so much. nolabear Oct 2012 #70

I wish Obama had mentioned this little tidbit about Ayn Rand ... eppur_se_muova Oct 2012 #71

Not for teens lyingsackofmitt Oct 2012 #72

Exactly. deafskeptic Oct 2012 #140

Best put down of Rand I've ever heard. And I've read everyone of her books. David Zephyr Oct 2012 #73

natural born diplomat! Hamlette Oct 2012 #75

Yo! David Zephyr Oct 2012 #88

And to think Ron Paul named his son Rand Paul in honor of Ayn Rand. SunSeeker Oct 2012 #78

I never thought ANYONES liquidation in a Stalinist death camp would make the world a better place. infidel dog Oct 2012 #80

I read Ayn Rand. Then I read Hemingway and F.Scott Fitzgerald and Salinger MichiganVote Oct 2012 #81

Post removed Post removed Oct 2012 #86

Welcome to DU Hekate Oct 2012 #87

Excuse me, but can you even read? smirkymonkey Oct 2012 #102

I tell ya, they ain't makin' trolls like they used to. hifiguy Oct 2012 #118

I read Rand back in 1963, when I was 16 vlyons Oct 2012 #90

I saw 'Atlas Shrugged Part I' on Netflix. Blanks Oct 2012 #91

neener neener paul ryan flamingdem Oct 2012 #94

LOVE that answer! Skittles Oct 2012 #95

Something teenagers read when they are "feeling misunderstood" but should grow out of in adult hood. AlbertCat Oct 2012 #97

I think all republicans social/mental development stopped in 9th grade. n/t Bonhomme Richard Oct 2012 #104

EPIC WIN!!! Odin2005 Oct 2012 #106

Atlas Shrugged (by Ayn Rand) ATLAS SHRUGGED: THE ABRIDGED VERSION (with spoilers) TBF Oct 2012 #108

LOL...thanks for that! Lucinda Oct 2012 #112

Glad you enjoyed it - TBF Oct 2012 #138

Actually, she is for IDIOTS of any age! n/t Hepburn Oct 2012 #109

If any books deserve to be burned, it's Ayn Rand's Great Caesars Ghost Oct 2012 #114

Added to my quotes file. GREAT answer! calimary Oct 2012 #117

Waiting for the sequel... rwsanders Oct 2012 #119

most of the ayn rand readers Mkap Oct 2012 #120

Good response daleo Oct 2012 #122

Obama is truly in his stride Union Scribe Oct 2012 #125

I loved Atlas Shrugged. I was 20 when I read it. That was 47 years ago.... Speck Tater Oct 2012 #127

Ayn who? Dustlawyer Oct 2012 #128

You should have included one of the Paul Ryan Pics with the backwards Cap in your post JI7 Oct 2012 #133

nobody should read ayn rand pansypoo53219 Oct 2012 #134

I have talked and "chatted". sendero Oct 2012 #136

Yep. I'm thinking "arrested development." n/t truebluegreen Oct 2012 #146

I'm glad Paul Ruin never read... Hubert Flottz Oct 2012 #137

As a teen, with no preconceived ideas about Ayn Rand or her writings, crim son Oct 2012 #142

my older sister made me read Rand JitterbugPerfume Oct 2012 #147

I love that Obama has pointed out something that any thinking person already knows. Flipper999 Oct 2012 #149