I will never understand why Ayn Rand is so admired by my fellow conservatives

This should be good.

quote:

---

I will never understand why Ayn Rand is so admired by my fellow conservatives

---

Mainly because she was such a breath of fresh air when juxtaposed with expanding Socialist and Communist philosophies of her time.

quote:

---

Ayn Rand despised altruism

---

No.
Rand despised those who intimated altruism as requirement or expectation. Her view was "poverty, ignorance, illness and other problems of that kind are not metaphysical emergencies," and self-responsibility was requisite. She had it that "one’s sole obligation toward others, in this respect, is to maintain a social system that leaves men free to achieve, to gain and to keep their values.”

She believed "by the metaphysical nature of man and of existence, man has to maintain his life by his won effort," and in instances where altruism interfered, it was immoral. In simple terms, someone who expects a helping hand must look first to the end of his own arm.

quote:

---

Ayn Rand believed men were able to achieve perfection (her definition of a perfect person was one who simply used his or her mind to its fullest capacity, and one who rejected all faith), while conservatism is intensely aware of man's imperfectability. Ayn Rand was a materialist, while the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations.

---

Tying religious philosophy with politics is not Constitutionally conservative.

OTOH, though one could argue many things about Rand, questions of philosophical morality are not one.

I don't personally know one single person that has ever quoted her or used her as an example when it comes to politics or conservative views.

She's also an absolutely horrible writer. It makes me question the intelligence of people/politicians when they claim her books to be their favorites.

quote:

---

I attribute her popularity to her effective critique of the Soviet Union and showing the parallels to the New Deal and the sickness of socialism and marxism. From that point when someone is able to diagnose the problem so effectively, most assume her solution is just as valid and are willing to consider her other arguments

---

I agree.

quote:

---

Christian conservatives

---

Interesting qualification.

quote:

---

I think the Fountainhead can stand on its own, and We the Living is quite powerful.

---

I think The Fountainhead is her best work.

quote:

---

1) Ayn Rand despised altruism, yet an important tenet of conservatism is the admiration of voluntary charity, community, and association.

---

Wrong.

quote:

---

3) Ayn Rand was a materialist, while the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations. She is actually very Marxist in her thinking in this regard.

---

Wrong.

The problem with Rand was that her writing style was atrocious. Decent points; weak books.

what you actually know about Ayn Rand could literally fit on the head of a pin.

you do seem to be good at regurgitating the right wing gobbeldy asian of the Robertson-Buchanan crowd of religious idiot zealots that need everyone to agree with them.

grats on your stupidity of what Rands philosophical tenets are, meritocracy is it's own reward and doesn't need approval from idiots like you to substantiate it, no wonder you are so confused and simultaneously afraid of it.

quote:

---

the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations.

---

more like focuses on why everyone should agree with your concept of what is "spiritual" or moral.

which is why "conservatives" aren't really for individual freedom, you are part of a group think collective of right wingers with no real concept of individualism, you need a religion to bow down to because, let's face it, that's what you are good at, submitting to state condescension where the state and your religion are much the same.

quote:

---

Conservatives at first were horrified of her ideas, and rightly so.

---

yes, conservatives who are used to being led around by their nose are horrified at the thought of having to think for themselves or that someone else might choose to do so rather than go along with your "all for the greater glory of god" bs.

Yep, we know right wing statists like you are every bit as dangerous as the left wing variety, and are in so many ways, very much alike.