When Mitt Romney chose as his running mate an avowed acolyte of the serial killer-loving philosopher Ayn Rand, he ensured that the controversial libertarian author would factor significantly in this Presidential race. Here, if you aren’t familiar with her work, are two videos that will bring you up to speed on Rand, who famously referred to altruism as a “basic evil,” and how her “moral philosophy” of individualism over all else, has guided the work of Paul Ryan.
It’s worth noting that Ayn Rand, who consistently referred to those receiving government assistance as “looters” and “moochers,” secretly took advantage of both Medicare and Social Security later in life. And, much like his hypocritical idol, Paul Ryan, who is now known for his efforts to dismantle social programs, payed his way through college with the Social Security survivor benefits that he collected from the government when his father passed away. It would seem, I guess, that a social safety net is OK in some instances… like when it’s employed to assist white, middle class conservatives.
update:Our friend Doug Skinner had the following to add:
Here, if you’re curious, is an appreciation of Rand from the Church of Satan. They do point out, though, that although they share Rand’s values of reason, greed, selfishness, and atheism, they’re not as dogmatic. Apparently, Satanists see Rand as someone who takes those Satanic values too far.
