Shrug Off Some Of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged - Ayn's Too Much A Materialist
I am glad that Ayn Rand has been resurrected as of late, although, as an avowed atheist, she had no confidence in the afterlife, but rather, she bet everything on this earthly, materialistic life. Financial advisor Don Luskin, one of my favorites on Larry Kudlow's CNBC economy program, has written a beatifying piece on Ayn Rand in the Wall Street Journal, which exalts Rand to superheroine status, despite the fact that she was quite the unrepentant adulteress, pro death abortionist, God-denier, and ultra narcissist.
Strangely enough, Ayn got her "big break" by working in the ancient movie King of Kings in 1927, where she met the movie mogul Cecile B. Demille. I take it that was the last time she any contact with the King of kings. Ayn fancied herself in her own quotes as "The most creative thinker alive," and as an Objectivist, she philosophized that, "The greatest moral objective for man is to fulfill his own happiness." Quite opposite from Christ's, "He who loves his life shall lose it." This does not mean that, of course, Christians should be depressed wrecks, but neither do we have "hope only in this life." 1 Cor 15:19. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Timothy 4.
Ayn Rand would have none of that, for GREED was her God, despite the fact that she, at least, recognized the harm of an over-intrusive, nanny state government. However, this alone does not qualify her for either sainthood nor as an icon in the Capitalistic Free Enterprise Hall of Fame. Ayn Rand's narcissistic adulation of self led to her destruction.
She was known to be an arrogant, mean, debasing woman who called herself a "male chauvinist." She could not understand helping others - such as America's interventions in South Korea and Vietnam which she staunchly opposed. Ayn was not concerned about stealing other women's men, nor did she mind the slaughter of preborn babies.
Ayn Rand had it partly right - deconstructing Big Government - since she escaped from Soviet Communist Russia - the Mother of all Big Governments. Mother Russia, indeed. No, Ayn Rand does not compare with William F. Buckley, who she advised: " You are too intelligent to believe in God." Really, Ayn. I'll bet you're a believer, now.
Even Don Luskin who lionized Rand in this week's Wall Street Journal, would be disappointing Rand, since, as I have noticed on Kudlow's show, he is so happy about Big Gov's Quantitative Easing - which has "created" over a trillion dollars, pumped into the economy by big brother Ben Bernanke. In that sense, Don Luskin is a creationist, at least with a small "c," although he has defended Atheism (on a financial show), but often throws out a lot of "God bless yous" when commenting on Lary Kudlow's Kudlow and Company show.
No, Ayn Rand would not be one of America's best Free Enterprise/Capitalistic models, but with a little prayer, Don Luskin will not end up quite as confused as Ayn.