So what her beliefs indicate is that it's "every man for himself" and "the survival of the fittest" and "everyone is entitled to their own happiness and welfare" and owes nothing to others; that the notion that we should love and care for others has no real place in a society. When one listens to what Republicans have been saying for a long time it is pretty much the same thing although it's more tempered than Rand's.
Take a look at the fascinating video, shown in the link below, in which Mike Wallace interviews Rand and explores her views on the role of government and what it should and should not do, together with the associated responsibilities of individuals; and then compare what she says to the clearly stated views of the Republican Party of today; there are some distinct similarities.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKd0ToQD00o
Now let's be fair about this and state that the GOP is not quite as radical in its beliefs about the governing of this country as was Ayn Rand because no one could possibly match her anti-social beliefs. But there is no question whatsoever that the two philosophies mirror each other in many ways. It clearly seems to be about control over others.
Paul Ryan the Speaker of the House, certainly no supporter of government social programs, has made no secret of the fact that he has been an admirer of Ayn Rand; and that is quite evident. He's been quoted as saying, "I grew up reading Ayn Rand and it taught me quite a bit about who I am and what my value systems are and what my beliefs are."
And he further states that "Rand makes the best case for the morality of democratic capitalism." That's how Ryan praised the anti-democratic Ayn Rand, who once said, "Democracy is a totalitarian manifestation; it is not a form of freedom."
Want further proof of these sociopathic tendencies of which I speak? Well for starters let's ask the question; which political party in America has made no bones about the fact that they would, if they were able, significantly weaken, dismantle or privatize essential government social programs?
I can see just see GOP leadership thinking about the key priorities on their upcoming agenda and, instead of concentrating on job creation and taking step to strengthen the foundations of this country, deciding which government programs or agencies that should be at the top of their list of targets?
Should it be Obamacare in which about 20 million Americans enrolled, or should it be Medicare upon which 55 million depend? Maybe Social Security, with 60 million Americans getting benefits should be the first target; or maybe the food stamp program that 47 million Americans, the elderly, children, the disabled, homeless veterans, together with members of the U.S. military and Wal-Mart workers who don't make enough money to support their families rely upon.
I do believe that a significant number of the members of this party actually reject and do not support its anti-social policies and actions and are not destructionists but they don't have the power to change its rigid, tight-fisted ideology.
And to be perfectly fair about this issue, I have to say that there are also Democrats who have these sociopathic tendencies. It's just that their number is miniscule compared to Republicans.
If these programs are dismantled or severely watered down and weakened, if that happens, all hell could break loose in America. This situation could evolve into a societal crisis if one or more of these programs come under vicious attack; this could set off a societal eruption or explosion such as we have never seen.
When these Rand-like politicians look at this country they see two Americas not just one. They see the America that is inhabited by the wealthiest Americans with the highest incomes plus the massive corporations whose objectives involve the accumulation of greater profits; those who have no real loyalty to this country or its people.
Then they see the other side of America; the working class, those who once had very good jobs and salaries but now are struggling to survive; the poor and needy that have to rely on various forms of government aid. They see these Americans who are so different from themselves; and the plight of those people hardly even registers with them. They look the other way
What they could and should do to take millions off the food stamp program and government welfare is to create millions of badly needed jobs in manufacturing so these people could again become self-sufficient. But, as we have seen, they aren't going to do any such thing because they know that it would adversely affect the profits of their corporate masters who rely heavily on cheap overseas labor. .
So the American people are going to be living in a period in this nation's history that will determine what kind of a nation and society this will be. We could see Trump try to force his agenda of "change", whatever that may be, through Congress and the Republicans could, if they wish, stop him dead in his tracks.
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