i wanted to link to this article

a couple of friends were discussing ayn rand the other day. while i did say i read her, i was conspicuously quiet thereafter. there's a reason and coincidentally, i just happened across this article RIGHT NOW:
(from left blog)

Ayn Rand, sociopathic politics

At one point Ayn Rand referred to her own work as propaganda. It is militantly capitalistic; she vigorously campaigned for the demolition of the common good. She energetically promoted selfishness, and wrote to root out altruism.

Not only is her whole program diametrically opposed to liberal values; Ayn Rand’s ideals are profoundly undemocratic. She doesn’t just describe a world that was unfortunately Darwinian, but urges that it should be that way.

She always put strength above morality; and she despised the average man. In a letter unearthed by Jeff Walker, she wrote, ”I am becoming more antisocial.”

Walker, her biographer, researched her personal journals and found an entry written when she was 30: “One puts oneself above all and crushes everything in one’s way to get the best for oneself. Fine!” (All this in the pursuit of happiness.)

This is belligerent contempt for your fellow man. Aggressively pushing your impulses at the expense your group is not normal behavior. It destroys human bonds. It corrupts community.

It destroys trust. It is sociopathic..............