Sansfear posted:

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The people in her books do exist, they are just rare. Steve Jobs is a good example. A single individual reshaping the entire world through sheer strength of will.

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Altra_Shadowstalker posted:

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The transcontinental railroads were built on some of the largest federal subsidies, the worst exploitation of workforce in the history of the country (probably second only to slavery), and biggest cases of cronyism in its era. To read Rand's work as anything other than ironic, especially when she repeats the "Get out of my way!" mantra, is simply simpleminded.

Dagny: "My grandfather built this railroad through backbreaking labor*, sheer hard work**, and his*** own money. Theres something very wrong when a country wakes up to the fact that it is being exploited and is too lazy to sacrifice lives for my profit. Who are they to demand I pay my taxes?"
*Other peoples backs
**Other peoples hard work
***Government money

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Sansfear posted:

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So you read it is a bright-eyed kid and loved it and then reread it is an embittered old man and hated it? Maybe the problem isn't in the book.

The people in her books do exist, they are just rare. Steve Jobs is a good example. A single individual reshaping the entire world through sheer strength of will.

I'd rather have kids read Atlas Shrugged and strive to be Hank Rearden or Steve Jobs than have an adult tell them that they are wasting their time with their stupid dreams.

Yes, 99% of them won't achieve that level of greatness, but the world needs the ones that do. The world is also a better place by the striving of those that attempt it. While they may not achieve the same level of influence, they can achieve it on a smaller scale in their own corner of the world.

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