Objectivism, Objectively

Who is John Galt?

Objectivism, Ayn Rand's reason for writing her books, functions as a reasonably accurate PowerPoint replacement for an in-depth understanding of Economics. But it is essentially a cheapened, retarded substitute for doing difficult philosophy.

Ayn Rand was a stubborn genius, a typical product of a Russian smart (and wealthy) enough but hateful enough of the corruption in her system to flee to the U.S.A in the days when the U.S.A was ideologically healthy and valued rights and the truth more than equality and some confused notion of respect. However, if many of her readers and believers woke up in her paradise, they'd be confused and angry.

Consider how Alissa's emigration beautifully represents the links between Economic theory, morality and religion. When I read her, I thought of old Ayn Rand aka Alissa Rosenbaum more than she realised as a typical Jewish girl of her time period, arranging herself towards living up to a dominant man. (Jewish girls aren't like Ayn anymore, not that I'm saying this pleases or displeases me!).

I was totally mind-fucked to learn, then, that when she was 45, she started fucking Nathan Blumenthal, who was 20. He is nothing like the heroes of her book. He wrote academic books on self-esteem, one of which I've read.Who could resist seeing what kind of person Ayn Rand would go for? But he was basically like her servant, spent all his time promoting her philosophies, and agreeing with her etc. There's something about that which makes me really really confused about her, and about her change of 'hero'. Did Ayn Rand have a penis? She is a very influential figure. But what is certain is that Ayn Rand isn't as cool as some of her readers of old still think she is.

If you care seriously for the idea of truth, there are better philosophies than Objectivism. There are no valueable short-cuts to take in life, and Objectivism is no exception to this rule.