Ayn Rand's Epic Novel Atlas Shrugged Out In Theaters April 5th

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism

Ayn Rand, the 20th century author, playwright, philosopher, and advocate for individualism, laissez faire capitalism, and a true life sustaining value system is now more relevant than ever.

In this time of unrestrained budget deficits and a steadily rising national debt, burdensome and damaging regulatory controls, an anti business and anti growth mentality, crony capitalism and government subsidies for businesses, a rising tide of altruism, unjustified and unethical military interventions into sovereign states that pose no threat to our national security... America needs more than ever a philosophy and ethics to guide her. Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectivism, provides just such a foundation.

Her works are consistent, non contradictory, rational, and if read with a truly open mind revealing as well as life changing. Admittedly her philosophy will not resonate with those having an altruistic collectivist mindset. It in fact scares them precisely because it requires they live on their own merits alone, and it requires you to live your life based upon your own rational self interests. Something many people find themselves unable to do.

For me to say more about the value, intellectual clarity, and honesty of this remarkable women will only serve to give the progressive/collectivists greater opportunity to call me, as well as other Objectivist world wide nothing more than cultists. So, rather than saying more {at this point anyway} following are two videos, h/t Reason TV. Perhaps they will peak your curiosity  in a way that if you haven't already found Rand they will give you the curiosity to do so.

The first talks about Ayn Rand's "long shelf life" while discussing her work and relevancy. The second is a short clip about the movie Atlas Shrugged. A movie based on Rand's epic novel. Atlas Shrugged, as I am sure many of you know, encapsulates Rand's political and economic philosophy. Part 1 of the movie will be out April 15th, tax day. Not just by coincidence you can be sure.

VIDEOS:






Atlas Shrugged theater locations  nearest you.

Cross posted to the Left Coast Rebel

Via: Memeorandum

Comments

  1. AnonymousWed Apr 13, 12:35:00 PM EDT

    All ideologies put to the test of the "real" world get distorted, misused, and never end up being what they should have been.

    So would the philosophy and ideology of Rand, if they had ever become popular enough to be used in the "real" world of ideas and everyday usage, which they did not. Hence the "cultist" label.

    It's factual falacy to assume if they had, the world (America) would be a better place. We simply cannot say that, not knowing the outcome of her philosophy as being abused through everyday use as other idealogy has had to go through.

    We do not have systems as invisioned by Jefferson, or Hamilton, because their ideas have become so distorted through the reality of human use. There is no reason to think Rand's ideology would not suffer the same distortion, or what a product of her (unavoidable) distorted ideas would look like.

    Put it to the test, then what does it look like.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dervish Z SandersWed Apr 13, 01:57:00 PM EDT

    I have no interest in seeing this movie. I'm glad Hollywood ended up not making it... because a big budget production with star power would have given more legitimacy to Ayn Rand's nonsense than it deserves. Wikipedia says "part 1" cost 10 million bucks. Unless the financers are willing to lose most of that I doubt parts 2 and 3 are going to be made. At least that is what I'm hoping happens.

    I like Elia Cmiral's "John Galt Theme", so I may be interested in purchasing a soundtrack CD if one is released... I collect film score CDs and have quite a few scores from bad movies. I don't let a bad movie stop me from enjoying a good score.

    I categorically reject any philosophy that posits "a rising tide of altruism" is a bad thing. Aside from a possible CD purchase I'm NOT going to be handing over any of my money to the people involved in bringing Ayn Rand's delusions to the big screen.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jersey McJonesWed Apr 13, 04:26:00 PM EDT

    Well, Dervish, you certainly make a good point. It's funny, really. First of all, Objectivism requires atheism. But atheism does not disqualify altruism. Yet it is mostly Christians who believe Rand's selfish nonsense. They are not only embracing the philosophy of an unethical atheist, but they are happilly embracing a immoral justification for greed, a completely anti-Christian, unethical, immoral, unAmerican, and specious agenda.

    It's just irony and hypocrisy upon irony and hypocrisy.

    JMJ

    ReplyDelete
  4. Les CarpenterWed Apr 13, 06:09:00 PM EDT

    Indeed. indeed, indeed...

    Each to their own.

    tick tock, tic tock, tic tock...

    ReplyDelete
  5. LisaWed Apr 13, 06:33:00 PM EDT

    I like that Graham Beckel is in it

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jersey McJonesWed Apr 13, 07:01:00 PM EDT

    Oh, c'mon Les. Rand's worldview is the daydream of the bourgeoisie.

    And just how do you reconcile Christianity with Objectivism? Or civilization? Or history?

    "Tick tock," my butt. The wealthy can no more do without consumers than pimps without johns.

    And to the heart of the matter: Just how would we go about, realistically, with the American Constitution and modern politics at play, changing to such a radically different economic structure?

    Rand's assumption that all large demand de facto creates sound second-party private supply has no historical precedent, no evidence. Her only argument is her belief that there is no such a thing as altruism. According to her, people are only motivated by power, money, and sex.

    Not everything necessary is profitable, nor should it be. And life is roughly half luck and half what you make of it. Rand ignores these realities. She doesn't care about anyone but herself. I won't say here what I think of that.

    Look, I performed for many years, Les. I never "made it" but I was never in it for "making it" in the first place. Would I like to have "made it?" Honestly, I don't know. I think I'd be dead by now if I did, though I'm sure it would have been a blast.

    I never made much money at music, but I sure made more than a few bucks for bar owners over the years. I wasn't in it for power, money, or sex - I was in it because I loved music and performing. I get that chill up my spine, that rush, that special feeling, when I play a great song.

    When it came time to stop, I did it for altruistic love of something much greater than the admittedly great feeling of a good performance, of making people happy and getting them to like me. To this day, even when kids hear my music, they say I was fantastic, they always have, and yes, I was very good.

    Self interest? I don't know. You tell me. According to Rand, I made an anomalous decision.

    You see, I may not be the best person around, but I try to be a decent, stand-up guy. And I care about my fellow man, and all God's creations (it's just an expression, and a poetic one if you ask me, so don't bash me on that).

    I can't say the same for Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand seems to take the view, as I once sang in a libertarian-goofing song of mine, "And I'm well, and you can go to hell."

    I think you're much better a person than she.

    JMJ

    ReplyDelete
  7. JoeBama "Truth 101" KellyWed Apr 13, 09:28:00 PM EDT

    Okay Les. I'm here at your beckon. Now you and Whirling Dervish can both brag that you get more traffic than I do.

    And while I've made my views on Ayn Rand known many times so I won't start again here, I would sit through Part I with you if I ever get to your home state and you provide the fine wine and cigars.

    Lots of fine wine, please.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Les CarpenterThu Apr 14, 12:18:00 AM EDT

    JMJ - The fact that you have misunderstood as well as misrepresented Rand it typical, you are certainly not alone.

    That you do so is really, in the end, none of my concern. I have chosen my path based on rational self interest.

    Rational self interest I suppose is a difficult concept to fully grasp. It took me some time to fully understand just what it means. Once I did many things becane clearer.

    I thank you for your kind words as to me being a beter person than Rand. If that is so then rationally I must acknowledge having studied and understood Rand's philodophy and ethics I simply must have been a good student of her Objectivism.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Les CarpenterThu Apr 14, 12:23:00 AM EDT

    GCP - Deal. I'll provide the wine wine and cigars.

    And rest assured I will be drinking to Objectivism and life as it ought to be. Having said that I of course won't be imbibing of the spirits as readily as you probably! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Les CarpenterThu Apr 14, 05:51:00 AM EDT

    w-dervish - you said...

    "Wikipedia says "part 1" cost 10 million bucks. Unless the financers are willing to lose most of that I doubt parts 2 and 3 are going to be made. At least that is what I'm hoping happens."

    Could it be you are hoping part 2 & 3 aren't made because you fear the more who grasp and understand Rand's Objectivist philosophy the more irrelevant modern lefties, and Neo cons will become. The more their altruistic self sacrificing ethos is exposed for what it really is the less power the left, and Neo con right will have.

    Rational self interest, operative word being RATIONAL, is in fact an ethical and moral basis on which to lead ones life.

    ReplyDelete
  11. dmarksFri Apr 15, 10:02:00 AM EDT

    I saw what was purported to be a trailer for this movie. The production values were top notch, but the dialog and lines were really terrible, like it was hokey credit card or cable TV service commercial, instead of excerpts from an actual film.

    Perhaps it is fake:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W07bFa4TzM

    But if this is really it, this movie will be the next "Battlefield Earth".

    Jersey said: "Oh, c'mon Les. Rand's worldview is the daydream of the bourgeoisie."

    I know Rand. I'm actually not a fan. However, her views have nothing to do with bogus class divisions.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

RN USA is a No Judgement Zone (to steal from Planet Fitness), so please, No Judgement of others. We reserve the right to delete any such comment immediately upon detection.

All views are welcome. As long as the comment is on topic and respectful of others.


Top Posts

The Ignorance and Arrogance of Obama...

Image
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny In my opinion the President, in his attack on the United States Supreme court belies both his basic ignorance of our republic as well as his arrogance. His last uttering in and of itself is enough to deny the man, and I use the term loosely in this case, another term as President. Forgive me my rational liberal friends but his recent statement is more telling of his statist leanings than anything he has heretofore said. With this last he has proven beyond any doubt he is indeed clueless. The Washington Post - There was something rather unsettling in President Obama’s preemptive strike on the Supreme Court at Monday’s news conference. “I’d just remind conservative commentators that for years what we’ve heard is the biggest problem on the bench is judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint — that an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and passed law,” Obama said. “Well, here’s a
Read more

The "Scandal" That Won't Go Away...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib erty -vs- Tyr anny CBS - Obama administration officials who were in key positions on Sept. 11, 2012, acknowledge that a range of mistakes were made the night of the attacks on the U.S. missions in Benghazi, and in messaging to Congress and the public in the aftermath. The officials spoke to CBS News in a series of interviews and communications under the condition of anonymity so that they could be more frank in their assessments. They do not all agree on the list of mistakes and it's important to note that they universally claim that any errors or missteps did not cost lives and reflect "incompetence rather than malice or cover up." Nonetheless, in the eight months since the attacks, this is the most sweeping and detailed discussion by key players of what might have been done differently. "We're portrayed by Republicans as either being lying or idiots," said one Obama administration official who was part
Read more

Spoken Like a True Dyed In the Blue Statist...

Image
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth Ever hear of or read Mother Jones ? Well I just did, and as near as I can figure she must be Woodrow Wilson's or Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Mother. I say this because she sure as hell is pro statist and pumped up for growing the government bureaucracy. The article is short so it is being reproduced here in full. This site appreciates Mother Jones candor in expressing the statist credo and the desire on the part of the left for an ever larger and more intrusive presence in our daily affairs and lives. January's job numbers were fairly dismal, but the bad cheer wasn't equally spread. Private sector employment, as usual, increased—by 142,000 jobs last month. At the same time, public sector employment declined. Government employment at all levels was down 29,000 in January. Aside from the brief census blip in early 2010, this has been the usual state of affairs for the past four years, ever since the rece
Read more

It's Going To Be Close, Brace Yourself For Continued Polarization of America, Especially if Obama Loses...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny The race is close, very close, with the momentum shifting to Romney. However, my take is the shift, as significant as it has been, came too late and too little. Progressives no doubt are biting their nails because as much as they prefer not to acknowledge it, this one is a real cliff hanger. Reminiscent of 2000. It is true if Obama loses this one progressives throughout the land will be wailing and gnashing their teeth. For them it will be a great undoing of their greatest hopes and dreams. Of course the other fifty percent of America will view it quite differently. So, as the polls close tomorrow, and the tabulating of the vote goes late into the night, we can be sure of a few thing... The nation will remain polarized, the puppet masters behind the curtains will continue calling the shots, the debt and deficits will continue, no mater who wins. And America will continue to ask why. Tomorrow, as I visit my polli
Read more

2015 Could Be a Bad Year for Liberals...

Image
Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth 2015 is going to be a very busy year for the Supreme Court of the United States and one that will result in defining moments on several fronts or issues. In just the first six months the SCOTUS will hear issues major that have divided political and social spectrum for some time. Topping the list are: 1) Obama care 2) Same-sex marriage equality 3) Religious freedom 4) Freedom of speech For details on the above short list and more GO HERE . Via: Memeorandum
Read more

Small Businesses Can Improve the Health of a Community...

Image
"Buddhanature is the innate primordial freedom of the mind, which is naturally imbued with wisdom, compassion, power, and bliss."         Karl Brunnholzl  Today w e feature a guest article by Eva Benoit . She is a life coach who specializes in helping others who experience the suffering of anxiety. More about Eva in her own words: I began my career as an office manager, which actually started my journey to becoming a life coach.  I was constantly bombarded with employees telling me about their work stress, which naturally turned into a conversation about  everything  — work-related or not — that took a toll on their mental well-being. I found that my most satisfying workdays were those that allowed me to help someone take control over their stress, whether it was something I was able to do in my role as the office manager or just as a compassionate listening ear. It wasn’t long before I scheduled monthly lunch meetings where the entire office practiced stress-fighting techniq
Read more

Is Our Democratic Republic At Risk From Forces Both Foreign and Within?...

Image
We are moving this running post up to front page this evening where it will remain until January 3'rd 2017 when we will return to single posts, hopefully on a daily basis. There is much to do in getting the TRUTH out about Donald J Trump, a dishonest, totally self absorbed, and dangerous individual. He may be the president on January 20th but that does not mean thoughtful and concerned people shouldn't challenge Trump at every turn and fight his agenda whenever it runs contrary to their interests and those of their family. More to come. BTW, be sure to read today's entry, 12/28/16, below. this is just one example AND, it is just the beginning. You've probably noticed the brief posts of late. Posts with very short commentary by the weblolg administrator followed by an article that goes into the subject in much greater detail. This has been done purposefully following the rancorous 2016 election, and because its Christmas Time, soon to be a New Year.  This posting f
Read more

April Job Numbers Appear Improved... Are They Really?

Image
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Lib erty -vs- Tyra nny The April job reports are out. The good news is unemployment fell to a four year low, certainly at year six in Obama's Presidential tenure strikes a positive note. Or does it? At the same time the number of people employed part time rose as well as strong indications are showing the Affordable Care Act (ACA aka ObamaCare) will have a long term negative impact on the USA economy. The following is an interesting analysis and one that certainly has some credibility. AEI - US job growth in April beat economist expectations as nonfarm payrolls rose 165,000, and the jobless rate fell to a four-year low of 7.5%. But the report contained worrisome signs that President Obama’s health care reform law is hurting full-time, high-wage employment. While the American economy added 293,000 jobs last month, according to the separate household survey, the number of persons employed part time for economic reasons — “involuntar
Read more

Jon Stewart and the Babbling Nancy Pelosi...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth Jon Stewart actually asking some reasonable questions. Because the "Babbling and Time To Retire" Pelosi failed to address Stewart's questions and concerns effectively there seemed to be a bit of frustration displayed by Stewart. Or perhaps its just me? The Daily Show Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes , The Daily Show on Facebook Representative Pelosi just may have a future retirement career in comedy playing opposite the straight guy or gal. Story below the fold .
Read more