Why Ayn Rand Still Matters
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Reason’s Brian Doherty explains why Ayn Rand still matters, and why the political right would do well to reconsider her ideas:
[Rand] recognized, not merely that government shouldn’t take as much from us as it does, but also that it can’t justly and pragmatically do as much as it currently tries to do. As government spending, even under Republican rule, grows faster than ever before; as new plans to further bureaucratize American health care arise; as the benefits of free trade and free movement of capital and labor are under continued assault — Rand’s consistent, passionate and even heroic defense of American freedom is sorely needed.
Rand’s insistence that all values be rationally chosen made her “bad,” in modern conservative terms, on the family and on religion. But if the GOP can contemplate nominating twice-divorced Rudolph Giuliani (who agrees with Rand on abortion rights), conservatives should realize political movements can no longer demand agreement on matters of faith and family. They need to recognize — as Rand was, ironically, mocked for failing to recognize — that metaphysics and religion are extra-political.
Why does she matter to modern politics? It’s not like she is around for conservatives to seek her endorsement. But it is worthwhile for political activists to remember that Ayn Rand was utterly uncompromising on how government needed to respect the inalienable right of Americans to live their own lives, and of American business to grow, thrive, innovate and improve our lives without niggling interference.
Her message of political freedom was enthusiastic, and optimistic, and immensely popular. No major American political party has embraced her message in full. But millions of Americans have voted for her with their pocket books, and hundreds of thousands continue to do so every year.
Conservatives and libertarians alike would do well to take pause from their constant in fighting and recognize that the very premises of liberty remain under assault. And there are very few thinkers out there that can provide as much ammunition for a counter-assault as Ayn Rand did.
