Ayn Rand, The GOP’s Favorite Witch By Joshua Heath One of the most popular intellectuals in the modern Republican party is the libertarian writer Ayn Rand. This immoral, decrepit woman advocated a philosophy, Objectivism, that argued the following: the sole purpose of life is to be selfish, no matter the cost to our friends, family, or the greater community. If an action pleases you it is moral; if it doesn't, it is immoral. Or as she put it in her 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged: “Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity...” This perspective has predictable implications for organizing our country, as Rand believed that the sole duty of government was to defend the people: supply an army, the police, and the courts. All safety net programs should be abolished for if selfishness is the whole point of life, then these initiatives, founded on compassion, were bad ideas. …show more content…
It is an un-American and evil worldview, which makes Rand’s influence on the Republican party all the more terrifying. House Speaker Paul Ryan has his interns read her work; GOP leaders from Ted Cruz to Ron Paul and Rush Limbaugh sing her praises; the Tea Party Movement, the dominant force among conservatives today, cites Rand as one of its most important philosophers. And her vision is deeply embedded in the policy proposals the GOP puts forward, which if enacted, would eviscerate the American safety net. Since Trump took office, Republicans have proposed laws that would rob 32 million people of health insurance, fund a border wall by drastically reducing poverty programs, and cut $1.8 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare in order to pay for tax cuts for the