The author, Ayn Rand, was Russian Jewish immigrant who had experienced Stalinism first hand. Her novels were anti -Stalinist and anti-collectivist. Her novel empathized the importance of the individual. The Fountainhead's protagonist, Howard Roark, is an individualistic young architect who chooses to struggle in obscurity rather than compromise his artistic and personal vision.
Neither novel caught on in the academic circles across America. The were other people who also atered to the the GOP out crowd during the Depression and World War 2. Another was Abraham Vereide, a Scandinavian minister, who came to he Us to fight godless communism. He was the founder of the National Prayer Breakfast
Rand's book were the impetus for a Libertarian Party, This is what the Libertarian Party advocated in 1980.
One of the Koch brothers was running for VP of the Libertarian Party at that time which might provide a clue who is really behind this movement.
Both liberal and libertarian have the prefix "liber" in them, but liberalism and libertarinism have little in common in the modern world. Steve Kangas said when the nation was founded, both liberals and libertraisn were the same. Of course , you could accuse Kangas of being present minded, the Libertarian movement didn't start until after World War 2.
The Libertarian Scam
The libertarian scam works this way. Many liberals are really libertarians. Go take this test on the Political Compass and you will see.
The Political Compass test is horribly flowed.
The Political Compass test is flawed
First of all the opposite of authoritarian is not libertarian, it is egalitarian or democratic. The concept of a libertarian left and a right is also suspect. Almost all liberals who take the test will fall into the lower left hand quarter. The test really makes no distinction in this test between liberals and libertarians.
As far as Rightardia can tell, the majority of libertarians are fascists and fall on the extreme right of the political spectrum. Most have the same sentiments as Tea Partiers, ditto heads and militia.
The distinction`libertarians have with other conservatives is that most are not pro-defense and are against Us military adventures abroad. This was very apparent during the GOP primary season when hawkish establishment Republicans went after Ron Paul.
Libertarians want liberals to think the two movements are similar, but they really have little in common. The libertarian movement does not appear to be growing in conservative circles. Perhaps, it is hoping to attract liberals into the movement with the premise that liberals and libertarians have much in common.
Liberals have also asked if libertarianism is such a fabulous political philosophy, why are there no modern libertarian nations?
One bloke form the UK suggested that the US was libertarian nation in the early 20th century prior to the depression. That was the era of the the big trusts, union activism, child labor and the muckrakers. Theodore Roosevelt broke up the large trusts, and union activism helped build a middle calls in the US.
The era prior to the Great Depression was a tough item for Americans. The Roaring 20's could also be described as more libertine than libertarian. It was also an ear in which three consecutive GOP presidents led the US into the Great Depression.
Rightrdia's view is that this libertarian movement is withering. Men like Rand Paul and Paul Ryan claim to be libertarians, but few Republicans accept either as true libertarians.
Rightardia was on a libertarian FB page and asked who the libertarians if there was real libertarian who had been elected to public office.
Their answer was Sen. Bernie Saunders, a socialist , who caucuses with Democrats.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountainhead
Subscribe to the Rightardia feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/UFPYA
Rightardia by Rightard Whitey of Rightardia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at rightardia@gmail.com.