John Oliver goes to far. Attacks Ayn Rand

[MikeG]

And they're all screaming about how America should be.

What do you know of America who only America know?

 

[I Ratant]

Successful English comedian. Likes ranting. Used to often appear on Mock The Week before he moved to America.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Oliver_(comedian)

.
I'd have loved to see him and Robin Williams debating each other.. Fastest minds I've seen on the tv box, and it would have been world class hilarious!

 

[Apathia]

Alas, sad Ayn. She's still a thing!

 

[Checkmite]

Alas, sad Ayn. She's still a thing!

And still inspiring...things...

 

[TragicMonkey]

And still inspiring...things...

Her legacy will last throughout the ages. A hundred thousand years from now, a cyborg will turn to a metahuman and say "Ayn Rand, what was up with that hair? I mean, yuck."

 

[Spindrift]

...the image of John Candy as Ayn Rand have been inseparable in my brain since I joined these forums many many years ago.

:: shakes fist at RandFan ::

That's not Ayn Rand?

 

[bobdroege7]

Ayn Rand worshiper, he was attacking you, and all the republican and tea-party devotees.

Said the son of an Ayn Rand worshiper.

Her thoughts on Reagun are inspiring.

 

[thaiboxerken]

That was a good bit.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Hilarious thread, RandFan.

 

[RandFan]

Hilarious thread, RandFan.

I have my moments. Though to be sure I can go two far too.

 

[ravdin]

Ayn Rand was half right. Her villains are real and her heroes are not.

 

[Earthborn]

And still inspiring...things...

They would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for that meddling government...

GGC is an environmentally protected area and it would take the political movement of heaven and earth to allow a community based on small lots to be officially approved.

... and of course those poor people for whom $48500 is a "a great deal of their savings" wanting in. Galt's Gulch is of course only for the really super rich innovators and job-creators. The Bill Gates's and Elon Musks of the world, billionaires who would love nothing more than tilling the ground in some 3rd world country if it meant not having to share their wealth with undeserving moochers.

 

[NoahFence]

Isn't Ayn Rand what happens when you simultaneously huff glue and hit your head on a steel beam?

 

[Arcade22]

As far as i know Ayn Rand is long since dead so i don't think you can attack her, which is of course a travesty by itself.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

The Bill Gates's and Elon Musks of the world, billionaires who would love nothing more than tilling the ground in some 3rd world country if it meant not having to share their wealth with undeserving moochers.

Bill Gates has given away $28b (about a third) of his personal fortune, and continues to plough money into charitable causes, mostly aimed at helping the poor and underprivileged globally. That's more than anybody else alive. I don't think characterising him as someone who would rather do anything than give away his money to help those less well-off than himself is entirely accurate.

 

[ehcks]

Bill Gates has given away $28b (about a third) of his personal fortune, and continues to plough money into charitable causes, mostly aimed at helping the poor and underprivileged globally. That's more than anybody else alive. I don't think characterising him as someone who would rather do anything than give away his money to help those less well-off than himself is entirely accurate.

I think that was the joke. Especially with the part about personally tilling the land.

 

[hgc]

John Oliver on Ayn Rand:

She's something you're supposed to grow out of, like ska music, or handjobs.

Highlarious. Randfan, If I'm not mistaken, you've grown out of her too during your years on JREF, have you not?

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

I think that was the joke. Especially with the part about personally tilling the land.

Ah. Silly me.

 

[RandFan]

John Oliver on Ayn Rand:

Highlarious. Randfan, If I'm not mistaken, you've grown out of her too during your years on JREF, have you not?

I was never an objectivist. I've certainly moved away from libertarianism. What I liked about Rand I still do. She popularized an important aspect of human nature. I think rational self interest is a valid socioeconomic principle. Communism was a real existential threat to free enterprise. I'm not claiming that she was the savior of capitalism but I think her message important. That said, while rational self interest does not obviate charity she obviously didn't think much of it. What she failed to understand is that reciprocal altruism is in our best interest. Given the likes of Paul Ryan I'm not sure if her legacy is a net good or net bad.

 

[ravdin]

I was never an objectivist. I've certainly moved away from libertarianism. What I liked about Rand I still do. She popularized an important aspect of human nature. I think rational self interest is a valid socioeconomic principle. Communism was a real existential threat to free enterprise. I'm not claiming that she was the savior of capitalism but I think her message important. That said, while rational self interest does not obviate charity she obviously didn't think much of it. What she failed to understand is that reciprocal altruism is in our best interest. Given the likes of Paul Ryan I'm not sure if her legacy is a net good or net bad.

I remember in a 2012 podcast Penn Jillette was discussing the theory that Barack Obama is a nonbeliever (an odd claim coming from his supporters). Penn said that he didn't see any reason to doubt that the president's professed Christian beliefs are sincere. He went on to say that if anyone in the upcoming election was a closet atheist, it had to be Paul Ryan. I'm always amused when conservatives tell us about the greatness of Ayn Rand and conveniently forget that she hated religion as much as she loved capitalism.