189
TIL Ayn Rand's funeral included a 6-foot floral arrangement in the shape of a dollar sign
(en.wikipedia.org)
this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2026
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Could you go into more detail for clarity?
Essentially, she called for non government interference in the affairs of big business and the rich. She believed that the wealthy were drivers of a nations progress and they shouldn’t be harassed by such things like fair taxation or employment rights. As she was totally against the idea of a welfare state and social care (why should rich people contribute to looking after the disadvantaged in society?), her view was f**k the poor. It’s the law of the jungle. Survival of the fittest. Darwin’s law etc. If all this sounds familiar today, it’s because in the seventies, students of her beliefs went on to hold senior positions in the Reagan administration during which capitalism went into full malignant mode. Today, the second generation of her followers include neo-cons, the billionaire class, liberal politicians, centrist politicians (which form the bulk of the ‘democratic’ West), and the far right. All continue to promote her beliefs and tell the poor that socialism or immigration is to blame for their problems.
Just to add on this, Rand goes as far as to associate wealth with social merit. As in, the richest among us are rich because they deserve to be, given their inherent superiority. And conversely, if you're poor, it's because you deserve to be poor. You don't have the go-getter mindset of a real entrepreneur. Blaming other circumstances is just making excuses for personal failure.
And anyone who would support things like "tax the billionaires more" or "maybe this industry needs regulations" are subhuman leeches trying to siphon away the genius of wealthy industrialists, who are the only heroes in this world trying to make it a better place (for those who deserve it). Ayn Rand is partly why there are people today who unironically think "I'd be leading my own colony on Mars by now, if only people would leave Elon Musk alone and let him do what he wants."
@robomuffin79 @Kalcifer
Really? I mean...yer right. It just seems a waste of electrons to point out the obvious imbecility of her "philosophy". there's always been a lucrative market for telling rich people what they want to hear. Jesus fuckme christ, is anyone honestly arguing Rand on her merits? Or lack thereov?
Ayn rand was a third rate philosopher and fifth rate philosopher. Yeah, "Anthem" did skewer Soviet communism. That's not...a high bar. Otherwise, bitch was just a sex cult monster.
Libertarian author
Have you read her books they're objectively abhorrent