Stossel on the everlasting influence of Atlas Shrugged

Last night I tuned into the Fox Business Network at 8pm to watch John Stossel’s new show aptly titled “Stossel.”

The show discussed the influence of the late author Ayn Rand and her classic novel Atlas Shrugged. The book was first published in 1957 and accurately portrayed the consequences of an ever powerful and out of control central government. The fictional story and its characters eerily represent what is currently happening in our country – almost to a tee.

I read the book and am pretty familiar with Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism. The older I get, the more I find myself agreeing with many of Rand’s views. Rand was also an atheist, and I disagree with her wholeheartedly on that point. I understand her problem with organized religion, but man’s shortcomings don’t negate the existence of a “creator.”

As usual, Stossel fills the audience with people from all political viewpoints. There were many people who supported Rand’s philosophy. Most of them now refer to themselves as Libertarians in lieu of Objectivists. Then there were the typical intellectually lazy lemmings that are usually referred to as liberals. There was a group of young guys (perhaps college students, or recent graduates) who were adamantly against the Rand philosophy. In opposing Rand, these dorks raised the predictable liberal talking points in favor of big government. Some of their arguments were so pathetic that it was embarrassing to listen to. They also attempted to slime Rand’s personal life; a predictable tool of the left-wing statist.

Anyway, the show will be replayed tonight at 10pm and is very much worth watching. The panel on the show is excellent, and they make great arguments for limited government and personal liberty. It was basically Reason vs. Emotionalism, and Reason always wins.