The ethic of selfishness
Paul Ryan is feeling the heat from an unlikely, or at least unexpected, source. An assortment of religious groups are criticizing the morality of Ryan’s budget plan, a plan heavily influenced the philosophy of Ayn Rand. Rand’s philosophy—Objectivism—is rooted in the pursuit of one’s own happiness. Objectivist morality rejects the value of altruism, and is instead based on an “ethic of selfishness.”An ever-growing number of Republicans have been outspoken in their admiration of Randian thought. Last year, Rand Paul (who insists he was not named after Ayn) set off a firestorm of controversy following an appearance on The Rachel Maddow Show. In the interview, he expressed opposition to aspects of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—specifically, that it banned discrimination by restaurants and business—largely on Objectivist grounds.
Paul Ryan was harassed by a group of religious leaders following his speech for Ralph Reed’s Faith & Freedom Conference.
Amy Sullivan, TIME:
These days, when people question a politician’s “morality,” they usually mean his or her personal behavior and choices. But an interesting thing is happening right now around the GOP budget proposal. A broad coalition of religious voices is criticizing the morality of the choices reflected in budget cuts and tax policy. And they’ve specifically targeted Ryan and his praise for Rand, the philosopher who once said she “promote[d] the ethic of selfishness.”I’ve always wondered how Republicans are able to get away with their professed love for Ayn Rand. Or rather, why Democrats don’t use it to their political advantage. Rand’s controversial statements on a variety of social, moral, and economic issues offer a treasure trove of political fodder. How easy would it be to create political attack ads featuring Rand’s radical philosophy? Republicans, after all, have built campaigns on much less. Quoting Rand, at length and in context, seems like a winning formula to me.
It might be a little tricky—and I’m by no means an expert at political messaging—but I expect such ads, if created, would make quite a splash in 2012.
