<img attachment="gore_vidal_on_ayn_rand.jpeg" align="right"><bq href="https://jacobin.com/2024/03/ayn-rand-capitalism-lisa-duggan-dig/" author="Gore Vidal" date="1961">Ayn Rand’s ‘philosophy’ is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic as we enter a curious new phase in our society. Moral values are in flux. The muddy depths are being stirred by new monsters and witches from the deep. Trolls walk the American night. Caesars are stirring in the Forum. There are storm warnings ahead.<fn></bq> <hr> <ft>Bonus Gore Vidal on Ayn Rand (from the attached image): <bq>[Ayn Rand] has a great attraction for simple people who are puzzled by organized society, who object to paying taxes, who dislike the 'welfare' state, who feel guilt at the thought of the suffering of others but who would like to harden their hearts. For them. she has an enticing prescription: altruism is the root of all evil, self-interest is the only good, and if you're dumb or incompetent that's your lookout.</bq></ft>