There is one member in the Gulch who completely shot me down in regards to creating a Galt's Gulch. The individual said it was a utopian myth. I have read Atlas Shrugged 3x it is a great story but shows what man/women could persevere and triumph over adversity to create a better life for one's self. I sent a reply to this individual on the Gulch a list of what "I" could do if there was a Midas Mulligan to provide the financial means for the possible creation of an Island Gulch. I'm sorry, I believe in Ayn Rands vision and her philosophy. If there were a majority of people who did we could solve many problems in this country. I'm not talking about altruism, & charity either. Rands philosophy should be taught in high school instead of wrought memorization of material just to past mandated testing. It is the individual who is to strive for himself.

The criticisms of Rand's work mentioned here were especially important to me. All too often, and in vast majority, I see people criticize Rand's work at best, attack her philosophy and character viciously at worst, often with cheap jabs, downright mean and unfair insults, and very little if any critical or intelligent thought.
Though, it does ultimately mean others are wrong. Thankfully, Objectivism doesn't require that others be well-informed for its enthusiasts to live happy, productive lives.
This was a very thorough, fair, and well-written article: one which encourages readers to actually read up on Objectivism for themselves. I enjoyed reading it.

I think she just may have saved my life. I was miserable at about age 15. I got a paperback copy of The Virtue of Selfishness from a trading book-
shelf in the library in town. (Later there was a sign put on that bookshelf that it was not to be used by people under 16).
I thought that I could never be happy because even if I ever loved somebody, it would still be because that I found personal happiness in that person's existence, so it would still be selfish, and love was essentially unselfish devotion. That book showed me the philosophical mistake involved.
But people like to trash her. I think maybe it is because they are afraid of her. (I was afraid of her, too, for awhile, but I still learned about what she was saying, and then the fear went away).

Thanks Freedom, something everyone today needs to be reminded of.

The problem that critics of Rand's philosophy have is shortsightedness. They mistake her ideas as justifying selfishness, not understanding her sophisticated insight into human interaction, and how beneficial self interest is to all concerned.

Well, this took me to a sign up or phuck off site.

Guess what my response was?

a necessary reminder, in the current sea of ....Whatever it is you want to call it...

Nice, basic article. Thanks for sharing. I may share this with my son, I think...

Thoughtful article and geared to the essence of what/who AR was.

I valued her integrity the most.

Criticism directed at her comes from all venues of philosophy and politics b/c she had her own ways and that is an unforgivable sin for huge ego celebs.

For me AR's body of work was a confirmation and encouragement to live a life without compromise. It is a tough path especially since I don't have Galt's Gulch to escape to.

But I know that in the end I won't be ashamed of the principles I lived by.

Excellent article.

+1