Ayn Rand on "Isolationism"

[Knightskye]

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/isolationism.htm


A large-scale instance [of political smear-tactics], in the 1930’s, was the introduction of the word “isolationism” into our political vocabulary. It was a derogatory term, suggesting something evil, and it had no clear, explicit definition. It was used to convey two meanings: one alleged, the other real—and to damn both.

The alleged meaning was defined approximately like this: “Isolationism is the attitude of a person who is interested only in his own country and is not concerned with the rest of the world.” The real meaning was: “Patriotism and national self-interest.”

What, exactly, is “concern with the rest of the world”? Since nobody did or could maintain the position that the state of the world is of no concern to this country, the term “isolationism” was a straw man used to misrepresent the position of those who were concerned with this country’s interests. The concept of patriotism was replaced by the term “isolationism” and vanished from public discussion.

The number of distinguished patriotic leaders smeared, silenced, and eliminated by that tag would be hard to compute. Then, by a gradual, imperceptible process, the real purpose of the tag took over: the concept of “concern” was switched into “selfless concern.” The ultimate result was a view of foreign policy which is wrecking the United States to this day: the suicidal view that our foreign policy must be guided, not by considerations of national self-interest, but by concern for the interests and welfare of the world, that is, of all countries except our own.

It's a talking point, at least.

[Promontorium]

I am an Objectivist, but you won't get much love on this website. Ron Paul himself mistakenly believes Ayn Rand was "militant" (his word), or "too militant" (to be more specific about Paul being wrong), and the common lies about Ayn are not in short order to those who call themselves "libertarian".

God forbid they read one book by a woman so feared and hated by entire nations of collectivists that 30 years after her death they have to remind everyone almost daily how wrong she was. Gobble it up kids. Don't ever clear away that haze.

[jtstellar]

I am an Objectivist, but you won't get much love on this website. Ron Paul himself mistakenly believes Ayn Rand was "militant" (his word), or "too militant" (to be more specific about Paul being wrong), and the common lies about Ayn are not in short order to those who call themselves "libertarian".

God forbid they read one book by a woman so feared and hated by entire nations of collectivists that 30 years after her death they have to remind everyone almost daily how wrong she was. Gobble it up kids. Don't ever clear away that haze.

can you lead me to the letter/statement/video clip where ron paul used such a phrase so i can view it in full context.

[klamath]

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/isolationism.htm



It's a talking point, at least.

Except when it comes to Israel. How is it that the majority of our ancestors come from Europe yet we should be isolationist from them but NOT Israel?
YouTube - Ayn Rand on Israel and the Middle East (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uHSv1asFvU)

[TNforPaul45]

I am an Objectivist, but you won't get much love on this website. Ron Paul himself mistakenly believes Ayn Rand was "militant" (his word), or "too militant" (to be more specific about Paul being wrong), and the common lies about Ayn are not in short order to those who call themselves "libertarian".

God forbid they read one book by a woman so feared and hated by entire nations of collectivists that 30 years after her death they have to remind everyone almost daily how wrong she was. Gobble it up kids. Don't ever clear away that haze.

Hey Prom, I have lots of love for Ayn Rand. In fact just last week I purchased a copy of her "the fountainhead" book, I have never read it before, but I have read shrugged twice, and her 50's interview with, um, can't remember his name, its on YouTube, was excellent.

The only thing I disagree with her on is that she believes "the world" is a closed system, allowing for no external, spontaneous intervention by a higher power. She has a just reason for her disdain of modern religions for they have enslaved people, when Jesus wanted to set them free. Thus by that statement, you can see I agree with her on everything but the closed system idea.

[Knightskye]

I am an Objectivist, but you won't get much love on this website. Ron Paul himself mistakenly believes Ayn Rand was "militant" (his word), or "too militant" (to be more specific about Paul being wrong), and the common lies about Ayn are not in short order to those who call themselves "libertarian".

Did you watch that video (someone posted it in the thread) where she talks about Muslims?

[NiceGoing]

i am an objectivist, but you won't get much love on this website. Ron paul himself mistakenly believes ayn rand was "militant" (his word), or "too militant" (to be more specific about paul being wrong), and the common lies about ayn are not in short order to those who call themselves "libertarian".

God forbid they read one book by a woman so feared and hated by entire nations of collectivists that 30 years after her death they have to remind everyone almost daily how wrong she was. Gobble it up kids. Don't ever clear away that haze.

+100

[osan]

Except when it comes to Israel. How is it that the majority of our ancestors come from Europe yet we should be isolationist from them but NOT Israel?

Well, she was a Jewess after all, and human. That makes for some potential bias. None of us are perfect. Well, I am, but that's another case altogether.

Rand was a great writer and dead on the money on many points, but not quite all. Her reliance on rationality was the greatest weakness in her position, particularly as it applied to economics and free markets. People are not always rational. Nevertheless, with truly free markets, the bad decision making would come to a rapid end as one's desire to live from Tuesday into Wednesday and the gravity issues channeling certain aspects of the ability to attain the goal will dictate certain limits be placed upon one's decision making practices. IOW, wise up or suck ditch water. This is as it ought to be.

[klamath]

Well, she was a Jewess after all, and human. That makes for some potential bias. None of us are perfect. Well, I am, but that's another case altogether.

Rand was a great writer and dead on the money on many points, but not quite all. Her reliance on rationality was the greatest weakness in her position, particularly as it applied to economics and free markets. People are not always rational. Nevertheless, with truly free markets, the bad decision making would come to a rapid end as one's desire to live from Tuesday into Wednesday and the gravity issues channeling certain aspects of the ability to attain the goal will dictate certain limits be placed upon one's decision making practices. IOW, wise up or suck ditch water. This is as it ought to be.

I agree. Rand had a great mind and many great ideas, however I have my disagreements with her and cannot hold her is as high a regard as I do RP. The good parts about Rand's philosophy as far as I am concerned(ecomonics and free markets) is what is enduring.

[TroySmith]

Ayn Rand did not advocate military (force) intervention on behalf of Israel. She advocated the use of force only when it applied to natural law. For example, she claimed it was fine to use intervention is Iran because they stole from the US when they nationalized their energy market after we largely helped build it for them.

[Knightskye]

Ayn Rand did not advocate military (force) intervention on behalf of Israel. She advocated the use of force only when it applied to natural law. For example, she claimed it was fine to use intervention is Iran because they stole from the US when they nationalized their energy market after we largely helped build it for them.

Was that in 1953?