shrubnose,
I won’t bother with an extended debate, since you clearly have not read Rand’s actual works in depth. I’ve read everything she’s written, several times, over a period of 30 years. I also have a degree in Philosophy from UCLA, so I have the background to evaluate her thought against others.
But enough biography. This post is intended for those few who might be misled by your distortion (and unsupported assertions) of Rand’s philosophy.
The fact is that most of her basic ideas were tried long before she espoused them, during the 19th century. During that period, which was admittedly far from perfect, U.S. and British citizens were left relatively free vastly improved their own lot, thanks to the many innovators of the period. The nightmare scenario which you paint of one person (or a few) controlling all the resources and effectively enslaving all others simply has no foundation in logic or historical fact.
Even at the height of Rockefeller’s dominance in oil, he had to continually cut costs and improve quality. Ditto Alcoa when they controlled most of the aluminum business. Ditto J.J. Hill and J.P. Morgan with transportation, Carnegie Steel, etc. etc.
But there is no point in enumerating examples for you or trying to explain logically the superiority of individual freedom and capitalism, since you clearly have no interest in facts, only smears and red herrings.
