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Ayn Rand attracted a following based on her opposition to [[collectivism]], as articulated in her novels, particularly ''Atlas Shrugged''.  Her followers today tend to be [[libertarians]] and predominantly unmarried men, many of whom are drawn to a self-indulgent lifestyle consistent with Rand's philosophy.  Rand often called herself a "radical for capitalism," by which she meant the pure, ''laissez-faire'' variety. Rand had very little in common with [[conservatives]] except for a mutual opposition to communism and socialism. Rand has also been accused of being a rape apologist for her rape scene in ''The Fountainhead''.  

Ayn Rand attracted a following based on her opposition to [[collectivism]], as articulated in her novels, particularly ''Atlas Shrugged''.  Her followers today tend to be [[libertarians]] and predominantly unmarried men, many of whom are drawn to a self-indulgent lifestyle consistent with Rand's philosophy.  Rand often called herself a "radical for capitalism," by which she meant the pure, ''laissez-faire'' variety. Rand had very little in common with [[conservatives]] except for a mutual opposition to communism and socialism. Rand has also been accused of being a rape apologist for her rape scene in ''The Fountainhead''.  

[[Conservative]] [[Whittaker Chambers]] was a harsh critic the caricatures in Ayn Rand's work, and how she implied that evil systems would collapse on their own without the need for good men to do anything.  [[Edmund Burke]] famously stated, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," but one might conclude from Rand's work that being selfish and doing nothing is what good people should do, and then evil will fail all by itself.  Whittaker observed in a book review he wrote for ''National Review'' in 1957, "Happily, in ''Atlas Shrugged'' ('''''though not in life'''''), all the children of Darkness are utterly incompetent" (emphasis added).

[[Conservative]] [[Whittaker Chambers]] was a harsh critic the caricatures in Ayn Rand's work, and how she implied that evil systems would collapse on their own without the need for good men to do anything.  [[Edmund Burke]] famously stated, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," but one might conclude from Rand's work that being selfish and doing nothing is what good people should do, and then evil will fail all by itself.  Whittaker Chambers observed in a book review he wrote for ''National Review'' in 1957, "Happily, in ''Atlas Shrugged'' ('''''though not in life'''''), all the children of Darkness are utterly incompetent" (emphasis added).

Rand's most famous and powerful follower was [[Alan Greenspan]] (b. 1926), long-time head of the Federal Researve System (1987-2006), though it is difficult to see manifestations of Rand's ideas in Greenspan's work.  

Rand's most famous and powerful follower was [[Alan Greenspan]] (b. 1926), long-time head of the Federal Researve System (1987-2006), though it is difficult to see manifestations of Rand's ideas in Greenspan's work.