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'''Ayn Rand''', born '''Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum''' (1905-1982) was a [[Russian]]-born [[philosopher]], screenwriter, and novelist, who used her novels to promote her philosophy, known as [[Objectivism]]. Her best-known novels are [[Atlas_Shrugged|''Atlas Shrugged'']] and ''[[The Fountainhead]]''.  Although her philosophy differs in many respects from [[libertarianism]], it also emphasized individual freedom, and her novels, particularly ''Atlas Shrugged,'' contain lectures that are considered touchstones for libertarian thinking. Rand often called herself a "radical for capitalism," by which she meant the pure, ''laissez-faire'' variety.  

'''Ayn Rand''', born '''Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum''' (1905-1982) was a [[Russian]]-born [[philosopher]], screenwriter, and novelist, who used her novels to promote her philosophy, known as [[Objectivism]]. Her best-known novels are [[Atlas_Shrugged|''Atlas Shrugged'']] and ''[[The Fountainhead]]''.

While Rand is commonly associated with [[conservative|conservatism]], she disagreed with social conservatives on key issues, most notably on the existence of [[God]] (as she was an [[atheism|atheist]]) and on traditional [[family]] values.  Also, she was strongly [[pro-choice]] on the issue of [[abortion]], as are her followers.<ref>Page on abortion from the Ayn Rand Institute [http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7893]</ref>

Rand's philosophy was anti-Christian to the point of even declaring that "[[faith]], as such, is extremely detrimental to human life: it is the negation of reason."<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_topic_religion</ref>  The movement she founded supports a "absolute right" to [[abortion]] at any time during pregnancy,<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5105</ref> including partial-birth abortion.

 

Ayn Rand's philosophy and followers also support a "right" to have same-sex marriage, and opposed California's [[Proposition 8]] defining marriage as between one man and woman.<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=21821</ref>

 

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 was an [[atheism|atheist]]) and opponent of traditional [[family]] values, who personally adhered more to [[Hollywood Values]] than conservative ones.<ref>http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/bio/biofaq.html</ref> She was a strident opponent of altruism.

==Quotes==

==Quotes==

"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: The stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission – which is the stage of the darkest periods of [[human]] history, the stage of rule by brute force."<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45735 WorldNetDaily.com Should Democratic Party merge with Communist Party?, August 12, 2005</ref>

"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: The stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission – which is the stage of the darkest periods of [[human]] history, the stage of rule by brute force."<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45735 WorldNetDaily.com Should Democratic Party merge with Communist Party?, August 12, 2005</ref>

==Books Written==

==Books Written==