Here’s a 1959 interview of Ayn Rand by Mike Wallace. Ayn Rand is the author of “Atlas Shrugged” and “Fountainhead”.
The truth does not change with time. I marvel at her intellect and that everything she said holds true today.
Some excerpts:
Wallace: How do you feel about the political trends of the United States?
Rand: The way everybody feels, except more consciously. I feel that it is terrible that you see destruction all around you and that you are moving toward disaster until and unless all those welfare state conceptions have been reversed and rejected. It is precisely these trends which are bringing the world to disaster because we are now moving towards complete collectivism or socialism; a system under which everybody is enslaved to everybody and we are moving that way only because of our altruistic morality.
In the interview, Rand states that she is against taxation and advocates the separation of Government and Economics.
If you separate government from economics, if you do not regulate production and trade, you will have peaceful cooperation and harmony and justice among men.
Observe how she looks at Wallace, as an amused person might look at a confused and errant child, when he probes this topic further by providing leftist arguments. Priceless!
Wallace: Do you actually predict dictatorship and economic disaster for the United States?
Rand: If the present collectivist trend continues, if the present anti-reason philosophy continues, yes that is the way the country is going but I do not believe in historical determinism and I do not believe that people have to go that way. Men have the free will to choose and to think. If they change their thinking, we do not have to go into dictatorship.
She goes on to say,
The majority of the people has never been given a choice. You know that both parties today are for socialism in effect, for control, and there is no party, there are no voices to offer an actual pro-capitalist laissez-faire economic freedom and individualism.
That is what this country needs today.
And, that is exactly what Trump is offering to us all!
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Here’s a brilliant comment and observation by a viewer “Mitty MO”:
Wallace brought left-wing conclusions to the conversation & ran into an intellect far beyond his own. Wallace fails to apprehend the weaknesses of man & man’s susceptibility to propaganda & indoctrination. Wallace also fails to apprehend the differences between true capitalists & crony capitalists (aka “robber barons”) Wallace was like a naïve college student debating with a renowned Harvard professor. However, Mike Wallace’s intellect dwarfs that of his son.
Successful capitalists will support those needed things, like roads, sewers, water purification, etc., necessary to pave the way for more success. But they will eschew left-wing wealth redistribution schemes like the New Deal, Fair Deal, & Great (giveaway?) Society.
Wallace cites biblical principles to support liberal principles, even though liberals don’t believe in religion.
“When the people find that they can vote themselves money that will herald the end of the republic.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
The Mike Wallace Interview with Ayn Rand