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Back in the days when the internet had just began I was chatting to some USA people about political history.
One of them started talking about Ayn Rand. I had heard the name but not read any of her work. Interested to know more, I went to the local library to see what I could read. No copies available. The library was connected to a computer search facility of all the UK libraries. Books could be borrowed from other libraries. I searched all the libraries in the UK for a copy of any of Ayn Rands books. There were zero copies available in the whole UK library system.
On reporting this back to the USA guys they were shocked. and said so. It got me wondering who would have arranged such a thing ? Now, and I have said this several times, I have historically been Left Wing, not Right Wing, and I know the ins and outs of the UK Left Wing monster better then most. These days I would be classed as a run of the mill "Right Wing Extremist" of course, because I believe there are only two sexes and gay people.
However, back to the story. Who had the clout to ban all books by Ayn Rand in all UK Libraries ? I don't know for sure, but I lay 10/11 odds on favourite it is one of these guys.
Just a WAG by me. Good enough to start an argument about it, at least -g-
Now if a book is banned from all UK libraries by some political whackos like the Fabians, it indicates very clearly to me the book is influential.
Which proves a point.
Yes, Ayn Rand was a strong believer in self reliance and opposed government assistance. Certainly did not believe in the welfare state.
Yes she caught lung cancer, but there was no proof that it was caused by chain smoking cigarettes.
Yes she needed to be assisted by a government welfare system at the end of her life. She got that bit wrong, but you have to realise where she escaped from. Can you blame her for the views she held?
The way I look at it, she was about 95% correct about the political system . Yes we need a society that can care for itself, but is better off with absolutely the minimum number of socialists in it. She was 50% correct on religious matters, but we are all just human. Nobody is perfect. Just my view :-)
