American Thinker: For over 30 years, I’ve been reading and re-reading Ayn Rand’s books, both fiction and non-fiction, and I don’t recall anything that suggests she was in favor of open borders. Furthermore, Ayn Rand died in 1982 – she never witnessed the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11, the steady stream of terrorist massacres throughout the great, historical cities of Europe and on American soil, or the large-scale invasion of so-called “refugees” into Europe. Islam and immigration were not cultural or political issues during her lifetime.
So why am I even asking if Ayn Rand would have been for open borders?
After Ayn Rand’s death, her heir, Leonard Peikoff, formed the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI). The most prominent of Objectivists followed Dr. Peikoff and are currently ensconced at the ARI today, advocating for open borders, seemingly in Ayn Rand’s name.
Why is this of importance? Because most influential conservatives today have been greatly influenced by Ayn Rand’s ideas, and so will future generations. And it would be disturbing if her legacy is being hijacked by what Milo Yiannopoulos calls “social justice warriors” (SJWs), just as the SJWs have hijacked the universities, Hollywood, Silicon Valley, the corporate news media, sports, advertising, etc. Therefore, the question has to be asked: is Ayn Rand’s name being fraudulently used to promote open borders? ARI Watch seems to believe so. read more
Who is John Galt?
Libertarian Milton Friedman had the last word on open borders. He warned you cannot have open borders and a welfare state.
I despise those who make claims in the name of the dead, who cannot respond. I don’t care whether it’s Jesus, Lincoln, or Ted Kennedy, do not put words into their mouths that are not theirs.
“Would Ayn Rand have been for open borders?”
Absolutely not! Rand would have correctly identified this as a criminal invasion with huge economic consequences. Though she was no fan of Reagan, I believe she would have seen through the commie policies on the left and rejected them outright.
I used to comment over at GaltsGulchOnline… until many went full NeverTrump. The sanctimonious philosophical contortionists, so superior to the ‘blue collar billionaire’, just couldn’t get past his rough exterior to even consider the dire repercussions of electing hILLary.
Education and intelligence are not mutually exclusive.
All permanent institutions including NGOs and taxpayer-university-funded Think Tanks eventually attract the exact same types of nest-feathering bureaucrats.
Academia is just another bureaucracy magnet.
Ayn Rand would be appalled at all this.
If she were alive, she’d be demanding a Big Beautiful Wall.
I haven’t studied Rand, but I’ve read Rand, and I don’t recall any specific references to borders, open or otherwise.
My exposure is, of course, limited, and I don’t have an infallible memory (if any memory, at all) but it seems like it should have stood out.
izlamo delenda est …
I’ve read most of her published books, some more than once. Seems to me she was for common sense, open borders is not common sense.
“moochers” or “looters.” These people coming across the border fit that ID perfectly. Rand wrote thousands of lines against, “moochers” or “looters.” . Done.
Here’s the answer from the horse’s mouth (Ayn Rand Lexicon): http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/national_rights.html
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@Left Coast Dan January 14, 2018 at 9:32 am
There are billions and billions (according to Carl Sagan) of people who believe that “If I claim that somebody ‘better’ than you, want’s ‘this’, then it is your lowly task to do it. Unless you can prove your ‘better’ does not really want that.” WWJD? Until He gives you a notarized permission slip, exactly what I told you. Aren’t you glad “We’re all in this together. That every voice matters. Some just matter more.”?
Wasn’t Ayn Rind a conservative?