Thursday, May 28, 2009

Ayn Rand on Inflating Rights

"Just as in the material realm the plundering of a country's wealth is accomplished by inflating the currency - so today one may witness the process of inflation being applied to the realm of rights. The process entails such a growth of newly promulgated "rights" that people do not notice the fact that the meaning of the concept is being reversed. Just as bad money drives out good money, so these "printing-press rights" negate authentic rights."
Ayn Rand, Man's Rights

10 comments:

Douglas Porter said...

Like to know what these "printing-press rights" are/were.

Josh said...

They're rights that you can create on the printing press. . the right to a job, the right to a house, the right to food, the right to health care. . .etc

Douglas Porter said...

Oh, and where were the original rights produced? On a printing press. The printing press is the great emancipator. The printing press is the anathema to history, a long stretch of rightless time stretching back in time without end... So, yeah, I agree with Ayn Rand.. Rights and their promulgation are the result of the power of the printing press. WHAT A BONEHEAD. There is nothing that spread the words of the constitution of the USA faster than Gutenberg's printing press.

Douglas Porter said...

The problem Ayn Rand has with the printing press is its democratic nature. The printing press gives even the lowest person a voice. Therefore, the printing press, the greatest spreader of knowledge of capitalist ideals, is also the greatest threat to capitalism.

Josh said...

You do not understand rights.

Chris said...

You're right, I don't know what printing presses, one of the greatest spreader of the knowledge of constitutional rights was used derogatively by Ayn Rand. Sorry, don't fucking get it.

Josh said...

You're offended by Ayn Rand's derogatory use of the term "printing press"?

Douglas Porter said...

You're damn right I am.

Josh said...

Need a tissue?

Douglas Porter said...

A printing press tissue?