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Online usersPollWhat should the government do about ailing financial institutions? Nothing, except to back off and get out—as any Objectivist knows, intervention is treating the disease with the disease 85% Intervene judiciously—enough to avert a catastrophe that is otherwise imminent 3% Intervene massively—as it's doing 2% Nationalize the whole economy and be done with it. Bring on the USSA! 2% Something else (specify) 8% Total votes: 59
 Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell
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Should ATLAS SHRUGGED Be Required Reading? Submitted by James S. Valliant on Sat, 2008-04-12 15:05.
So asks the The Wall Street Journal. The real question, of course: does "required" imply the initiation of force? One can leave a comment, here, too.
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User loginFeatured BookNavigationSyndicate  The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
 Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
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Yet Again?!
Scientific or not, the number of polls which consistently rank Rand at or near the top of the most popular books for Americans is astonishing.
Notice the recent flash-in-the-pans on the list like Dan Brown's and Ms. Rowling's titles. Tolkein has also enjoyed a recent film series. No one can think King will endure on such a list, either.
On the other hand, Rand has been dead for more than a quarter of a century...
Also noteworthy, the whole list is nothing but fiction (including #1!)
Not needed as compulsory reading...
...because a new nationwide poll of 2,513 U.S. adults were asked unprompted what their favourite book was, and Atlas Shrugged was voted at no.9.
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=892
Actually, given that a Steven King novel comes before Atlas Shrugged, maybe it should be made compulsory!!!
2008
1 The Bible
2 Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
3 Lord of the Rings (series), by J.R.R. Tolkien
4 Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
5 The Stand, by Stephen King
6 The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown
7 To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
8 Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown
9 Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand
10 Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
Of Course...
Schools and classes can "require" reading -- for their own schools and classes!!
And, for adults, this isn't "force" -- they can just leave.
(Just thought I'd clarify.)
Well...
I think there needs to be a set of books of require reading. With that being said, I think that if someone has read a set of these 'books' their outward apperance will demonstrate that fact.
Yes!
That would be brilliant.
"Socialism may be dead, but its corpse is still rotting up the place." -Ayn Rand
Well ...
... it's certainly got them talking! Why, I even noticed a Ms Ashworth over there!
Required reading Yes - Initiation of force - No
Rand is very clear about the term "Physical" force as compulsion.
I choose to use dinning out to highlight my view of requirement versus the initiation of force. A menu is a requirement, but you are free to choose to read it or ignore it. A menu is essential part of a "good dining" experience, but you are not physically FORCED to read it. The requirement of a menu is essential in order to maximise the benefit to both the diner and the facilitator. If you do not like the menu, then you are indeed free to leave and choose another restaurant (facilitator) elsewhere.
When making a decent wine list. Someone has to make the decisions on which wines to choose. Just because some wines are popular and well known, doesn't necessarily mean that they are indeed the best wines.
I wish I was introduced to Ayn Rand when I was at school.
"As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy."
- Ayn Rand