• • • Rynd’s ‘Atlas Shrugged’ no guideline for United States 
Doris S. Stevenson, Albany Herald (GA) Altruism  |Atheism  |Atlas Shrugged  |The Virtue of Selfishness  |Capitalism  |Egoism  |Paul Ryan  | Concerning “Election Must Not Be The Day ‘America Shrugged:’” (Sept. 8) Orson Swindle’s column begs research. Are we to share his prediction of our nation’s demise based on “Atlas Shrugged,” a fictitious novel by Ayn Rand (1957)? At age 26, she came to the U.S. from Russia, apparently bringing some of the dark side with her. She also wrote “The Virture of Selfishness — A New Concept of Egoism” (1961), a book left to me by a hippie in the early 1960s. Until now I ignored it. I wonder if it inspired the self-indulgent “Me” generation, “don’t trust anyone over 30,” and disrespect for the ethical mores of society and government — maybe “God is Dead.” It is hardly relevant in our politics today, nor acceptable in America any time.   Published: 2012-09-25