Ayn RandAyn Rand, [Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum] (1905-1982) Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter

Ayn Rand Quote

“It is a matter of record that in the German Election of 1933, the Communist Party was ordered by its leaders to vote for the Nazis - with the explanation that they could later fight the Nazis for power, but first they had to help destroy their common enemy: capitalism and its parliamentary form of government.”

Ayn RandAyn Rand
~ Ayn Rand

" 'Extremism' or The Art of Smearing", Chapter 17 of Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

History once again repeating itself. Unions voting for fascists, patrons of the 10 plank manifesto voting for neocons, progressives voting for moderates, etc., etc., etc. All in goose step harmony destroying their common enemy : the representative republic, limited by a Constitution, at natural law.

J Carlton, Calgary

And that is how Democracy works...which is why we need to restore the Republic in its intended form of individual rights being sacrosanct. Limited Government and sound currency are the only way we can be truly free people.

Brian, Richmond

How ignorant this statement is. Unions don't vote for Fascists. Fascism is a government run by and for the interests of big business, this is quintissential Italian fascism. Nazi is the acronym for National Socialist Party, which of course, the nazis were anything but socialists. Communism is not totalitarian by its own definition, neither is Socialism or Capitalism. But, Fascism can only function in totalitarian ways.
Therefore, the enemy IS the totalitarian state, not the economic system it represents itself to be. Please, read a book by someone other than this self aggrandizing propagandist Rand.

J Carlton, Calgary

Wrong Brian. The Nazi's were as fascist as Mussolini's Italy. They took over the local industries and told them what to produce, when to produce and what it would cost. That certainly doesn't represent the interests of big business...it controls it. And certainly the Nazi's were socialists...the simply enforced socialism at the end of a gun. Ayn Rand was absolutely crystal clear and correct in her observations.

DJ, Decatur

Brian. What book do you suggest?

Bob, Eugene, OR

Shout it from the rooftops, Folks! It's amazing how many otherwise intelligent people think the fascism it Rightist.

Mike, Norwalk

Brian, you need to jump in more often. And FYI, out of books other than Rand's, communism and fascism (or corporatism if you will) only differ by means of administration while being just 2 ends of the same socialist stick. Questions; did the Unions openly support Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin in his voter fraud imbued elections ? The answer is a great big emphatic YES ! Did Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin illegally bankrupt GM (contrary to law, statute and over 200 years of bankruptcy process - a great example of fascist totalitarianism), illegally make the Union an owner of GM while bypassing legitimate creditors (act of an immoral dictator), have the government unconstitutionally take stock in GM (a totalitarian fascist move), and make multiple changes in GM administration (the act of a fascist executive) ? The answer is a great big emphatic YES! (that's right out of the law books - the unions voted for a fascist) As to the economic state, you need read Keynesian economics. Keynesian economics (crony capitalism being a false facade and a part time subsidiary thereto) is the fiscal heart of socialism (communism to fascism). Socialism the religion, along with its fiscal heart are antithetical to and an ideologically enemy of capitalism, complete with the Constitutionally limited representative republic that surrounds it.

Mann, Kalamazoo

US foreign press correspondent William L. Shirer's memoir, 'The Nightmare Years, 1930 - 1940, brings an important light to today's predominating discussion, I think. In the early 30s the Nazis needed working-class support for their march toward absolute supremacy. Hitler struck a bargain with Labor, exactly as he'd done with the Socialists, Catholics, Protestants and every other social force of note. As Labor found out, to their surprise and complete dismay, the Nazis never honored a bargain beyond securing their own immediate needs. In 1933, Hitler threw a huge May Day propaganda celebration, one where he personally received union leaders and worker delegations from all over Germany, It was a great show, and a successful one. Regardless, what happened next was fully accomplished before the Nazi lie became apparent to rank and file Germans. Shirer writes: "The next morning, May2, the trade-union offices throughout the country were occupied by the police, the S.S. and the S.A. (Brownshirts). All union funds were confiscated, the unions dissolved and the leaders arrested, beaten and carted off to a concentration camp." Within the next three weeks Hitler decreed an end to collective bargaining and outlawed strikes without exception. It bears repeating: Totalitarian tyranny doesn't give a flying 'eff' which end of the political spectrum it emanates from, right or left. It uses whatever means necessary to gain absolute Power - then it SILENCES the ordinary individual's voice. Whatever her reasoning, Rand intentionally warps the perceptions of her auditors' understanding of Communism in a burgeoning Nazi Germany. Then she instead finds favor in a ruling Capitalist standard. Her method is dishonest; her conclusion inescapably flawed.

J Carlton, Calgary

Mann, excellent points. Right up until you seem to say Capitalism is flawed. I assert that it is not, but then we would have to try it to really know wouldn't we? All we've seen so far is "Crony Capitalism" which is Big Business in bed with Big Government (right and left). Rand was not advocating crony capitalism...never has.

Mike, Norwalk

Mann, your Hitler examples explain well the last few Unionized Socialists of Amerika (USA) regimes. Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin is more of a communist than a fascist but he will use any ism while lying to any/every one to fulfill his sick dismantling of freedom, prosperity, and individual rights. We are now reliving Hitler's playbook.

DJ, Decatur

Brian and Mann brings their side to make you believe that Communism (or whatever you want to call it that removes an individual's rights to freedom) is a better way, but they fail to state WHY it is better. Another thing, I fail to see that the richer part of the government officials, mostly DEMs including the President, are against big business. They seem to like the BIG business more than the 'Right wings'. Just follow their record!.

Mike, Norwalk

Does anyone doubt that when 108% of the electorate votes and, there is not one vote for one of the candidates, that it doesn't reek of a similarity to the 1933 German election ? Hmmm, where's the media's outrage. Well, it seems the theocracy's media complex is in full cover-up mode. Where's the government's investigation ? Hmmm, I guess in full cover-up mode also. Get on board and support secession from tyranny.

vance, grapevine

i'm doing just fine thank you----sounds like some have nothing to do---go volunteer at a homeless or animal shelter-----today was a beautiful day where i live and i look forward to tomorrow

Mike, Norwalk

vance, that's nice. How does that relate to the quote ?

Cal, Lewisville, TX

Communist=All property belongs to the state.
Nazis=It doesn't matter who owns the property. What matters is who controls it.

E Archer, NYC

All this talk of right and left is a distraction invented by those that wish to cover up their power grabs. What do socialism, communism, fascism, dictatorship, monarchy, totalitarianism, authoritarianism all have in common? CENTRALIZED power into the hands of the few or the one.

Step back from ideology and view it from a perspective of POWER only. The centralization of power oppresses and enslaves the masses. With the advent of mass media, the goal is to condition folks to live in perpetual debt -- to promote debt slavery. Such puts the power to buy the world with the click of a mouse into the hands of the few that are running the racket. It is propped up by legislation, requiring all to pay into the system or be unable to trade/work at all. Corruption becomes the rule not the exception and might makes right.

Contrarily, a REPUBLICAN form of government DISTRIBUTES power across counties and states and multiple branches that are supposed to keep each other in check. The fundamental difference between the '-isms' and the republican is that in the former, power originates with the State (government) which delegates it to individuals, and in the latter, power originates with the individual and delegates specific powers to the county, state, and national government.

It is much easier to take over a nation with centralized power than it is to take over a nation made up of republics within republics. It should be remembered that European, Asian, African, and other American countries have never known a republican form of government nor are they able to transition to one until their own minds shift from being subjects to being sovereign.

Patrick Henry, Red Hill

Excellent, E Archer.

An unencumbered by emotion or ideology, entirely faithful to reality, rendering of reality. Thank you.

Ronw13, Oregon

Foundation, foundation. Very well said Archer, clear and to the point. The foundation is laid, let everyone take heed how they build thereon. Otherwise we make our children slaves to the merchants and lenders.

Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

Communist's don't bother with elections. They busy themselves finding positive directions and reasonable alternatives to destruction.  The Communist creates.

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