Ayn Rand's Novel Anthem: The Fight of The Tea Party Movement

Collectivism has existed in every corner of the global but its popularity grew in the 1926. In reference to this, famous authors such as Ayn Rand sought to explain a dystopian future while painting an environment where collectivism is morally and politically evil. Any Rand’s view has also been exemplified in past and current historical events. Indeed, the society does not have a unique stand on whether collectivisms is for the good or individualism is the right direction.

After reading Rand’s novel, Anthem, it is reasonable to argue that the author is right that democracy in itself has never been done right and that there exists much social inequality because only a few individuals benefit from power and resources. These instances are evident in the Occupy Movement, the 15-M movement and the Tea Party Movement.

The occupy movement is one of the most popular events in this era against the inequality that benefits only a few members of the society. Evidently, the concentration of wealth in the world goes to the top 1% which leaves 99% of the global population struggling (Costanza-Chock, 375). The movement gained momentum during the 2008 financial crisis after students from the University of California occupied the school’s building in protest of high taxation, increase in school fees and staff layoffs. In the same period, various camps were being occupied by individuals who saw this as the only way to get the government’s attention (Costanza-Chock, 375-385).

Unlike other social movements, the Occupy Movement never demanded anything yet different journalist argued that they were against the high taxation. However, they were against the very same ideals presented by Rand in her novel. In a world where leaders are superior than who they lead which then gives them the privilege there is bound to be inequality. Rand says, “it is not good to be different from our brother, but it is evil to be superior to them (Rand, 4).” This quote paints the picture of how Rand’s dystopian future may look like. The future where individuals are different but there is no social inequality. In this view, it is plausible to argue that an environment where individuals are sharing the benefits together regardless of their differences is more preferred. In addition to the occupy movement, the Tea Party Movement supported Rand’s view and the argument herein. Similar to Rand’s future where there are no restriction or government intervention, the Tea Party Movement argued that taxation is too high and the government is getting involved in areas it should not (Armey & Matt, 37).

The Tea Party Movement can be referenced back to the 1990s during the Boston Tea Party which were held in protest to taxation. However, the modern tea party movement emerged in 2008 in response to economic hardships. The first major protest was held on 18th of February, 2009 after the then US president provided support for mortgage owners who were due for foreclosure (Armey & Matt, 37-67). The movement argue that the president was encouraging the wrong things but supporting loser mortgages. The movement focuses both on national and local issues that are affecting people from a collective point of view. The world that is painted by Rand is one where individuals must think of how their actions affect others. The author says, “Manuscripts are precious, for our brother in the Home of the Clerks spend one year to copy one single script … (Rand, 10)” This quote exemplifies that a collective world where individuals mind about others and are only ruled by the rules of the council and equally is better. More often than not, established rules do not favor everyone and more so they are not made for everyone especially in a non-collective society (Armey & Matt, 56).

Today democracy exists as a term but it is less practiced even in countries that claim to be the most democratic. Political evils have affected the system and are always in favor of the few. More importantly, the social issues expressed during the tea party movement as well as in Rand’s novel have always had a huge impact on political. Another similar movement is the 15-M movement in Spain which was established in 2011 in response to economic issues and social inequality (Sampedro, 61-80). Like other parts of the world, Spain has for a long time been experiencing high rates of unemployment. The movement began as a digital social event which then spread to the occupation of government institutions during the protests (Sampedro, 61-80).

The movement argued that politicians and bankers control the most wealth while others are left to suffer. The movement opposes government intervention. Rand says, “I know what horror men permitted to be brought upon them (Rand, 40).” In this quote, criticizes the society he has lived in the past where the government control everything. In a collective society, however and one that the future holds, individuals should not stand as the government opposes them. In short, Rand argument is right and collectivism in its very sense may be a moral evil and the root of all political evil. While the dystopian future may not be idea, it touches on the core needs of the people.Freeman.