Thoughts on Rand and Atlas

I am somewhere past the middle point of Atlas Shrugged so while I am going to make some observations here, its worth noting that they are still in their infancy and will have to wait till I finish the book to mature.

What I really find interesting is Rand was an atheist and so in her book up until this point there is no mention of religion as part of the character´s lives. I wonder if the conservatives who see her works as so important are also atheists or if they ignore that part of her works (the lack of a higher being)? The other thing that I am really wondering about is that Rand takes a very high opinion of science and what those who work with it are capable of doing which compared to the loud screaming in the streets and online chat rooms about how scientists are just about their own agenda, is very different.

Her simple approach to characters that the heroine not be a loud mouth who tries to portray herself as a simple, average person stands in remarked contrast to the people who are the supposed champions of the free market today. I doubt that Rand would take a very high view of Beck or his fellow radio hosts, devoted fans that they are. I also doubt she would see any use in a politician like Palin who on a regular basis shows disdain for anyone who has attained higher education than herself while at the same time posing as an average person. Rand doesn´t think very highly of average people. The saviors of her world are the elite and not the masses. Interesting.

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