What if a Democratic candidate for VP cited Karl Marx as a huge influence?

[All Along The Watchtower]

Ayn Rand is much, much more politically acceptable in America than Karl Marx.

Which is unfortunate.

[All Along The Watchtower]

I am not disagreeing that there is a big difference between Ayn Rand and Adam Smith, but there is also a big difference between citing Rand as an influence versus Marx. Rand is largely a pop phenomenon who, when it comes to matters of economics, largely ripped off Smith's ideas, making them edgier and more controversial in the process (a businesswoman at heart, she did well marketing her pop products). In contrast to Rand, the ideas of Smith and Marx have impacted the world more than any other individuals of the past 250 years. Smith has brought the world greater prosperity and peace; Marx has brought the world greater oppression and war. One who states they were influenced by Marx would be the polar opposite of one who states they were influenced by Smith, not Rand.

What I'm disagreeing with is primarily that there's such a thing as a 'polar opposite' in the social sciences. Or any discipline, really, other than grammar and mathematics.

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The quasi-religious significance attributed to economic forces is one of the aspects of the Enlightenment worldview that I think is most damaging, honestly. I'm willing to accept that risk.

REPENT, NATHAN! THE MARKET COMPELS YOU!

[All Along The Watchtower]

Smith has brought the world greater prosperity and peace; Marx has brought the world greater oppression and war.

rofl, joke poster

You'll understand when you grow up.

You have a colossal man-crush on one of the Worst People in America (TM). You really shouldn't talk, breh.