Remembering Ayn Rand

Petzold has unanswered questions about Ayn Rand's view of Earth Day, as he remembers one of her TV appearances in 1970. It's a very accessible view, though, because even if it hadn't just been noted on CNN on Friday (Going Green: Bad for Business?), she wrote a brilliant philosophical analysis of environmentalism (aka ecology) in 1971: The Anti-Industrial Revolution.

UPDATE: This line in the aforementioned article is similar to what gives Petzold nightmares:

Anyone over 30 years of age today, give a silent 'Thank you' to the
nearest, grimiest, sootiest smokestack you can find.

I consider this smart writing, exactly the kind of thing which makes Ayn Rand's words so memorable. Out of context it sounds absurd, but once you get her point that industry has caused a minor amount of pollution while tripling your life expectancy, then it's, well, a smart and memorable line.

More: here's a recent interview with MIT professor Richard Lindzen: Relax, the planet is fine.