Today
Classic Rock magazine has posted a teaser from an interview with Neil Peart from their upcoming issue going on sale this Wednesday, April 24th. In the interview, Neil comments on an interview published in the March 4, 1978 issue of the UK's
New Musical Express (
which you can read here):
“I recall that NME interview very well because the conversation was great,” Peart recalls in an interview in the forthcoming new edition of Classic Rock. “And we all felt totally betrayed after, because we had a lovely time with the guy. I remember him being so courteous. It was so amicable. As far as I was concerned, we were just having an intellectual conversation. But these things are wide open to misinterpretation, and that was a classic case.”
Peart, who has since distanced himself from Rand’s writings, added: “I know where I fall politically. And I define it better now: I’m a libertarian, but a bleeding-heart libertarian. I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don’t want people to have to suffer. It’s as simple as that. If people are suffering and I can help, I want to. But here’s the difference between being an idealist and a realist. Idealistically, I believe that we should help people. But realistically, do I think that government will do that? No.”
Peart defines ‘libertarianism’ as follows: “It’s enlightened self-interest. Free will. I’ve lived in the US for the last 10 years, and I wanted there to be a health care system. The little bit that there is, it’s a wonderful thing. So that’s an example of what I consider enlightened self-interest. That’s why I’m a bleeding-heart libertarian.
In other words, he now agrees with socialism.
ReplyDeleteHis views are a far cry from socialism. Socialists literally worship the government (even if they don't realize it) and they believe that bureaucrats make better decisions about individual's lives than individuals do in spite of every ounce of evidence proving that bureaucrats treat people like "things". But Peart is an artist and most artists have problems embracing the concept of the totally free market. He's more illuminated than most, however he does come from Canada and they take for granted their dirt-cheap but in reality inferior and bankrupt healthcare system which they've been duped into believing is both more compassionate and superior in quality (that latter part is the real knee-slapper). Peart has the same delusion that many otherwise intelligent people do: that healthcare is some kind of special industry that should (and can be optimally) run on taxes and charity, although those same people would balk at that idea concerning food -- even though if somebody is going hungry they are suffering. Peart's a brilliant artist and philosopher, but like most of his kind he's no economist.
DeleteAmen! Totally agree. As much as I love the music and lyrics of Rush, socialist politicians do treat people as pawns for their own advancement. They truly believe in what they are doing. They truly believe that people benefit from their nanny state decisions. Scary...
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