Uncle Sam Shrugged

So Ayn Rand disciple Leonard Peikoff and his fellow Randians are hopping mad because the evil government has taken two manuscript pages from him that were missing from his gift to the Library of Congress (“Donor of Ayn Rand Manuscript, U.S. Are Not on the Same Page,” March 5). I don’t see why. According to your article, Peikoff, of his own free will, signed a contract that gave the government the papers and then sent a letter in which he falsely stated he had sent “the complete materials.” The government then, without regard for gratitude, compassion or decency, mechanically enforced the contract.

I should think followers of Ayn Rand would be pleased, since such behavior is entirely consistent with her philosophy of objectivism.

John Harrington

Escondido