I recently saw a quote from Jim Wallis. He said: "It is widely reported that Congressman Paul Ryan makes every member of his staff read philosopher Ayn Rand."

As you know Congressman Ryan is the author of the new proposed Republican budget.

As I understand it Ayn Rand, Russian born, was a committed atheist. She felt that Christianity's commands to look out for others, cups of cold water, brother's keeper, all those concepts were a terrible mistake. She felt that any such act weakened both the recipient and the giver. Ms. Rand is one of the gurus of the Libertarian Party, I am given to understand.

She was a great story teller. I was very taken with both "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead" in my youth. I remember trying on her outlook when I was reading her but I could never make it through the day with her point of view. I felt like a failure.

To me it is perfectly legitimate for a political party to endorse these ideas and put them forth in policy form - like in a budget for the nation.

The arguments about the role of government policies in helping secure the welfare of the vulnerable against the natural gains of the powerful are good to discuss and think about. It seems this debate has been going on since the country began.

What I think has to be looked out for is the libertarian philosophy getting clothed in Christian values by Republicans.

A very bright friend sent me the following: "Nancy and I met shortly after having read ‘The Fountainhead.' A little later, we read ‘Atlas Shrugged.' In a few years we were shocked that we had been so taken with these glorified lectures on selfishness being portrayed as self-reliance. It is certainly appropriate to challenge the intentions of any leader who claims to be inspired by both Rand and Jesus."

Food for thought.

ANNE SALISBURY

Coeur d'Alene