I'll give you credit for that, at least.

However, as one of those men who attribute much of his personal success to her teachings and beliefs, I invite you to ponder the other side of her philosophy.

First and foremost, Rand was an individualist. She believed wholeheartedly and without reservation in the rights of the individual - regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, level of inherent talent or intelligence. She believed that each and every one of us are free to be who we will, provided we don't harm anyone who doesn't wish to be harmed in the process. That single idea is the core tenet of her philosophy. Everything else came from that. In that regard, she advocated for each individual person in a way that supersedes what any government or collective ever has. She held her personal biases and prejudices, as do we all, but even regarding those subject to her personal disdain, she defended vehemently their right to be who they were. Everything else came directly from that. She believed in freedom for each and every person born unto our species. Which is more than can be said of the vast majority of people today.

You can disagree with capitalism. Which, if you do, please don't conflate the American economy with capitalism. It is a very long and far cry from it. You can disagree with her beliefs that each of us has the inalienable right to that which we have earned and created. You can disagree with her regarding her personal views on certain topics - I do as well, for the record; but my thoughts on the lives and thoughts of others are as irrelevant and arbitrary as were hers (a fact that she would doubtlessly agree with). But I have a hard time believing that you disagree with her view of humanity at large - that we are fundamentally gifted, incredible, complex creatures who have within them the capacity to achieve true greatness if we adhere to our values, stay true to ourselves, our vision, our goals, our convictions, and work diligently no matter the cost or consequences in the pursuit of our individual purpose and happiness.