The problem with your piece is you create a straw man in the "free market" ideas of Rand and then attribute our ills to that. When in reality you present the all too real evidence that we do not have 'free markets" if we did the banks that bought bad loans would go under, the housing market would correct itself and prices would PLUNGE leaving many people who were prudent with their money the chance to now purchase homes. But as usual our socialist mentality, and yours I believe is that the government needs to intervene to protect us. I agree that the right is predisposed to "protecting" the wealthier citizens of the country, but "protecting" the poor is just as unjust, by confiscating others work and wealth to do so. What you failed to recognize is that neither side in this country is remotely anything close to a "Randian". Randians hate both Bushes, can barely tolerate Reagan etc., Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Hannity all despise her, so attributing her beliefs or influence to them is either a fallacy or ignorance.