CEO of Rhode Island Center For Freedom and Prosperity , Mike Stenhouse excoriates Ron Ruggieri for his Ayn Rand criticism in PROJO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR January 6, 2015 | Providence Journal (RI) Page: COMM_01 | Section: News 581 Words | Readability: Lexile: 1370, grade level(s): >12 Read News Document Taking arrows in defense of freedom It is comical, yet sad, the depths to which the progressive left and other defenders of Rhode Island's failed status quo will sink in order to avoid honest debate about serious policy issues. When their arguments fail, they resort to attacking the messenger. Case in point: The Dec. 30 letter by Ron Ruggieri, who calls the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity "sinister" because we dared encourage our supporters to see a movie in 2012, "Atlas Shrugged II." Our center proudly adheres to our stated mission - to research and advocate for free-enterprise solutions that are in everyone's best interests. We debate ideas and, unlike our opponents, we do not engage in the politics of personal destruction. Mr. Ruggieri's absurd letter was not the first such mindless attack and it will not be the last. It is our center's role to take these arrows in defense of freedom. As for "Atlas Shrugged," considered by many to be one of the great literary works of America's 20th century, it is a book every American should read so as to better appreciate the virtues of personal responsibility and the free-market system as opposed to the destructive nature of an overbearing, crony government such as we have in Rhode Island. To our center's supporters, please know that we will not be deterred by such attacks. Oh, I also encourage you to go see "Atlas Shrugged III"! Mike Stenhouse Cranston The writer is CEO of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity.