Long ago, I read Ayn Rand. But then I grew up and realized that unfettered self-interest is not good and altruism is not destructive. Unlike Rand, I believe that communities are richer when people interact, cooperate, and assist those in need.

However, I understand Rand’s appeal to young people who are emerging from their family and trying to establish a sense of adult independence.

Almost a decade ago, Daniel M. Lavery wrote a piece for The New Yorker that imagined how Ayn Rand would have reviewed certain famous movies.

• “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” — 0 stars

An industrious young woman neglects to charge for her housekeeping services and is rightly exploited for her naïveté. She dies without ever having sought her own happiness as the highest moral aim…

• “Bambi” — 4 stars

The biggest and the strongest are the fittest to rule…

• “Old Yeller” — 4 stars

A farm animal ceases to be useful and is disposed of …

• “Lady and the Tramp” — 1 star

A ridiculous movie. What could a restaurant owner possibly have to gain by giving away a perfectly good meal to dogs, when he could sell it….

• “101 Dalmatians” — No stars

…Altruism is pointless. So are dogs…

• “Mary Poppins”— No stars

A woman takes a job with a wealthy family without asking for money in exchange for her services. An absurd premise…

• “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” — 3 and one half stars

…I believe more movies should be made about enterprising young boys who are given factories.

• “Charlotte’s Web” — 2 stars

A farmer allows sentimental drawings by a bug to prevail over economic necessity and refuses to value his prize pig, Wilbur, by processing and selling him on the open market…

• “Babe” — No stars

Another pig farmer fails to do his job.

• “Frozen” — 1 star

An exceptional woman foolishly allows her mooching family members to keep her from ruling a kingdom of ice in perfect solitude…