It is a good overview of Libertarian or Anarcho-Capitalist views. It's hard to find scholarly works about that, so Atlas Shrugged is the next best thing.

Well, right off the top, the "pursuit of happiness" deals with capitalism, or at least private ownership and property rights. By happiness, the drafters of the US Constitution meant property. Specifically, land - but the meaning has broadened over time. To pursue one's happiness in this context is to be able to pursue wealth - a very easy way of measuring utility. Note that it does not say "happiness" outright, but rather the "pursuit of happiness." No minimum utility (read, wealth) is guaranteed, but the ability to amass it for oneself is.

Edit: Wow. Not the Constitution. Declaration of Independence. Shows how much I know.

Edit 2: Okay. Take two.

The preamble may apply "...secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity..." (though that's a very loose interpretation) and the fourth amendment may apply "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." It guarantees property rights, but only specifically against illegal search. The Declaration may be a better place to look for founding principles - especially since the Constitution is a bit younger than the Republic itself. It might be interesting to look at the Articles of Confederation, though.

__________________
Quaeso quousque humi defixa tua mens erit? Nonne aspicis, quae in templa veneris?

The Communist Manifesto is a quick read and gives you a bit of background of what Marx and Engels were thinking but it has little to do with what is called Socialism or Communism in the real world. The U.S. Constitution is worth reading, but has little to do with this subject.

__________________
I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?

Disclaimer: Avatar is not an official NASA image and does not imply any specific interplanetary or interstellar capability.

The Leif Ericson Cruiser

I think Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal would both be a much easier read and more relevant to this subject. Objectivism and libertarianism both go beyond this subject. If someone wants to read some of Ayn Rand's other non fiction work, there are other collections, such as The Romantic Manifesto and The Virtue of Selfishness, but I wouldn't worry about those for a debate like this.

__________________
I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?

Disclaimer: Avatar is not an official NASA image and does not imply any specific interplanetary or interstellar capability.

The Leif Ericson Cruiser

Hm. I wasn't aware of Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal - it does indeed seem better.

__________________
Quaeso quousque humi defixa tua mens erit? Nonne aspicis, quae in templa veneris?

To be honest, while I can read her non-fiction essays and find some interesting, I couldn't finish Atlas Shrugged. For me, it was painful reading, and it seemed the author wasn't as interested in telling a story as presenting an argument.

Amending a comment I made previously, it could be worth looking at some of the philosophical arguments she makes for capitalism, since there are philosophical arguments made for socialism, but this may go beyond the scope of a debate. Matherly, are there some boundaries on the scope of this debate?

__________________
I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?

Disclaimer: Avatar is not an official NASA image and does not imply any specific interplanetary or interstellar capability.

The Leif Ericson Cruiser

It probably would go a bit far in a simple debate, especially since some of her views depart from the norm of Capitalism. But, then, Leninism departs from Marxism, as does Maoism - both are included on my list. So, while not necessary, I think they are interesting to consider.

__________________
Quaeso quousque humi defixa tua mens erit? Nonne aspicis, quae in templa veneris?