If Rand-Nietzsche-HL Mencken are from the same family of Libertarian Capitalists (whose free-will and offsetting-ly selfish interests drive a kind of benign progress), then this is pretty much the American premise which has kinda sorta worked. In a way, it is simply "ambitious individualism is better than mediocre group-think", and that seems rather obvious. From there are some distinctions:
1) Couldn't a benevolent being be relentlessly ambitious and individualistic, and still fit into this model? (let's say Jimmy Carter or a Frank Capra hero)
2) Sure there's the Hitler and Trump downside (the runaway, selfish individualist) but I believe Nietzsche/Rand warns us of that type (the usurper, or the one that feigns individualism yet preys upon others). I believe the Howard Roark punchline is that he he thinks and acts for himself, doesn't leech off others (which is self-limiting). I always thought Trump was a classic Wesley Mouch, and I'll bet Paul Ryan agrees.
3) Rand's problem was that she was rather weird/annoying, humorless and selfish on a PERSONAL level, which was a turnoff. On the other hand, Mencken is a hoot, very Mark Twain-like.
4) Nietzsche is the original, misunderstood. Hitchcock's "Rope" a study in Nietzsche run amok?
5) I submit the example of "Superman" as the "nice" Ubermensch. He is great, often unappreciated, chooses to use his powers for the good. Fortunately he overpowers the bad Ubermensches like Lex Luther (using goodness, like the WW II Allies?) Should we slap anti-trust regulation on him? I believe history is showing that Socialism sucks, "kind" Capitalism wins. My article:
