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Enlightened self interest doesn't work on a scale necessary for a civilization to function. Every nation that has next to no government and every man is free t

Enlightened self interest doesn't work on a scale necessary for a civilization to function. Every nation that has next to no government and every man is free to do with his life as he wishes is a giant shithole that teeters in and out of revolution. Want to see objectivism at work? Go visit Somalia or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In those countries every man is free to pursue "... his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute." Countries full of people who are "all noble heros free to pursue their dreams". Too bad their dreams all involve mass murder and slavery to pursue personal wealth and power. Hobbes was smarter than Rand. We have a Government to protect us from each other.

viggity 18y ago
I don't think you'll find Rand objecting to a government that protects its people from physical aggression or coercion. The problem I have with most world governments (including my own), is that they try to (and fail at) protecting people from matters that the people are capable of handling themselves. In doing so, they rob people of their motivation and self satisfaction. I understand why people would think that Rand says "you should only care about your own life and happiness". But that is bullshit. It isn't considered bad to care about and care for other people (look at Dagny and Hank/John/Francisco). What Rand is railing against is being forced to care about another person (which is what the government does to the producers by threat of coercion). I'm a firm believer in Rand's theories, but that certainly doesn't stop me from donating my time and money to worthy causes. The important part is that my donations are made of my own FREE WILL and not forced at the barrel of a gun.
shrughes 18y ago
Rand wasn't an anarchocapitalist.

viggity 18y ago

I don't think you'll find Rand objecting to a government that protects its people from physical aggression or coercion. The problem I have with most world governments (including my own), is that they try to (and fail at) protecting people from matters that the people are capable of handling themselves. In doing so, they rob people of their motivation and self satisfaction. I understand why people would think that Rand says "you should only care about your own life and happiness". But that is bullshit. It isn't considered bad to care about and care for other people (look at Dagny and Hank/John/Francisco). What Rand is railing against is being forced to care about another person (which is what the government does to the producers by threat of coercion). I'm a firm believer in Rand's theories, but that certainly doesn't stop me from donating my time and money to worthy causes. The important part is that my donations are made of my own FREE WILL and not forced at the barrel of a gun.

shrughes 18y ago

Rand wasn't an anarchocapitalist.