Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ayn Rand hits the nail on the head: using the wealth created by others against their will is nothing short of encouraging servitude.
Ayn Rand championed a society built on voluntary exchange and respect to private property. She want to understand that many government policies rely on coercion—a form of moral extortion. By contrast, a free society channels the self-interest of millions of individuals who, through production and trade, cooperate willingly to meet each other's needs.
We often underestimate the power of self-interest. Under the right institutions—those that protect private property and enforce contracts—self-interest aligns with what we call "the public good." Just look at the constant flow of goods and services pouring through markets every day. No central planner could ever reproduce that harmony, and goodwill alone wouldn't be enough either. Goodwill, after all, depends on scarce resources and is usually reserved for family and friends. Yet modern societies thrive thanks to the voluntary cooperation of millions of strangers.
Ayn Rand hits the nail on the head: using the wealth created by others against their will is nothing short of encouraging servitude.
Ayn Rand championed a society built on voluntary exchange and respect to private property. She want to understand that many government policies rely on coercion—a form of moral extortion. By contrast, a free society channels the self-interest of millions of individuals who, through production and trade, cooperate willingly to meet each other's needs.
We often underestimate the power of self-interest. Under the right institutions—those that protect private property and enforce contracts—self-interest aligns with what we call "the public good." Just look at the constant flow of goods and services pouring through markets every day. No central planner could ever reproduce that harmony, and goodwill alone wouldn't be enough either. Goodwill, after all, depends on scarce resources and is usually reserved for family and friends. Yet modern societies thrive thanks to the voluntary cooperation of millions of strangers.
