Having never read Atlas Shrugged, I had to read the Wikipedia entry after reading all of the comments here (I have some free time today!).
I suppose, then, that I’m a Randian small-l libertarian insofar as I think any government coercion of the individual is immoral. This would, of course, include any forceable confiscation of income. As far as economics is concerned, just read Milton Friedman and you’ll understand what I believe: Free markets are the only moral system.
What may come as a surprise – or not – is that I agree with these two avowed atheists based upon my faith and understanding of Biblical principles. There is a reason that the Commands of God begin with, “I Am the Lord your God” and end with, “You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s.” It’s like a God’s-eye – or top-down – view of the metaphorical Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil: The end result of all sin is godlessness, and the root of all sin is covetousness. Since covetousness is a multi-faceted thing, you can look at it through many different prisms: Covetousness is envy, jealousy, lust, greed &c. and covetousness leads to every other sin in the list of God’s commands – thefts, adulteries, murders, &c. Covetousness boils down to any unholy desire for something God blessed another with.
Income taxes, especially progressive income taxes, are nothing other than government-imposed covetousness, and they really are truly theft. When leftist politicians say things like they, “want to spread the wealth around” or, “paying income taxes is patriotic” they are supporting government theft and they are also inducing citizens to sin by buying into the idea that institutionalized covetousness is legitimate. In fact, all appeals to class envy are inducements to sin.
Property taxes are also a form of institutionalized covetousness, because only those with property – the successful and productive – will be subject to those taxes, and the moneys will be redistributed to the unsuccessful and unproductive. Besides, if the government can steal your property for not bowing to their extortion demands, then YOU DON’T OWN THE PROPERTY, THE GOVERNMENT DOES!
So, the first thing you have to do if you want to make ANY SPIRITUAL PROGRESS AT ALL in life is to get the idea into your head that it is none of your business who God blesses with what. He has His reasons, and whether things seem fair to you or not is completely irrelevant. The further our people have gotten from this most basic of moral principles, the further our government has strayed into the immorality of the institutionalized covetousness known as socialism. It’s a simple cause and effect relationship.
Where the atheist libertarians run into the wall, however, is over what societal laws are actually necessary, and almost all of those have to do with protecting the innocence and safety of our children.
As far as “going Galt,” I’ve been there all my life… because I’m a musician. LOL!
