The Nature of Government

(Originally written July 20, 2006 in Book 3)

The Nature of Government
Ayn Rand

Linehan - with all the disagreements I have with Rand, our differences on the role of government seem to differ in only a minor way.

A government holds the exclusive power to enforce certain rules of social conduct.

Man needs government because a social environment is most conducive to the acquisition of knowledge.

Knowledge and trade are two great values gained through society.

Not all societies afford this, only rational, productive, independent men in a rational, productive and free society afford trade and knowledge.

Man's rights are only violated by physical force.

A government is to keep physical force from being implemented in social contracts or arrangements.

But, even though initiating physical force is a moral evil, retaliation with physical force is a moral imperative.

Retaliatory force requires objective evidence for it to be used. Otherwise retaliation is merely a lynch mob.

"A government is the means of placing the retaliatory use of physical force under objective control" (Rand, 109).

The difference between individuals and government is that individuals may do anything except what is forbidden by law, whereas a government can only do what it is legally permitted to do.

A government derives its power from the covenant of the people.

The proper function of the government fall into three broad categories:
1) The police
2) The armed forces
3) The law courts