Good read. But it raises an obvious question: What is the source of these "inalienable rights"? Why is it "wrong" for one man to enslave another? Or kill him? Or take his belongings? Rand was an atheist, was she not? So they don't originate from God in her worldview (or mine, FWIW). History would suggest suggest that such a concept of individualism is not the natural order, most of it having consisted of assorted monarchies, serfdoms, dictatorships, etc. In fact, has any nation ever existed where these ideas were fully realized? Is such a state always doomed to fall over into one sort of collectivism or another? Am I just a terminal pessimist? ;)
Man is a social animal. Recognizing natural rights and not initiating force is the only rational way for men to coexist.
History would suggest suggest that such a concept of individualism is not the natural order, most of it having consisted of assorted monarchies, serfdoms, dictatorships...
True. But only because the law of the jungle has prevailed over reason. As to the question of whether a state based on individual liberty has ever existed, some claim Iceland was once as close as a state ever came. I have not studied the claim.
I share your pessimism. I have come to believe the state and true individual liberty cannot coexist. And I am not an anarcho-capitalist.
Man is born with certain rights. If this is unacceptable to some, it is because the recognition of this fact would interfere with their designs on their fellows.
An honest person will understand this after reading Ayn Rand's books.