Quote Objectivism all they might, the fact of the matter is the basis is amoralism, their complaint is “Govt should not impose Morality on the people”
Okay then what do they then suppose is the consequence of having a Amoral Governance? How can expect that vacuum to be filled be some remote State that is more than happy to “live and let live”?
Delusional thinking on the part of idealists has led to more graves than any Judeo Christian based Government ever has.
Point to the Salem Witch Trials and I’ll point to the unmarked graves outside the Gulag.
Objectivism is for people too dumb to understand Locke, and too afraid to understand Burke.
Do Objectivists believe the government shouldn’t impose morality on people?
Objectivists believe the government can no more impose morality on people as it can impose gravity on people. If the government would simply protect us in our rights, then reality imposes morality on us. The bottom line is: If you don’t work, you starve.
Ah, but what if we define “morality” is a way that is self-sacrificial? That is, what if the reason for you to work isn’t to enable you to live well, but to enable others to live well. Well, that;s what modern-day government is in the business of doing. Taking from some and giving to others. You need government to turn things around from reality in order to pervert objective morality.
For a religious person, it is easy to see how the world is so organized that if we each pursue our self-interest while respecting the equal rights of others, that everything will work our well. This is because a religious person believes in a providential God. Hence, a religious person can easily accept that self-interest and social harmony can and should go hand in hand. That relying on God’s providential design, rather than on government, is a test of faith for which God stands ready to reward us for relying on him. The self-interest part, the social interest part and the obedience to God part all come together for a religious person.
But, what about an atheist? Does the atheist see the big picture or even care? And, can an atheist ever be trusted when nobody is looking? Well, here os what I’ll say, there are atheists who do see the big picture and are in awe of it. But, in my opinion, not many. And, I don’t think you can really trust anybody, religious or atheist.
Both prime examples of people believing they know better than someone else how he should run his life.