Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard: The Verdict after Fifty Years

"...No, she pretty much painted anyone who did anything to help others as suckers..."

Ummm, beg to differ. Earlier I paraphrased what I took her position to be, so here I will post her own words, with an emphasis added to show where what she said was essentially what I posted:

"My views on charity are very simple. I do not consider it a major virtue and, above all, I do not consider it a moral duty. There is nothing wrong in helping other people, if and when they are worthy of the help and you can afford to help them. I regard charity as a marginal issue. What I am fighting is the idea that charity is a moral duty and a primary virtue."

"The fact that a man has no claim on others (i.e., that it is not their moral duty to help him and that he cannot demand their help as his right) does not preclude or prohibit good will among men and does not make it immoral to offer or to accept voluntary, non-sacrificial assistance."

"To view the question in its proper perspective, one must begin by rejecting altruism’s terms and all of its ugly emotional aftertaste—then take a fresh look at human relationships. It is morally proper to accept help, when it is offered, not as a moral duty, but as an act of good will and generosity, when the giver can afford it (i.e., when it does not involve self-sacrifice on his part), and when it is offered in response to the receiver’s virtues, not in response to his flaws, weaknesses or moral failures, and not on the ground of his need as such."

So, again, I submit that a lot of people (here and elsewhere) mis-represent her actual views on charity and giving assistance to others.

That last paragraph puts four criteria on when it’s okay for me to give. I don’t need the goddess Rand to tell me how to spend my money.

I give to whomever and whatever I want, whenever I want for whatever reason I want because I made the money and it’s none of her or your *#(@*% business what I do with it.

That’s freedom, FYI, not some fake thing where I have to PROVE my reasoning for exercising my rights to some commissar.

"...I give to whomever and whatever I want, whenever I want for whatever reason I want because I made the money and it’s none of her or your *#(@*% business what I do with it..."

You are making her point EXACTLY.

At no point did you say "I MUST give because I am OBLIGATED to."

You have articulated her position with precision. You might come back and try to amend your position by saying you give from what you feel is an obligation, but in your initial, base reaction, your point is hers exactly.

Consider how much more you could do if you hadn't been taxed on your income in order to pay for someone else's idea of charity!

Let me modify your statement and I will completely agree with your position...

I give to whomever and whatever I want, whenever I want for whatever reason I want because I made the money and it’s none of her or your or the governments *#(@*% business what I do with it.

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