[Peet]

Because, if they can put this man in a position where he has to trade away one of his rights to gain his freedom, why can’t they put anyone in that position?
...
Atlas Shrugged describes this perfectly.

What I see here is he has a "right" to sire bastards on multiple welfare sows who bear litters of bastards, probably to multiple semen donors, who are then supported by the taxpayer.

How, exactly does Rand describe this situation? Would you clarify please?

Thanks, P.

[Brookhaven]

There s a scene in Atlas Shrugged where the discussion is about laws, how there are so many, and how nobody could possibly obey all the laws.

The government official says that’s not the point—the don’t want people to obey every law. They’ve designed the system so that everyone is a law breaker; so the legal system can be brought to bear against anyone at any time. It’s designed as a form of blackmail. Play ball with the government, and we’ll forget about those laws you are breaking. Don’t play ball, and the government will come down hard on you.

In this situation, the man has been told by a judge that if he “plays ball with the government” (voluntarily has himself sterilized) the legal system will go easy on him. If he doesn’t play ball, the government will come down hard on him.

A bad precedent for a good cause is still a bad precedent.