It’s odd to hear all of the recent references to people “going Galt.” It’s odd because the idea of Galt and Rand’s philosophy are infantile at best.

If someone wants to “go Galt” then let them. It’s a case of “I’m mad, so I’m taking my toys and going home.” As I’ve heard others note, “graveyards are full of indispensable people.”

If you want to engage in the ultimate expression of individuality and disengage with society, or “go Galt,” then do it. Go Galt. But go all the way. Don’t take any half-measures. If you’re going to go Galt, then you’ll need to solve your own problems and get your own fuel for your vehicles, generate your own energy, grow your own food, and stop using the Internet. Because these are all luxuries created by collective effort, not a single individual. They were created for the purpose of collective/social benefit, to be enjoyed by society and enabled by the collective will of society, i.e., government.

Government, not individual ideas built the roads that allow for interstate commerce and the distribution of grain and produce from the heartland out across the country. Government money–taxpayer money–subsidized the construction of the power grid which distributes fuel and electricity to our cities and towns. And the creation of the Internet was funded by scientists intentionally working for the common good, funded by government research grants.

And even our constitution enshrines our collectivist goals by declaring that “We the People,” have engaged in this society with the explicit purpose of promoting the “general Welfare.” It says nothing about “We the People” forming our constitution to make more profits, to start a business, or maximize individual wealth.

“Life, Liberty, and Property” are held by everyone, but they are not absolute guarantees without conditions. Through due process, the government can take your life, liberty, or property if you commit a crime against another citizen or against society as a whole (e.g., prison, fines, or the death penalty). Through due process, the government can take your liberty or property when necessary and the interests of society outweigh your individual rights (e.g., taxes, public speech to incite riots or chaos).

It is the goal of our government to preserve individual liberty insofar as it is viable within the context of our social contract. And it is understanding the balance between the rights of the individual and the interests of government that we have long sought to resolve.