Conservatism: An Obituary Summary and Analysis

Rand begins the chapter by saying there is agreement between conservatives and liberals that there is a fight to save civilization. They both agree this is a conflict involving communism but they do not know what to call the other side. What they are really talking about is a conflict between capitalism and statism. Both groups claim their side represents freedom and then they present their programs, which include taxes and various forms of government controls and government programs. These programs and controls are forms of statism.

Freedom usually means being free of coercion by government. People still have to work and provide for their livelihood but they do not have coercion from government. Conflict involves the struggle between man and the state by whatever name they want to call it. Supporters of freedom must support individual...