When we base rights on what is good for society, that begs the question: Who speaks for society? Throughout history, such people who claim to speak for society inevitably turn out to be tyrants. You have a few, even a single person, deciding what is good for the people. Rand thought that people ought to decide for themselves, based upon rational self-interest.
Human Rights
LR Podcast S2E8: Right on, Rand!
Ayn Rand saw collectivism in all its forms as an impediment to human rights. "The good of society" cannot be the basis of rights, since society is merely a collection of individuals, and so the only proper rights are individual rights. When we base rights on what is good for society, that begs the question: Who speaks for society? Throughout history, such people who claim to speak for society inevitably turn out to be tyrants. You have a few, even a single person, deciding what is good for the people. Rand thought that people ought to decide for themselves, based upon rational self-interest.
LR Podcast #50: The Historic 50th Episode!
For the life so far of the podcast, our liberties have been under threat, particularly since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. It was surprising in some cases, just how easily some of our Constitutional rights such as the freedom of religion were lost.
Rights vs. Privileges
Because some of our leaders are confused. True rights do not require government approval to exercise. For instance we have freedom of association, that is a right. When the government tries to place requirements on our right to freedom of assembly, it treats that right as a privilege.
Liberty Relearned 