One of the most commonly heard objections to those of us who espouse limited government (the “night watchman” theory) is that we are “social Darwinists.” Allegedly, we delight in the demise of the poor who just drag the species down.
Writing for AIER, Robert Wright has a terrific response. Here’s a key sentence: “The next time somebody accuses you, or your political party, or your ideological affinity group, of Social Darwinism, tell ‘em you want to help the poor to thrive by supporting policies that increase productivity and that allow people to help the unfortunate through charity, insurance, and other voluntary mechanisms.”
Read the whole thing.