Conservatives often cite John Locke as the father of American liberty—champion of life, liberty, and property. But Locke’s ideas go deeper than just individual rights. He believed government’s job is to protect everyone’s basic rights—not just the wealthy or powerful.

Locke wrote that property is only just when “enough, and as good” is left for others. Radical inequality, where some hoard and others have nothing, violates Locke’s vision. He even called for public investment in things like education and roads, and supported relief for the poor.

And here’s the kicker: Locke said if a government fails to protect its people, reform—even revolution—is justified.

True conservatism isn’t about leaving people behind—it’s about honoring the social contract and building a society where everyone’s rights and dignity matter. If we want to defend American values, we should remember: Locke stood for both personal responsibility and community care. Real freedom is never just for the few.

By contrast, Ayn Rand argued for radical individualism—putting self-interest above community and dismissing collective action as weakness. But Rand’s worldview falls apart in the real world. Nobody succeeds alone. Every one of us relies on the roads we drive, the teachers who taught us, and the helping hands that got us through hard times. Rand’s philosophy ignores the reality that community is not weakness, but the very foundation of freedom and progress.

Societies that thrive do so because people invest in one another. In moments of crisis, it’s not rugged individualism that saves us—it’s compassion, cooperation, and shared responsibility. Ayn Rand’s vision isolates us, but Locke’s true legacy is about binding us together in a social contract that lifts us all.