My response would be that you are casting society and societal organisation in terms of absolutes and extremes. Some people - Rand for example - believe that all redistribution is always wrong and immoral. Some people participate in this fantasy. Many, many people don't, many many people pay taxes happily, and vote for taxes because they realise that redistribution prevents poverty and promotes social harmony - due to ensuring that there is a minimal population of murderous starving feral children. Many nations do not compete all the time, many nations co-operate and support each other, most of the time.

At the same time most people see elastic limits in redistribution of wealth, space, time and privilege. For example it is widely believed that it's ok for less privileged groups to take public space and media time to protest and illustrate the injustice that has placed them in extremis. However to do so to the extent that others cannot care for their children or enjoy their basic rights - safety, shelter, is unacceptable.

Isaiah Berlin is a good read.