asterism
Congress != Progress
So she should just have let the government keep what they took from her without her permission for so long.
Would John Galt have given into the system in order to gain back some of the money he felt was stolen from him by the government without his permission? Before you answer, do take care to remember that Galt was essentially a outlet for Rand's Objectivist theories.
I personally have no problem with her getting the benefits she paid into the system for. However, the Ayn Rand of twenty years prior would of. Remember, in her own words, "There is no justification ever for choosing for any part of what you know to be evil."
That's her standard, not mine.
How many times did you read the book before you were presented with these talking points?
Have you ever read Ender's Game?