Ultimate Justice?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Can this question be posed by an atheist true to his / her beliefs?  In a world where there is no underlying reason for our existence and moral actions are subjective, surely it should come as no surprise or hold no tension with the atheist that ‘bad’ things befall people who spend their life doing ‘good’ things.

The question can only be presented by someone who is distressed at the perceived injustice in the world and also holds the notion that a loving God exists. If any consolation is to be found, then it could be through the unconscious or instinctive idea that either a) some form of karmic retribution must also exist, or b) there will be some kind of ultimate justice.

Although the notion of karmic retribution has its roots in Eastern religions, from my perspective it also permeates Western thought processes to a large degree. It is clearly false if one believes retribution will transpire in the course of the wrong-doers lifetime; one only has to look at the many dictators who have died at an old age with little sense of reprisal or justice for their malicious deeds.

We are left with the idea that after this life has ended then justice will be paid, and the balance will somehow be corrected.

For further thought: Is the threat of punishment for a justifiable act of revenge the only thing that restricts people from committing such an act when they are wronged?