Self Interest Archives - Granite Grok

Self Interest

Adam Smith on Self-Interest

Notable Quote – Dr. Don Boudreaux

Freedom of exchange and production within a regime of private property rights and freedom of contract harnesses self-interest to the public good. Admiration and endorsement of free markets is not – contrary to much uninformed commentary – admiration and endorsement of greed or materialism. It is, instead, the reflection of an acceptance of the reality …

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Federalist 10 or Bust

Federalist 10 or Bust

America’s Founders were familiar with some of the more negative tendencies of our digital public square. You see, people are human. They were in the late 1700s and they still are today.

Federalist 49 & 51

From 49th Federalist Here are a couple of samples from The Federalist Papers that may serve to raise your interest and encourage you to read them. My favorite Federalist writer was James Madison. The first selection is from 49th Federalist, in which Madison writes about the separation of powers. He explains why you have to …

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Redistribution: Helping the Poor

Why do Redistribution? A substantial amount of redistribution goes to the average Americans rather than the poor. Government redistribution programs are generally ineffective ways to provide benefits to the poor. They are designed to produce political support for the interest groups receiving the benefits from the programs. Think about Planned Parenthood. How does redistribution work? …

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Notable Quote: Adam Smith

It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their own interest.  We address ourselves, not to their humanity, but to their self love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages.  Nobody but a beggar chooses to …

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