Exchange thus requires a kind of other-regardingness. To be sure, it is not altruism. Our concern with the advantages of the butcher, the brewer, and the baker is not the love of our neighbors. Exchange does not require such love. Commerce, however, is impossible when I am indifferent to the concerns of my trading partner. In a more aristocratic age, tradespeople were an object of scorn precisely because of the servility that the market imposed on them. Gentlemen possessed the luxury of satisfying their needs while maintaining indifference to others. The tradesman, in contrast, could not afford hauteur because he was dependent on the satisfaction of others’ interests for the gratification of his own needs.
-Nathan Oman ( The Dignity of Commerce)
Progressives / Socialists are like the old aristocrats of old like Oman describes – they look down upon the “greedy” capitalists and never ask “where can there be more corruption” like in government. Think about it – in the long term, unless a vendor puts YOU first and give you VALUE for your money, they will go out of business. The whipping posts of the Left, like Walmart, the oil companies, et al, only succeed when they offer what YOU want first. Govt has no such incentive.
Capitalism – MY self-interest is best served when I completely serve someone else and their needs / self-interest FIRST. Thus, the capitalist is a servant, the consumer is the Master. THis is something athat Progressives / Socialists never figure out – they believe there is a never ending Money Tree to be harvested without having to please anyone.
(H/T: Cafe Hayek)
