Tag Archives: self interest

The Imaginary Incentive to Serve

Mother Teresa lived a life of service. Perhaps once in 100 years a genuine selfless person emerges. Don’t expect to find one in politics or as a political appointee.

Self interest is the natural incentive that makes survival possible. Politics works on the belief that there is also an incentive to serve. The natural incentive to serve exists only in the imagination. Voters go to the poles believing that those running for office have every intention of  serving them selflessly. This one misunderstanding is the root of all that goes wrong where government is concerned.

If you ever want to debunk an economic theory, notice whether or not the outcome depends upon a human being acting selflessly. In Keynes theory, he assumes a straw man. The straw man is his version of a selfless entity. Selfless humans do not exist and any theory that assumes the existence of one or more of them is not going to work.

Even mother Teresa acted out of self interest. Chances are her aspect of acting selflessly was acquired. Helping others truly gave her satisfaction. Mother Teresa would have never run for office. It is doubtful she would have any interest in governing other people.

 

Republican Debates Points to Remember

inuydexAre you aware that a president cannot create Jobs? Congress cannot create jobs either. Central planning takes food right out of peoples mouths.

Americans understand these things intellectually but time after time vote for candidate based on magical powers candidates are presumed to have.  Childlike notions about what government is capable of doing get us all in trouble time and time again.

Just as damaging is the childlike notion that candidates run for office out of out of anything other than self interest. While you might naively expect a candidate to serve you, you are more likely to serve the candidate. The candidates will represent whoever makes it worth their while. Your role as a voter is simply to put them in office with as little obligation to you as possible on the part of the politician.

Remember that only sociopaths win elections and that truth has no utility in politics.