Capitalism operates on humanity’s selfish tendency. Do you agree?

Yes! Does it surprise you that someone as conservative as I would go along with a statement that seems so socialist? Well, I’d like to add my own question to the mix:

“Is mankind perfectible?”

We claim that we have separation of church and state in America, but there is no way to separate fully our religious beliefs from our politics. The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (See Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV.) I look at my own heart and find this is true.

Take chocolate for example. We have a candy dish in our house. When Mom fills it with chocolate, I help myself freely. Those Hersey chocolates with toffee bits are the best!

I have another chocolate stash. It’s my personal supply. When it disappears, I must spend my hard-earned money to replenish it, or I must go without. And life without chocolate is not a pretty picture.

Yes, I’m selfish. I consume less when I pay for something myself. I work harder when I know I can use the money for that thing I want. A bigger bag of chocolate?

Socialism’s motto sounds great. “From each according to his ability. To each according to his need.” But does it work?

I am capable of great unselfishness within my family circle. I’ll give freely to my close friends. Will I work 16-hour days to give more money to the government and hope that our elected officials use it wisely to help the poor? No.

Maybe I’m skeptical because of scandals like the GSA conference in Las Vegas. Maybe I doubt because I know my personal selfishness which I fight each day. But I’m thankful that our founding fathers left us with a system that uses selfishness to motivate us toward hard work, and our hard work benefits all of society.