Gerald,here is an excerpt from Ayn Rand,she also has some interesting things to say about capitalism and free markets.
aynrand.com
Ethics
"Reason is man's only proper judge of values and his only proper guide
to action. The proper standard of ethics is: man's survival qua
man--i.e., that which is required by man's nature for his survival as a
rational being (not his momentary physical survival as a mindless
brute). Rationality is man's basic virtue, and his three fundamental
values are: reason, purpose, self-esteem. Man--every man--is an end in
himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own
sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to
himself; he must work for his rational self-interest, with the
achievement of his own happiness as the highest moral purpose of his
life." Thus Objectivism rejects any form of altruism-- the claim that
morality consists in living for others or for society.
And it also rejects volunteerism,especially when it is dictated to by a government entity. I found it absolutely abhorrent that Clinton and Gore said that we should want to volunteer,and that it would be good for the country,bull!
If I choose to volunteer,and I choose something to do it for,it certainly won't be because some unethical politician asked me to.
Hiram |
