Self-Interest and Altruism
Last Monday’s post asked, is it possible to rebuild the local economy? Despite the views of some politicians the truth is many voluntary sector organisations and churches work with private businesses. These relationships do not always work because values clash but there are examples of collaboration between these sectors.
Imagine a spectrum with greedy grasping capitalists at one end and selfless or altruistic saints at the other. Both ends are unreal.
The grasping capitalist is closest to the 1%, the directors of the corporations who draw wealth from local economies. They are responsible for the collapse of the global economy (and will be again soon it seems) and environmental damage. They do this through deregulation which skews the economy in their favour.
Starry-eyed people occupy the other end of the spectrum. They genuinely believe it is possible and desirable to act solely for the interests of others.
Self-Interest
Most of the rest of humanity is somewhere in-between and motivated by self-interest. When I work for the benefit of society I do so for my benefit. If society benefits through my work, so shall I because I am a part of society.
The corporations want us to believe everyone is essentially selfish and so wants to pay lower taxes and make fewer contributions to general well-being. Another way of increasing tax revenue and so to benefit society is to increase wages but big business doesn’t like this solution because it will cost them a lot more.
I don’t see why volunteers should not be paid; they can always give away their excess. We earn for the benefit of ourselves and others; pay the state to provide some of that benefit and can choose to contribute to causes not supported by the state. But this works where people earn enough to be able to freely exercise these choices.
I’ve made a case against the greed of the banks and corporations, supported by our political élite. Next Monday I shall explain why altruism does not explain why people work for the local economy.