Friedman is wrong to assume that “societies run on greed”. There are other motivations than greed. In the case of great thinkers like Einstein or Ford i think curiosity and genuine interest was at least as important as greed. Pure greed is futile. The free market system is not better than communism because it encourages people to be greedy. That´s not the point, the point is that the free market system leaves people the free choice to be curious about or greedy for what ever they want.

I think this greed thing is one of the most stupid discussions people can have. Because ultimately we all think the same way, and the problem is the word we choose to describe it: “Greed”. Michael, and so many others like Friedman, and myself, believe society runs on greed. But greed as a desire, as an objective, as something to achieve. Even charity is a desire, is something that will make not only someone else better, but ultimately YOU. And the “contrarians” to the greed philosophy, interpret this greed, as an obsessive desire to achieve something even at someone else’s expense, ruin, illegality, or disrespect. To make both ends meet, we should just change the world to desire, because in the end both sides of the discussion thinks the same way.

Agreed with Andre. A debate on whether “greed” is good or bad must start with an explicit definition of “greed.” Unfortunately, that words means very different things to different people.

I think a better way to frame the “greed debate” is to instead use the term “self-interest.” I would argue that societies function best when individuals are free to pursue their own self-interest. Note that self-interest, perhaps unlike greed, does not imply that the self-interested party violates the rights of others.

moderate your greed. good for me, less competition. i am one of the most greedy sonofabi%#$ out here!

I have never contributed to this thread before, but I feel compelled…

Human beings are fundamentally ego-centric. We have survived as a result of it. The very REASON why capitalism works is that it is the only system which has one common denominator or motivating force. Money. But there is an honesty in that. Socialism degrades to patronage and cronyism. It moves resources from person to person, or place to place, on the nonsensical whims of individuals whose motivations aren’t clear.

And let’s be clear…ALL people are greedy. Your lefty do-gooder friends are greedy to be recognized as “non greedy.” Their minds and hearts are greedy for altruistic endorphins. Politicians are greedy for votes. And we’re all greedy for love, recognition, accolades, etc. Who is to judge whose motivators are more pure? Or “better?”

Money via business success feeds my family far better that feelings of altruism and self-righteousness.

I cannot “live” off of good intensions — mine or yours. But politicians and leftists certainly can live off of me with THEIR good intensions. As long as my greed has been successful enough to finance them…thereafter, the well might run dry.