I also want to echo Aharon’s excellent comment above. Unfortunately, socialism (or forced charity) becomes a more attractive system when people do not voluntarily meet the needs of the poor, sick, and afflicted in society. I really appreciate your insightful comment, Aharon.

However, it is a response to the apathy and neglect that we have given to the less fortunate in the past, and when one studies the evils that men have done in the name of capitalism, it starts to look like a pretty nice alternative.

It is not, however, for in the end, when all are dependent on the elite few, it creates a society far worse than the any dark and gloomy capitalistic image a Dicken’s or Upton Sinclair novel would show us.

However, what is to be done? The answer, I believe, lies in virtuous entrepreneurship. A culture where entrepreneurs’s primary drive is improving society, and making money is placed second or third on the list. This is a culture where the philosophy: “Nothing personal, its just business” is considered as vile and wretched of a way to live as the digging up and scattering of bones from the cemetary.

I know this sounds idealistic, and to the harshest critic of human nature, this pathway sounds like some sort of hippie fantasy.

But I believe it is possible, and it begins with each and every one of us. Just like the idea of a self governed nation may have seen incapable to a world full of kings to the 18th century european, so too may this way of thinking seem to the pessimist.

Each one of us needs to be the founding father, in study, ponder and experimentation of deriving this type of virtue-capitalism system. These are the type of values we need to build in ourselves and our families, ones that with our hard work and efforts will become second nature to our children and grandchildren, just as the wrongness slavery and civil rights have become common place in our ideals today.

The old ways are no longer working: We are living in a constantly shrinking world, a place where resources are beginning to become limited and if we do not begin be watchful stewards over them, there will none left for future generations. Virtue must be in our consciousness as producers, for without it, we are doomed.

But I digress. Thanks for pointing that out.

But you have 3 lessons, and two labeled Lesson #2. Just thought I’d let you know. Don’t mean to knit-pick