Jo McKenna: So, what do you do?
Louis Bernard: I buy and sell.
Jo McKenna: I see. And what do you buy and sell?
Louis Bernard: Whatever gives the most profit.

— The Man Who Knew Too Much

Is acting in your self-interest so bad?  Assuming that everyone participating in a transaction does so voluntarily, and that nobody is harmed by it, what is the big deal?  Capitalism has become a dirty word, and I don’t understand it.  At its most basic level, someone taking something they have of value, be it a skill or a physical thing, and selling it, is a freedom that gives the individual the ability to better their life.  On the other end of the spectrum, when a banker or investor gives money to someone to start a business or bring an idea into the real world, does the fact that they expect a return on that investment make it a bad thing?

Yes, we should all do things for truly selfless reasons. We should take care of those who are less fortunate and expect nothing more than a thank you.  But it’s the acts of self-interest that make selflessness possible.