Why are some of us selfish while others look out for each other?

McMaster's University ^ | 12 Jul 05

[Bear_Slayer]

Billions of people tuned into recent Live 8 concert broadcasts, some just for the music, others to support the altruistic cause spearheaded by former Boomtown Rat, Sir Bob Geldof. In today's rat-race climate, what makes some of us look out for each other, while others look out for themselves? . . . .

[pankot]

How typical of Libs. They got theirs and now they want to take yours so they can keep theirs.

[SunnySide]

"Most of these live in third world countries and are lucky if they have a TV."

Most third world citizens are NOT allowed to hear, see or read anything but their countries brain washing propaganda. Think Cuba, Algeria, Islamic taliban

[myprecious]

However, the "Tax Man", is the least favorite Beatles song of the Left.

I love Stevie Ray Vaughn's version. He put a real Texan edge on it.

[tx_eggman]

This enabled her husband Sir Paul to escape the British Estate Tax and save $50 million pounds ste

And this is a bad thing because ....

[William Tell]

The most important comment in the linked article: "Like in a commune or a kibbutz where non-relatives work together to achieve a common goal, these helper fish donate their time and energy to the group in exchange for the safety of living within the group. In a sense, these tiny African fish take a larger than usual worldview, and continued studies of co-operation in this species and other animals may shed light on the factors promoting co-operation in our own species. "

It's all about communism; that form of government which suggests that everyone will be better off if a "majority" makes all the important decisions for all.

Those who understand that economics need not be a "zero-sum" game realize that cooperative efforts can produce more than the individual contributors can separately. The increased productivity can then be apportioned as the group sees fit. The success of this approach depends entirely upon free choice to join any particular cooperative venture. Communism and socialism leave out this vital factor and thus their cooperative efforts fail, despite the obligatory walls erected to prevent the flight of the unwilling.