Political Memes

I think you take my defense of the usefulness of the profit motive, and the wonderful things it's gotten us, as a declaration that it is the best external motivator and should be used in all situations. Of course not.

Your first paragraph is simply not true in the sense that even if everyone's basic needs were met (and we should create a society where they are) money would still be the main source of power outside violence. Most people are not satisfied by basic necessities, especially when given examples that better is possible.

Your second paragraph is an excellent example of the limitations of the profit motive, and it's why we should continue to fund public research and development in areas where the profit motive fails. We already do it and in fact we should significantly increase our funding levels. There are other areas where the profit motive fails (utilities, healthcare at the point of delivery, national defense, education, etc.) and I think we (the United States) should expand into internet and universal health insurance.

For your third paragraph.... What do you want? For humans to be better? They will nearly always go with the easy solution. It's weirdos who look at difficult problems and take the honest, long term, responsible solution at the expense of themselves or even just short-term pain. This is fine. You're not going to change human nature. I just don't know what kind of system you want to set up where money still exists, yet greedy short-sighted people don't exist or work their ways into leadership positions at companies? I think the current punishments they receive for their bad behavior isn't nearly harsh or immediate enough, but.... They're still gonna do it.

I have lots of improvements I want to make to the world, they just don't involve denying human nature when you keep the fundamental structure of the system they exist in.