It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from regard to their own self interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages. Nobody but a beggar chuses to depend chiefly on the benevolence of his fellow citizens.
Adam Smith – Wealth of Nations
Is a failure to really understand our own self-interest, a lack of self-love, a causal factor in some of our most disadvantaged communities? If yes, what to do…
Filed under: community development, enterprise coaching, operations, social capital | Tagged: barriers to enterprise, community engagement, enterprise coaching, poverty, professional development, psychology
I agree with much you have said, but feel the President’s Stimulus package must be enhanced and increased:
http://ourcountryspresident.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/our-american-society%E2%80%99s-shameless-crime/
I’ve been reading lots of Adam Smith recently. I’d recommend http://adamsmithslostlegacy.com/BlogBlog.htm – Gavin Kennedy is a very good writer and always has something interesting to say.