Gyroscopic Investing

Ultimately, Rand was searching for the origin of John Galt in the pages of human nature. But was she right? Are we rational egotists trapped in a net of social obligations? Or are we an innately social species for whom altruism was integral to our success on this planet? There was only one place she could look: the Pleistocene.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_an ... ingle.html

I think that it is only when we come to terms with our own selfishness that we have the psychological and emotional tools to enter into mutually profitable exchanges and relationships with others.

In other words, until we can comprehend and acknowledge our selfishness, there is a barrier to us realizing our potential as social creatures, which in turn allows us to build durable societies.

I see societies that are premised upon something other than mutually profitable exchanges among individuals and that seems to get ugly and fall apart pretty quickly.

Rand has always struck me as a bit of a cold fish.  She seemed not to grasp the idea that people can be nice to each other and do nice and generous things for each other just because they like to.  There was also something a bit immature and childish in her dismissive attitude toward people who disagreed with her.