U.S. Competitiveness and Free Markets - Dr. Yaron Brook (GNOC/SD)

October 01, 2009, 11:30am

Summary:

Special thanks to Dr. Yaron Brook and the late Ayn Rand.

Detail:

The U.S. economy seems to be in shambles, and the fundamentals of our system of capitalism have come under fire. On Thursday October 1st Gen Next San Diego hosted Dr. Yaron Brook, President of the Ayn Rand Institute. Dr. Brook was present to discuss the ideas and philosophies of the late Ayn Rand such as individual rights and laissez-faire capitalism.

The conversation began with some pretty bold philosophies and arguments to combat critics of capitalism. Dr. Brook made the case that it wasn’t our markets that failed, but in fact our government and it’s significant intervention that continues to chip away at economic freedom.

As he dug deeper, he explained that in order for capitalism to be truly successful we must convince the masses that it is “the right thing to do” from an ethical perspective. Bill Gates was used as a perfect example. Many believe that Bill Gates has contributed to the goodness of the people by his massive philanthropy work; however, Brook contends that an individual's pursuit of their own interests and realization of their own skills is good for all in the long run, just as Gates did. It is imperative for the U.S. to make a moral argument for the case of capitalism in order to preserve it. Guilt was another topic that he kept returning to. He contended that if people feel guilt, they can be easily manipulated; which ultimately keeps pushing our system further and further to the left.