1. From the capitalist viewpoint, why is the private ownership of property necessary to the preservation of freedom?
2. Ayn Rand argued, “Altruism is incompatible with freedom, with capitalism, and with individual rights.”
a. Define altruism.
b. Explain why Rand rejected altruism.
3. Assume the federal government removed itself from the purchase and maintenance of its parks.
a. Left to the private sector, what sorts of parks would develop under the profit incentive?
b. Would Yellowstone, for example, survive in substantially its present state? Explain.
c. Make the argument that the federal parks are an unethical, undemocratic expropriation of private resources.
4. Assume the abolition of the federal Food and Drug Administration. How would the free market protect the citizenry from dangerous food and drug products?
5. How would poor people be cared for in a free market society?
6. Critic William Deresiewicz said, “Wall Street is capitalism in its purest form, and capitalism is predicated on bad behavior.” Do you agree that capitalism is built on bad behavior? Explain.
7. Using private money, New York City experimented from 2007 to 2010, with a program that paid poorer residents for practicing good life habits such as holding a job ($150 per month), going to the dentist ($100), regular school attendance ($25 to $50 per month), and passing certain examinations ($600). The average family received about $3,000. Would you expect this program to be an effective encouragement to improved life habits? Explain.