Are we inherently selfish?

Have you personally performed or witnessed a truly selfless act lately? I think those things are becoming a rarity in today's society. There is almost always a hidden motive behind every action taken by every member of society. One of the better examples can be found in Corporate America. When a company makes a contribution to a particular cause, it is usually doing so to boost it's image in the eyes of the public. When a politician kisses a baby, s/he is doing the same thing.

We should not lose sight of the fact that humans are inherently selfish, and we should remain skeptical to avoid undesirable consequences. It sounds like a negative view of society and life in general, but it doesn't have to be. How can we take this selfishness into account and improve our ability to compromise and establish mutually beneficial goals?

There's a lot of selfishness in U.S. healthcare right now, and it's being exacerbated by the selfishness in U.S. politics. Can we get back on track by more actively listening to opposing views and looking for common solutions? I think we can, but we need to start soon or we're going to end up with solutions that do more harm than good.

Don't be afraid to question the motives of others, or even your own motives. A certain level of selfishness is ok, but there is a point where it can inhibit real progress. You will never be a "good" person if you only look out for yourself. Keep an open mind and consider how your words and actions impact others. If you do that, then you can truly be a productive member of society.