However, without taxation, the protective mechanisms that make up the state, such as a standing army to protect the economic apparatus of the nation would not exist. And if taxation must occur to preserve the state, should it not be redistributive, so as not to incapacitate the weakest members of society, and thus would it not cost taxpayers to not have redistributive taxes even more money in the long run, debilitating the coffers of the state still further? While the passage bifurcates the individual's right to private property and the state's duty to protect public welfare, it is not so easy to make such a distinction, for threatening the public good without redistribution ultimately harms private industry's ability to make money and to have a healthy and educated workforce. An uneducated and unhealthy employee without schooling or Medicare helps no company, CEO, or shareholder

Question

Only the most dedicated advocate of the Horatio Alger philosophy would agree that the capitalist system always rewards hard work and personal responsibility. Were this so, hard workers at bankrupted companies would not lose their pensions, and the common twelve hour laborer would not receive the minimum wage, while a person who inherited stock shares in Microsoft from a wealthy relative would not be worth millions. Capitalism is not fair; although it is the best system the world has been able to create in economic terms. Hard work and innovation may be inadvertently or occasionally...

The greatest defense of capitalism is that the rival systems offered to structure one's economy demand further governmental control that do not necessarily redistribute income and opportunities more fairly, only according to political connections. At least capitalism has developed self-protective and redistributive mechanisms to correct some of its moral abuses. A fairer system to capitalism might seem morally better, but not 'work' that way in practice.
Question

However, not even all capitalists behave solely according to their rawest self-interest. Despite Machan and Chesher's assertions, this would seem poor for public relations as well as for economic survival. Who wishes to buy the product of a company that hurts its worker -- even Nike and Wal-mart have had to reform their business practices, due to sheer public demand and media scandal. Moreover, the excesses of CEOs at Tyco and Enron intent upon enrichment seems to further refute the author's theory, as well as underline the necessity of laws regarding best business practices to keep such egoism in check.