Many would claim the profit motive to be one of the stronger motives of our humanity. Though purists may snub their noses at it, and socialists may sneer at it, capitalists say profit and the profit motive are the driving force of any successful economy.

Welfare recipients might criticize the high profits of some persons and businesses. But those same persons and businesses would gladly quote former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that any welfare system presupposes that someone, somewhere, is producing wealth to make the welfare payments. And you cannot produce wealth without making a profit. The great labor leader Samuel Gompers said, "The worst crime against working people is a company which fails to operate at a profit."

Most all of us hope to profit from business or profession …