So I’m chilling and listening to Bob Marley, you know – and he sings:

The stone that the builder refused / will always be the head corner stone

Beautiful, isn’t it? Even the ugly duckling among stones doesn’t need to fear – eventually, after always having passed it by and using better, more beautiful stones, the builder will have almost finished the construction and darn it – he will need that rejected, subpar stone for that prize spot at the very top after all.

But that doesn’t make any sense! That is, it would make sense if there was a definite, finite supply of stones available. If you have limited resources, the only way to ensure everyone gets a shot is by judiciously sharing them. That’s communism. But this is capitalism! Doesn’t he understand? It’s not about sharing the pie, it’s about expanding the pie!

In a market economy, if the builder runs out of stones, he won’t use the subpar stone he refused in the first place, he’ll just get more stones. Import them if need be. Cheap stones from poorer countries perhaps. And, well – if that stone that didn’t make the cut the first time round still wants to have a place in the building, he’ll just have to shape up and improve himself! Be a better, bolder and more productive stone, and face the competition!

Bob Marley, meet Ayn Rand.