Politico action: “self-interest in a self-interest”? -Or- for those with a political agenda: “greed in a greed”?

Consider voluntary mutual self-interest at the point of exchange. Imagine, if you will, the very point in time at which the dynamic equilibrium is reached where, mutually and voluntarily, two parties reach exchange as both parties perceive value.

If one introduces to the above mutual exchange an exogenous item known as politicos through the mechanism of government generating market distortion through tax, subsidy, regulation and/or the reduction or removal of the freedom to choose, the result is reduced/diminished utility [satisfaction]. That is, the dynamic equilibrium reached at the point of exchange becomes much less economically efficient.

Is too much attention paid to, and the considering thereof, the forces that result in reduced efficiency at the point of exchange, and too little attention paid to the politics of self-interest? Set aside the economic forces for a moment. Is the collective action proposed by the politico merely “self-interest in a self-interest”? -Or- for those with a political agenda: “greed in a greed”?

If one acknowledges the politically introduced forces causing economic inefficiency at the point of exchange, is one in essence viewing the individualistic idea of self-interest being superimposed upon another self-interest? Stated alternatively, we have collective action through the mechanism of government advertised as supposedly for the benefit of the many yet the collective action is initiated through the appeal to the self-interest of the individuals making up the recipient group of the collective action. That is, the action phase of the collective proposal is delivered via the appeal to the self-interest of the individuals supposedly benefiting from the collective action.

Viewing the concept outlined above from another angle, the collective action in effect, politically, creates another set of individualist self-interests. That is to say, collective action or collectivism, when sold by the politico, in the main, is depicted as action for the benefit of the many. However, in essence, the “action phase” in and of itself, that supposedly is collectivist in nature, is really politically sold as individualistic in nature, as the action phase is a self-interest in a self interest.

Hence we find that a collective action which finds its roots in the altruistic view of redistribution to the many, sold to the many by appealing to each individuals self-interest that make up the many. That each individuals self-interest within the many are sold on their having a self-interest in a self-interest.

Returning to voluntary mutual self-interest at the point of exchange, the two parties to the exchange are enjoined by a third party which is the politico who is the self appointed surrogate for the "many". The politico proposes that an exogenous group has a self-interest in the self-interest occurring at exchange between the two parties. The politico frames the exercise as the third party benefiting from a collective action yet appeals to each individuals self-interest within the many. That is, the politico puts forth the notion that the many that supposedly benefit from the collective action should benefit as the many have a self-interest in the self-interest  occurring at exchange between the two parties.

The odd item is that the self-interest occurring at exchange between the two parties is depicted as greed and/or generating excessive benefits to the two parties and/or an exchange that the many should benefit from not just the two parties. Yet greed, the participation by the many in supposed excess benefit is simultaneously sold by the politico to the greed of the individuals making up the many [recipient class]. That somehow, someway, the many have a self interest in a self interest or greed in a greed.

Therefore the billboard advertises self-interest as your noble interest as defined by the politico, whereas greed is that other guy's ignoble self-interest. Yet the action phase of the advertisement is not selling the supposed beneficial outcome of a collective action, the warm and fuzzy benefits to the collective if you will; the action phase is selling you on your supposed self-interest in a self interest or greed in a greed.