@maturin1919 In a capitalist society, there is no incentive to do ANYTHING without profit and in the American form of capitalism, as much profit as you can get and in any way you can get it.

@maturin1919, @jlynn37 Yes, profit is the motive and a good one. Competition, if allowed, limits the amount of profit a company receives.

@maturin1919 No, I meant that the word "usury" is a bad idea. I think charging interest is good and I think profit is good.

Profit is what happens when you are able to sell something -- whether it is a product, service, or your time -- to someone for an amount above what it costs you or, in the case of your time, above what you value it to be worth. It is a win-win trade. When you buy something, you are paying the seller an amount that you think would give you a value above what keeping the money would give. It is a win-win trade. Profit is good, both morally and practically.

@maturin1919 But the rates were at one time reasonable and these are not.In fact these rates could be considered to be loan sharking.