1. People generally act good.
2. People generally only act good because of consequences (Hell, law, pain, ect)
3. Therefore, people only act good because they are looking out for themselves
4. That is selfish
5. Therefore, people are generally selfish.
6. selfish is not good
7. Therefore, people are generally not good.

I don't see why acting good shouldn't make you good.

Sure, we almost always act out of selfishness, but that is not a bad thing. It's just one of the natural ideas that being selfish is bad.

But really it keeps the world in order and keeps everyone alive. There are good and bad sides to being selfish, but really, more good to it.

So, why do people hate it?

But aren't you only acting good to manipulate others or using good simply as a means to a better end for yourself?

Those two and so many more.

For example, I don't like pain. I avoid consequences that deal with pain. I avoid doing things that avoid getting me said consequences. I do not commit crimes. I don't murder people.

I don't murder people because I'm selfish. Nothing wrong with that.

But you're only doing good to yourself and what's the point with that?  If you're only being good in a sterile padded solitary room cut off from the world, what's the point then?

In the real world, driving 100MPH down a long stretch of road is  fun, but I dont' want a ticket.  I'm doing good, but I'm not doing good because I want to protect others, I'm doing good because I don't want a ticket.

If I'm being held at gunpoint while a convenience store is being robbed, I don't try to stop the robber and save the store owner the money because I don't want to be shot.

If I see a lady has to walk through a puddle, I don't lay down my coat because I don't want my coat to get dirty.

I don't play with matches not because I care about the building may get burned down, but because I might burn myself.

It's a pretty cynical view and one I may or may not agree with, just the position I decided to take for the thread.  :-p

Well, you clearly have a different outlook on life, Mr. Pessimist.

If people are not harmed by your action (or inaction) why should it be considered bad?

Well let's not be biased how we characterize it.  A communist utopia wouldn't require brainwashing, because the government (or lack there of) is based around one class that agrees on everything.  Don't argue what it is assumed to be, or what it has been practiced to be, argue what the actual definition is.  Working class takes over, and eventually dissolves the government when everyone only knows how to be a part of the working class.  If all you ever know is how to be in that class, then that is the only way you'll act.  By your stating of it, you could argue the way we currently live now is brainwashing because it is all we have ever known. 

I don't think you could have a capitalis utopia.  Because if it is perfect, what would be the point of money.  The basis of capitalism, is the gain profit.  In a utopian society, that wouldn't be necessary, because everything you gain would be for the society itself, not the individual.  Meaning you would create a business for the sake of the society itself, not yourself.  Of course you could have on that created it for the sake of making money, and then donates a lot to charity, but its doubtful you could call that society a utopia.  Utopias dont' have people that need the charity of others.  The point of a utopia is to eliminate the aspect of human suffering, not pacify it while it exists.  Capitalism can create an ideal society, but not a utopia. 

But once again you bring up a flaw that you wouldn't no exists in communism unless it is observed.  Happiness is an emotion, and if we are a product of our environment like communists think, you'll be happy based on what you have learned that makes you happy.  Per se, if playing video games is the subject of happiness to all communists, and everyone has a the same money and stuff (video games) then they will all be equally happy because that is the standard of happiness.  Unless we can show that there is a human nature, then this isn't a flaw of communism, unless we can see it observed as one.

Interesting. Why do you feel that religion is such a straitjacket?

Do i really need to answer that?