This is just silly. Nobody is keeping anyone in check. Its a free for all, every man for himself. There is no calvary coming to save the day. I belong in the realist group.
Fanny and Fred being bailed out? GM being saved? Aid during hurricane Katrina? Civil rights groups getting innocent people away from death row? Bill Gates giving away his money to get rid of polio and malaria?
Or more mundane: Millions of parents taking care of their children everyday? Volunteer groups picking up garbage in nature parks?
Totally random examples, but fact is in this real world, we all are interdependent. And "cavalries" do show up.
Intent is irrelevant.
Intent is hugely relevant. Contracts are void if one of the signers does not understand what he or she is agreeing to, but just signs anything to get rid of an aggressive seller. General terms & conditions on consumer products are another nice example.
In criminal law in extreme cases it can even be the difference between "oops" and the death penalty.
Intention (criminal law) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I get your world view. I disagree with it though since you operate on maximizing your own benefit, even if it's at a high cost for others. It is not geared at minimizing harm.
And since most others don't go as extreme as you do, you profit from it. Good for you.