I think a person's best interest is often (not always!) the same as the general interest. Education comes in to play when a person is educated enough to be abl

I think a person's best interest is often (not always!) the same as the general interest. Education comes in to play when a person is educated enough to be able to rationally reason that case. For example, "I have a perfectly good well on my property, but I understand that contributing to a public water supply system may benefit me in the long run, because maybe my well will go dry." Or maybe, "I have a well, but contributing to a public water system will increase commerce in the area which will directly benefit me." Obviously that's not always going to be the case, and people can and will reason incorrectly, but the important part is that a person is capable of applying some modicum of thought instead of just "The rent is too damn high" or "Obama is a communist, hang him for treason."