The Conservative Mugging of Adam Smith
No one would be more distressed by the use to which his ideas have been put then Adam Smith, one of the greatest of the liberals of the Enlightenment. He would be appalled by the creepy spin Ayn Rand put on his philosophy and economics—and would (like Aristotle) be amused by all the Objectivists who do not realize that everything she spouted out, was misreported old news.
Likewise you would not find Adam Smith on the list of character witnesses for the Wall Street Banksters, who find justification for their gluttonous greed in his ideas.
Smith was not concerned with individual wealth generation (except when it was unjustly achieved through thievery by such means as mercantilism), but with the morals, political structure and culture that are most conducive to creating widespread prosperity in society.
Adam Smith personally led an enlightened life. Over 90% of his annual income was donated anonymously to philanthropic charities.
