Chapter 5.5 Greed

Greed

“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching

satisfaction.”

Erich Fromm (1900-1980) German Pyschotherapist

Greed goes beyond getting as much as you can.  It becomes conscious hoarding and competitive gaming, the stockpiling beyond having just a reasonable amount to provide for your family and their future.  Greed is wanting to have more than the next person, even to the point of allowing things to rust or spoil, when these possessions could have been someone else’s staple or pleasure.

Greed has many colleagues … Gluttony, the bad Pride, and Fear.  Greed and Fear have been identified as ruling Wall Street.  I would contend that this powerful twosome rules a big chunk of the total world, not just the stock market.

Now I will admit, there is a very fine line here between taking personal responsibility for our well being versus accumulating too much.  And I will not contend that I know where the crossover exists.  But it seems to me that when we read of senior management receiving millions of dollars of compensation while they do not provide raises, good health benefits, or pensions for their employees, it sure seems a little greedy to me.

“Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.”

P.J. O’Rourke American Journalist, Satirist

Granted, the big CEOs have major responsibilities to keep those companies profitable so that there’s a job for their employees.  But just how much does one person, one family need?  I would think that one could live very comfortably on a million per year. Maybe there should be a law!

I sure hope that these Fortune (-ate) 500 people are giving back to the world that has assisted them.  Great respect goes out to Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, Jeff Skoll, Bono, Al Gore, Gordon Moore, and many, many others that are willing to share their wealth and time, not to just look good politically, but truly for the betterment of others.

“We look forward to the time when the power to love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace”.

William Gladstone (1809-1898), English Parliamentarian

***