Greed
This world is driven by greed. People are greedy creatures and the only way to keep them happy is to give them what they want. Failing that, you get an unhappy world like we have today.By definition greed is a selfish and insatiable desire for material gain, be it food, money, status, power or whatever.
Greed is often confused with ambition. Some people will tell you that if not for greed, we’d still be living in caves but that’s not true. It is ambition that got us here; greed only works in the short term. When a sickly and insatiable desire to possess more than what one really needs leads to a condition where 10% of the population possesses 90% of the wealth while the bulk of the planet live in poverty, then something very wrong. The problem with greed is that you never get enough. You always want more; even at the expense of others.
Exactly what people want, is not always easily discernible. Some may yearn for material things like money, real estate, jewellery, fancy cars and so forth while others may have more abstract desires like fame, popularity, status, attention, and the likes of it. And then there is another category whose greed is spurred by what other people possess. Greed and envy is an unholy combination.
There is nothing wrong with being prosperous – or rich if you prefer – we need rich people on the planet. They provide employment to the masses but when somebody ignores needy people when they can afford to help, or even worse, when somebody who can afford to buy his own bread, takes the bread out of the hands of somebody less privileged, we need to look at our system.
The sadness of it is that the greedy – with all their possessions – are not happy. You cannot be happy while there is still something that you crave for.
I Wish you all a wonderful day.
Comments (42)
Food
And the only person not happy is the person whose food on the plate I attacked
Catfoot
I'd rather not tell you what I'm greedy for.
No. I'm too shy.
Quite so. but what I find most confusing is that a lot of greedy people claim to be religious. Yet, every religion that I have come across. condemns greed.
Hmm, though I'm not sure if filling a deprived stomach can be seen as greed. Hunger can make people do strange things.
It's simply a case of history repeating itself. Look at all the empires of the past and compare them with today and the pattern will soon emerge.
Long time no see! I hope all is well with you!
Glad to see you still around
Something I could live with less amount is salt..
I'd be very ungrateful to complain. I'm just fine. I hope to find you the same.
I'm not missing out on anything, believe me
I should be around for a few more days until I get fed up with the politics and the religion.
I have cut salt the usage of salt to zero. The only salt I get in is via other products; same for smoking and fatty foods
I heard/read a story where professionals whose job it was to get people to comply were taught that there were primarily 4 main human motivators. Of course, one of those is money. So when reading your story, I was thinking of money as a motivator as well. I guess I see you addressed the part of ambition...where motivation and ambition could be directly linked. You say ambition got us out of the caves...and ambition only....but without some sort of personal gain (financial wealth) being used as a motivator, would we be out of the caves today? I would say yes, but to what extent?
Just so you know, I do agree with the message of your blog, about the system needing to be looked at.
But, how do people get rich? I think once we understand how one gets wealthy, you might begin to see how it is that the system might not be designed to be equal for all.
I also agree, wealth does not necessarily translate to happiness. Your last statement about 'you cannot be happy while there is still something that you crave for' is something for me to think about.
As a side note (question), it might tie into happiness as well...is everyone entitled to love?
Anyway, I need to run now...
Just some random thoughts about your blog.
Good write.
Always remember - You can't eat money.
I cannot really see greed putting us unto decent housing where there is rent to pay.
I took this pic a few days ago when I visited one of the many informal settlement. (aka squatter camps) Most the people here have good jobs, grand cars, very good furniture and they wear branded clothing. But they won't rent or buy a proper house.
I don't know how the pic will display on CS but I counted 19 DSTV dishes on the original pic. I mean If you have the money for flat screen TVs and satellite TV, what keeps you on a tin shack?
I'll tell you what it is. Government provides free sub-economic housing to the poor and these people are staying here, pretending to be poor in order to get free housing as well. And then I leave it to you to guess who arrive with their fancy cars for a bowl of soup when we have a soup kitchen for the poor.
Right! And you cannot take it with you.
On second thoughts...
Thanks for the advise. I did a bit of reading on the matter and it seems good.
tells the truth right there, so why do the doctors say cut back on the salt, knowledge is wisdom
Quote from online
An yes salt is very important to also help keep us alkaline vs acidic
But I am in another midlife crisis I think. I am investing in new ventures and money is not even my motive. I just want to do things I enjoy doing.
I didn't have the time to comment though I read it the other day.
That is the only time when you can be truly happy. That is when you are satisfied with what you have with no further desires.
Good to see you back.
How have you been doing, misterrr?
Without success, I should add.
Okay, I'll try Iceland next.
Very true words. Maybe we could categorise 'greed' in to good greed and bad greed? Good greed is an industry and manufacturing operation which provides jobs for the local economy and hence keeps a country (or parts of it going) in the capitalist way which is necessary.
Then you get the greedy junk food eating idiots who create all the excess packaging, stupid kids and idleness - because they eat too much in the greedy way? Hypocrites or what!
Never mind,
Enjoyed reading you,
Thank you. I'm pleased if you enjoyed reading this.
I was at the point of saying that good greed was probably ambition but then I realized that ambition too has a dark side.
The problem with greed is that it almost always demand more than what is needed and sometimes even at the expense of other.
And there is something of that in ambition. Ambition will often cause somebody to discredit competitors in order to secure a position not deserved.
The greedy are egotistic, self-centered and without apathy or love.
No, I don't know anybody so exciting.
That is a relatively new concept.
Employment is only there to keep the rich rich, and the masses subdued and in debt.
It has to be on the night news, and the front page tomorrow. so most sheep people have a subject to talk about for a while.
the show must go on.
Try Thailand, because China is where I will be.
Yes, we need rich people; they provide jobs. But not all rich people are greedy. Actually, even some poor can be greedy.