“Constructive self-interest has been replaced with first jealousy, then lust, and now blatant greed.”
Let me be a bit nit-pickey. It isn’t jealousy that is the problem, it is envy. Jealousy is motivating and envy is destructive. If you are jealous of your neighbor’s “stuff” you will me motivated to pull yourself up to his level. If you envy your neighbor’s “stuff” you will advocate the destruction of his stuff to push him down to your level.
Yes, you will find a way to pull yourself up be it through a government handout, welfare, or demand a redistribution of the wealth. Others of course will be motivated to put in the hardwork...
Nope, I think jealous is exactly what I meant.
jealous: hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage
envy: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage