Amen. Greed is nothing more than attempting to get something “better” for you and your family; whether it’s clothing, food, shelter, or status.
The reason capitalism works so well is because it allows service to the economy to be rewarded with “claim checks” (dollars) that can be spent on anything that matters *to you*. That’s an important distinction.
For instance, I couldn’t give a crap about attending the World Series. In fact, I have the means and access to afford tickets and have never gone. But if Renee Fleming were performing a charity dinner at Carnegie Hall, I’d drop $1,000 for a ticket without thinking about it.
Every day when I wake up and create jobs, invest in growing my businesses, and reinvest profits into the American economy, I do it because of the things *I* want. A lot of people would think going after four-figure tickets to an opera singer would be nuts compared to the World Series but that’s why capitalism is great. I perform things they need in their lives in exchange for money that I can convert into things I want.
Greed is good. Greed is right. Greed is natural. The problem most people have is with the connotation of the word “greed”. They always associate it with needlessly taking so far above and beyond excess that it does damage. Most humans have an internal check that lets them know when they’ve gone too far or have no more utility - that’s why you see a lot of doctors or lawyers making $400,000 stop investing and start giving to charity, buying second vacation houses to spend time with their family, or collecting art.
“greed”, when referring to enlightened self interest/betterment, IS good.
The LOVE of money, however, leads to sin and evil. You cannot serve two masters.
Agreed. But this is the part most forget. Capitalism is greed tempered by fear. If you make one or the other non existent, capitalism ceases to exist.....
As is said...”Everything in moderation”.....What is wrong with greed if no one gets hurt in the process? Is not changing jobs for higher pay considered greed? In other countries, greed is bad. Especially if it is a socialist country. Having more than your neighbor, to them, is wrong. The old USSR was this way and it failed.