^[2]Greed has been thrown around quite a lot over the past few weeks. This banker was greedy, that corporate CEO was greedy, this hedge fund manager was greedy, that real estate investor was greedy. Everyone loves to assign negative characteristics to others, especially when those others that have more [insert any item] than the average person. Is that wise? What IS greed ^[3] exactly?

According to Miriam Webster online ^[4]:

Greed is the selfish and excessive desire for more of something than is needed.

Whoa, that hurts. What would happen if we turned the spotlight back on ourselves rather than pointing fingers at everyone else?

• Do you or I really “need” a 52 inch flat screen?
• Do you or I really “need” cable TV?
• Do you or I really “need” a television at all?
• Do you or I really “need” another round at the buffet line?
• Do you or I really “need” a home with 2,800 square feet?
• Do you or I really “need” a new car/boat/RV in the driveway?
• Do you or I really “need” granite counter-tops?
• Do you or I really “need” new landscaping or a pool?
• Do you or I really “need” to live a comfortable, easy life in retirement?
• Do you or I really “need” to send our kids to Ivy League schools?
• Do you or I really “need” a closet full of clothes?
• Do you or I really “need” a new pair of shoes or another pair of jeans?
• Do you or I really “need” a new set of tools?
• Do you or I really “need” a new iPod?
• Do you or I really “need” a new laptop?
• Do you or I really “need” another meal in a restaurant?
• Do you or I really “need” another bathroom addition?
• Do you or I really “need” a fabulously expensive vacation?
• Do you or I really “need” another sale, another customer, another project?
• Do you or I really “need” more cash in the bank?
• Do you or I really “need” more of anything we already have?

There are literally scores of items I could add to this list … and you could, too, I’m sure. So why do we complain about the “greed” on Wall Street, when it’s so prevalent in our own lives on a daily basis? The dictionary has another word ^[5] for that.

The real question in my mind is WHY? Why do we think we need so much? Why are we so insecure? Why do we constantly have the desire to acquire ^[6]? What do we gain by having more?

What is your opinion? I’d like to generate some real discussion on this without resorting to the politics of the situation. After all, greed ^[3] runs across all political parties.

What are some other examples of greed ^[3] that are ignored?

photo ^[7] credit: pingnews.com ^[2]

About the author

Ron has written 1082 articles on The Wisdom Journal.

The founder and editor of The Wisdom Journal ^[8] in 2007, Ron has worked in banking, distribution, retail, and upper management for companies ranging in size from small startups to multi-billion dollar corporations. He graduated Suma Cum Laude from a top MBA program and currently is a partner in a national building materials company.

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