12 March 2009
Of course underpinning envy is greed. Is there any necessity to discuss the existence of greed in almost every situation in every culture? I thought not. But its manifestations are so ubititous.
At this point there should be no need to address the current (and all other) "bubbles'. They are the same, over and over: an opportunity to GET RICH! What's different about the latest one? More opportunity, bigger rich.
But there is more. We not only want to be rich, we want to be richer, and we are not above taking it from those that have it. Zero sum game, right? Of course it's not; investing and developing causes more than zero sum - everyone benefits. But we don't understand that, so we prefer (it would seem) to just take what others have. Through taxation (tax the rich - wheeee)? Yup, that works. Stealing? Uh huh, that works too. Pyramid schemes? Get in and out early. And on and on. Then none of it works for long, but I GET MINE!
Of course each facet of the free market system is not that much different: create something new and sell it. But in doing that there is magic done. Each step creates yet another. Does each facet intend to do that? No, but it does work cumulatively. And do some make out especially, while others do so only incrementally? Sure, but...no buts. We don't understand it, we don't believe it, and we don't want to hear it - most of us that is. We just want to get ours, and resent anyone who gets more. period.
So? Unfortunately in the long run I think we are doomed to lowest common denominator socialism. The masses will have it. They say that people are happy just as so long as they have more than those around them. And unfortunately they are willing to throttle creativity if it gains someone ELSE too much and them too little.
Ok. Live with it then. But don't complain when the lowest common denominator becomes less and less. HA! Live with it? No, no, no no, that would preclude our "right" to complain, and we would rather complain, it would seem than to improve.
