60 "Greed - The Downfall of the World"
79
Also, something from Ben Franklin per H. B.
Greed- The Downfall of the World
The way I see it, this world as we know it, won’t be around long enough to end in a catastrophic disaster such as a meteor, comet or asteroid strike.
The world as we know it, today, won’t end due to a nuclear war or because of robots taking over mankind. It won’t end because of political or religious indifferences.
This entire world is facing the same dilemma that is destroying the United States right now.
The one thing that is actually going to destroy this world is simply “Greed”.
I have brought up the word “Greed” because I believe that this is the big problem with the world today. And maybe it has been for a long time, but today it seems to show more, probably because there are more “Greedy” people. The stronger the “Greedy” get, the “Greedier” they are. With the “Greedy” there is never enough. Even when they have more than they need to survive they have to have more. They feel that the more they have, the more power they have and the “Greedy” always have to have power. That is the only way they feel they can survive.
“Greed” is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Those seven are as follows:
Greed – A very possessive pursuit of wealth, status and power.
Sloth – Laziness and indifference.
Acedia – Uneasiness of the mind.
Anger – Inordinate or uncontrollable hatred.
Envy – Insatiable desire to own or control what someone else has.
Vainglory – Interested only in one’s self.
Pride – This is considered the original and most serious of the Seven Deadly Sins and the source of the others, to be more important than others.
All religions believe that “Greed” is the root or cause of all man’s evils. “Greed”, the more you acquire, the more you require. The “Greed” of mankind is insatiable.
Two other words could be added to that list, glutton and lust.
My brother-in-law, who is very wise in his ways and on history and historic events, read this and pointed out the there is something he considers a little more of a problem than “Greed” and that is “Selfishness”.
As he put it to me is like this. “I think the problem is more like “Selfishness” than “Greed”. (Slight difference) Maybe the word “Altruism” (concern for others) is too big for some to understand.”
According to him, “Two basic human traits drive social interaction, social climbing and altruism.”
He also pointed out to me the following, “Feelings are the earliest stage of thought because a thought forms and grows into idea, then a plan and then an action. Good feelings directed by sound virtues are important because they are a living thing and growth is most easily controlled at an early stage. Growth can be likened to a smoldering fire – much easier controlled before it bursts into flame.”
“The only absolute in human social behavior is the past and its effect is subject to interpretation. Each person, each day, chooses to do something or simply mark time.”
He also included the following from Ben Franklin’s “Art of Virtue”:
1) Temperance. 2) Silence. 3) Order. 4) Resolution. 5) Frugality. 6) Industry. 7) Sincerity. 8) Justice. 9) Moderation. 10) Cleanliness. 11) Tranquility. 12) Chastity. 13) Humility. [Franklin added the 13th after consulting a religious leader.]
Since this man is very wise and follows a lot of old history, I felt it may be useful to include his information in my hub.
Greg
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (8)
- Funny
- Awesome (11)
- Beautiful
- Interesting (16)
CommentsLoading...
Hello,
I do think you have targeted the worst of the worst..Sadly our world is run by many whose god is money. There are many good people out there too who try hard to make the world a better place. It is like running in place many times and may be the only thing that keeps us from falling into a deeper dark place. Thanks for sharing a very informative and interesting hub filled with wisdom.
Sunnie
Hi Chip, Thank you for the visit and comment. I wish I could really pick my brother-in-law's brain. I know he has a lot of very wise information there. Greg
Hi Sunny, Thank you for the visit and the comment too. It's just too bad that the good people don't out weigh the bad. I know we have a lot of the good here on the hubs and you are surelu one of them. Greg
You are so right.. greed and selfishness is mans down fall. It has gotten worse and worse. Great HUB.
I voted up and awesome and interesting
Debbie
Hi Deborah, Thank you for the visit, comment and votes. Greg
I voted this hub up because it is totally correct. Greed is destroying everything and I wish we would learn and stop our destructive path.
Hi Angela, Thank you for the follow, visit, comment and vote. It would be a betterment for the world if people could just learn that they can survive without being so greedy. Greg
Greed is the instigator of most of the hideous crimes that we seem to see in the world. Excellent hub,gregas.
Hi Mathira, Thank you for the visit and the comment. Greg
Greed is indeed what will cause the downfall of our world if it continues unchecked. I never understood greed but have to deal with it everyday. As the saying goes "ABOSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY" I guess that includes all of the seven sins you mentioned. Keep up the good work. :)
Voted up as you are right on the money, greed and self-interests will be the end of us, however there is a ray of hope, as many of our young people are beginning to help others in less fortunate countries during their vacations
Hi Cherylone, Thank you for the visit snd comment. Yes, it does need to be checked and in a way is see all of the business of the Wallstreet take-over as a sign that more and more people are realizing that. Greg
Hi Gogogo, Thank you for the visit and comment. Like I said to Cherylone, I believe more people are seeing what is happening and with the recognition their might be at least a slowdown of it. Greg
You hit the nail on the head. I have the seven deadly sins memorized and try to avoid them at all costs for they WILL bring down a society and we seem to be well on our way.
Enjoyed your hub! vote up
Hi Pickles, Thank you for the visit,vote and comment. Glad you enjoyed it. Greg
Simply put and to the point. Awesome hub!
Hi Robin, Thank you for the visit and comment. Greg
Powerful stuff. Indeed the worst traits like greed are also the ones which are the downfall of many. Greed especially turns lots of humans into animals just snapping at everyone to get everything for themselves till there is nothing left to get anymore.
Hi Gypsy, Thank you for the visit and comment. To bad more people can't see where we are going with greed. The bad thing is, the ones that really need to realize it, the gredy, don't want to realize or face that fact. Greg
Powerful words and yet the ones who need to read this are the very ones who are responsible for the blazing fire of destruction. Will it ever turn for the better, and why are feelings transformed into actions of greed?
I have been reading up on Ben Franklin lately, he accomplished many feats in his lifetime, yet sadly they are not remember by the people who want change.
Thank you for an insightful and powerful read. It made my week.
Hi Jen, Thank you for the visit and the comment. Yes, unfortunatly the ones that need to read stuff like this and Ben Franklin's are the ones that won't even see it. Greg
Greed certainly is a major problem in this world we are living in today. It appears as if "The more these glutenous folks get, the greedier they tend to get."Take for example,these present nationwide demonstrations against corporate greed. This shows us that creed is indeed causing a great deal of harm to people.
Hi Mackyi, Thank you for the visit and comment. Yes, the domonstrations do show that the "people" are getting tired of it. Greg
Thanks for the hub -it has opened my eyes-and greed is a problem even with our own families-and jealous friends--maybe the answer is to start appreciating the small things to work out the big things.To help each other is a terrific goal.
Awesome hub, i agree with you 100% greed will destroy this planet .
Vote Up !!!
Hi Suzztcue, Thank you for the visit,vote and the comment. The real question is, "How do we get the greedy to see this?" Greg
Hi Kashmir, Thank you for the visit and the comment. Glad you agree. Greg
I have no idea how we would conquer Greed. If it something a person is born with, I suspect they will be greedy until the day they die. If it was something they were taught, perhaps they could be retrained to think differently. Most of the really greedy probably don't even realize this is a character flaw they should be working on.
Hi Poolman, Thank you for the visit and the comment. That's where the problem stands, they don't realize that it's a problem and don't care who they hurt as long as they have what they want. Greg
I'm not a shrink, so certainly not qualified to say if Greed is a genetic disorder or just a character flaw, but we all know some Greedy people. Perhaps someday science will find a cure for greed.
Hi Poolman, Hitler had a cure for it, but I don't like his cure at all. :-( Greg
I am an artist, so I can say this . . . you are a beautiful man!
Hi Chip, I will take that as a compliment, even from a guy. Just so you know, I am taken. :-) Greg
Sir, there's no telling how many times I've said pretty much the exact thing you're stating here myself, and on this website as well.
I was going to go into how things are not made to last, but made to be used and thrown away....but then I realized that that too, of course, was a byproduct of greed.
Humanity is SICK! Our system of values is totally wrong. It's all around us everywhere I look...candy wrappers and things that were built to fall apart so that someone would buy another, newer version of the same thing.
And why? So we can have that house bigger than we need it, drive that bigger than needed automobile, so forth and so on.
It's certainly scary what we're all facing - I think the best possible thing a wise person could do is to get used to getting by on as little as possible, and right now!!!
Hi Wesman, Thank you for the visit and comment. With the uncertainty of this year, I believe everyone should be trying to do with less. Greg
Completely agree. Their greed also affects politics. Currently in Britain the social policy has been changed to squeeze those on benefits. They say it is necessary to weed out those who are not entitled to it or bleeding the system. This is what has been sold to the taxpayers.
However, policies created as a result also affect those who need it. The changes also affect information not being supplied as readily as that which is used for the witch hunt. So many do not know what they are entitled too and those that could have helped them such as advice centres have had their funds reduced.
This only means one thing, that destitution will soon become more prevalent. Destitution exists because of an imbalance of wealth. Those who have it and those who don't.
Thanks for the hub and letting me prattle. I enjoyed it.
Hi Blagsmith, Thank you for the visit and comment. You can prattlen on my hubs all you want. And yes, this Greed thing is in politics. Almost everyone in politics, or at least running for the main offices seem to be rich. The sad part is that the more money they have or that is available to them, they are the ones able to win the office. I believe that there should be a limit to how much a candidate can spend while running for office. That way the one that spends the most wisely will be the one that wins and the one best suited for the office. Now that I've prattled. Take care. Greg
nicely presented idea
Hi Ideax, Thank you for the visit and comment. Greg
My older brother was once quite wealthy, but now he's just like the rest of us. I asked him once why the rich don't just accept what they have and allow the rest of us to have a chance at getting ahead. His comment: "people never get enough or have enough." It made me physically ill, but it also woke me up. You nailed it, my friend...greed will be the end of us. Thanks for this one.
Hi TT, Thank you for the visit and the comment. Wouldn't it bw wonderful if everyone could live on just what they need. Well, it just might come to that one of these days and us lower and middle class people won't suffer nearly as much as the rich. We are used to something they never know. I had a step-dad that once said, "I have something the rich will never be able to enjoy, POVERTY." I didn't even think about that when I was writing the hub. But I have always liked it. Greg
You said it so right. GREED, SELF AND PRIDE is the Masterpiece for a disaster. Perilious times are ahead. May the God of Heaven and the Earth make Us ready to face the stormy seas.
Thanks for sharing
Hi Lady, Thank you for the visit and comment. Yes, we are going to need some help and guidence from somewhere. Greg
Hi Gregas. This is an excellent hub—one that needed to written. Thanks for writing it so well.
It seems to me that many very wealthy people and organizations are extremely greedy for money, resources, and especially power. Huge global conglomerates do not care that their profit comes from the backs of slave labor (i.e. chocolate producers) or that their cheapest way of getting something destroys the earth and ‘smaller’ people (i.e. companies that genetically modify seeds). It is as if they feel they must acquire everything they possibly can at whatever expense, while they can, because the opportunity they are now exploiting will end soon.
I believe that there are more people in the world who care about eliminating greed than there are those who exploit people and situations to their own exclusive benefit. I also believe that with global communication available to us (like never before) we can do something (each of us and all of us together) to greaty lessen the practice of greed.
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing.” -commonly attributed to Edmund Burke, who said, "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."
I suspect (and hope) that 2012 is the year that we begin to see the actions we (as a group) can take to end the acts of greed that, if not checked, will destroy us.
Vote up, useful and awesome.
Hi Maralexa, Thank you for the follow, visit, comment and votes. I wish I had an idea where to start on a movement against Greed. I feel that is the whole problem, nobody knows where to start and/or are afraid of being ridiculed for it. The latter I don't care about, I just wish I had an idea what we could actually do, I would do it. Any ideas, please let me know. Greg
I agree that there are more greedy people around these days and I believe the greed and selfish seeds are being sown in our children at a younger and younger age. By parents who are too soft to say no and low life, in your face big corporations who launch advertsing campaigns targeted at children whose parents are to soft to say no!!! (I must sound like I'm going around in circles) Anyway the outcome of this is the kids get what they want, what they see splashed all over TV, billboards and everywhere they look and then when they get what they want they are not interested in it anymore because something bigger and better is being dangled in front of their noses and on it goes. Treats seem to be a thing of the past. So many children seem to get what they want, when they want it and special occasions such as Christmas and birthdays just aren't special anymore.
Anyway that's my long winded rant (I could go on and on about this subject), but I guess what I want to say most is you are absolutley right, Gregas. My votes to you.
Really not anything but greed is going to hit the world to crisis. Loved this huh and topic you have chosen was really great!
Hi Swetankraj, Thank you for the visit and the comment. Please, if you have any suggestions to fight greed, let me know. I am trying to put something together.
Greg
Yep, you're pretty much spot on. What kills me is that there are greedy, selfish, wealthy individuals that have more than their glutinous lifestyle could ever hope to consume, yet they ruthlessly pursue even more usually at the cost of taking away from someone in need.
Hi Dmop, Thank you for the visit and comment. I am trying to put together a list of suggestions that might help ease the greed situation. If you have any ideas, please let me know. Greg
I agree with the sentiments you expressed here. Greed and selfishness will lead to the destruction of the human race.
Hi Philly, Thank you for the visit and comment. How can we stop it, or at least lessen that problem. Greg
You and your brother have hit the preverbial nail on the head. Even if we destroy ourselves by one of your mentioned disasters, it will be because of greed and selfishness. Fantastic hub!
I absolutely agree with you! Greed is society's downfall and it only gets worse. My husband and I have this conversation quite a bit and it just sickens us around holidays like Christmas, where the world seems more concerned about getting the latest gadgets. The true meanining of Christmas is lost and society continues to exploit materialism. It is especially hard to be a parent to children who constantly question why their friends have this and that. However, what we stress t0 them is that they are more rich than any of those friends could ever be because they learn how to work hard for what they want and appreciate even the smallest of things they do have.
You and your brother are right. Particularly with the statement about the two human traits that drive social interaction. It really rings true because this is all that I see going on around me. You have created a very interesting hub here. Thanks.
Hi Express, thank you. I have had a lot of agreement on this subject, but do we have any suggestions on what we can to control it? Greg
I could not agree more, greed will destroy the world, it is the root of all evil. Greed is the one thing that the world could definitely go without, however that involves everyone to take self-responsibility. Thanks for the great read.
Hi Dragnhaze, Thank you for the follow, visit and comment. I am asking for suggestions on how we might be able to slow down the greed. Do you have any? Greg
fabulous and so well said. I agree about selfishness; big problem today.
thanks for writing this , very inspirational.
Hi Eye, Thank you. There has to be a solution. How can we fix this? I welcome any suggestions you may have. I am working on some kind of presentation. Greg
Greed is world's biggest problem yesterday, today and tomorrow as Mahatma Gandhi once quoted “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”
Thanks for writing this! A very interesting hub! Voted up!
Hi Sun, Thank you. I do ike that quote. Greg
Great hub. I have always thought that it is greed that's destroying the world along with the profit driven monetary system which fuels and drives that greed. We have put "money" before the most important part of our world and that is people.
We really at some point need to move past money but I don't think we are ready for that yet. The destruction of our world at the expense of the people has to stop. It is greed driven by money that is doing this.
Hi QC, Thank you. Unfortunatly, greedy people even put money before loved ones, family and friends. I am working on something and I welcome any suggestions that might lessen the gap between the greedy rich and us po' folk. Greg
Great hub -I wouldn't argue with a word of it .
Hi Itahins, Thank you. It seems to be a very strong feeling held by many. Greg
Wow...what an excellent, well thought out and articulated article. You certainly hit the nail on the head with the problems facing this self centered world today. Alas, even if we had a Ben Franklin today, many would shun his views and that in and of itself is a sad commentary.
Hi Page, Thank you for the follow. I have had a lot of agreement on this subject and unfortunatly I don't see any immediate solutions. But I am asking for some suggestions because I am trying to put something together. I have a couple from a couple of fellow hubbers to start with but I would like some more. If you have any you would like to share, I would appreciate it very much. Greg
Controlling greed should rest with the individual. Greed is something that is very difficult to control through external sources because people usually have an internal motivation to be greedy. The forces behind this motivation cannot be legislated away and in some people's minds they're smarter than anything that can bring harsh consequences. I think that the law is often an effective deterrent for many people's greed but of course this does not stop what is seemingly natural behavior for others. Greed could be impossible to stamp out completely. In some cases there can be so much greed in an individual or a group, that they are compelled to act upon it even if it is unlawful. And as you likely know, the well connected and already deep pocketed will likely stand a very good chance of not even getting a slap on the wrist. However, it is by making the greedy lay in the bed they made that they (and others) learn that what they have done is wrong. However, taking a look at how the big banks have gotten off Scott free with bonuses to boot, shows how they didn't even get a slap on the wrist and received gov't bailouts on top of their misdeeds. I could not be a supporter of anything that has the intended or unintended effect of discouraging people from becoming rich. As thought provoking as your article is, as far as a solution, I remain stumped!
Very True Gregas! Greed is destroying the world...
Hi Express, Thank you. I know that there is no way of ever controlling greed. I am just looking for a way to lessen the gap between the rich and the lower class. Greg
Hi Alisha, Thank you for the comment. Greg
Sorry for the delayed response to your question, been quite busy lately, however, in a way I did actually answer your question before you asked it. I believe as Express10 mentioned that controlling greed relies on the individual, which is why I said in my first comment "Greed is the one thing that the world could definitely go without, however that involves everyone to take self-responsibility."
Hi Dragnhaze, Yesyou did answer. The one thing we can do is try and reason with some to show respect to the ones who got them where thy are, the workers/laborers. That's what the unions are supposed to be doing, but all they do is try to squeeze more money out of the employers so the union heads can put more in their pockets. Very counteractive. Greg
Great hub, nailed it. But actually, I think that greed is so endemic, that we average humans are also greedy. Greed isn't confined to the glass towers (also, it could be argued that what drives the activity within the glass towers, is what we choose to consume...)
For example, we think it normal to have certain basic things, like a TV. But who says a TV is useful? Does it help one spiritually? Or maybe, we have a sandwich, and then want another one, but it isn't at all necessary to have another one. That is greed, really, surprisingly.
I read recently that what we regard as the poverty line is really the distraction line. We don't *need* most of the things we want, even certain basics, but only require them in a distraction sense. But we want more - because we're greedy!
Great topic, hub voted up!
Hi Electro, Thank you. And yes we do all have a certain amount of GREED in us. But not all of us let the GREED go to the point of hurting others and not caring about others. As for a TV, having a TV is a form of GREED because it is a luxury. But there is a difference in having ONE TV and having to have a TV in every room. That's like having more cars than you need sitting in the garage doing nothing or having a house with way more rooms than you need just so people can see how much money you have. Maybe I should have refered to it as EXSESSIVE GREED. Thank you for the vote too. Greg
Hi,
This is a very well-written hub. I agree with your views as well as your brother- in law. We live in a society where many people think it's all about them.. Selfishness and greed go hand in hand as well as envy. People hate on others for various reasons instead of working on improving themselves.
Hi LD, Thank you. Yes, if more people would concern themselves with themselves, this world would be a lot better off. Greg
I couldn't agree with you more. I am hopeful the current economic crisis will encourage people to change, to focus less on possessions and more on humanity.
Hi Mama, Thank you. I do hope for the same thing. I think a lot of people are opening their eyes that have been keeping them closed just because it was easier that way.. Greg
WD Curry 111 Level 8 Commenter 4 months ago
Between you and your brother in-law, you nailed it. You have a great way of throwing it down. I am working on my first book. The title is already trademarked, "Prices Always Go Up Near the End of the World"