Damn good question
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
11 responses
@samson1967 (7414)
• India
29 Sep 12
There are some Greedy people who wants to keep their money as well as others money too. MINE IS MINE AND YOURS ALSO MINE..
2 people like this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
29 Sep 12
I hadn't thought about it that way.
I always thought of it being greed to want others money as well.
I'm not greedy though, I'm frugal!
Marsha
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
30 Sep 12
Fatuous comment taken out of context. Sowell is an intelligent man who represents a perspective that is both supportive and critical of GOP policies. He sees that the wealthy can succumb to socialist principles as part of a pack mentality. For example, he wrote:
[i]"The rich have learned to adapt socialist policies to their own benefit. For example, the city of Riviera Beach, Florida, is planning to demolish a working class neighborhood under its power of eminent domain, in order to prepare the way for a marina for yachts, luxury condominiums and an upscale shopping district.
What will the city of Riviera Beach get out of all this? More taxes from higher-income people, enabling local politicians to spend more money on programs to attract votes.
Meanwhile the rich get rid of lower-income folks without having to pay them the value of their homes and businesses that will be demolished. As in so many other cases, eminent domain is socialism for the rich."[/i]
They object when the Government "give" taxes in benefits but they are not so bothered when they apply the same principles to things that they want. Like luxury re-development off the backs of the poor. Greed is in the eye of the beholder!
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
30 Sep 12
Pike, I agree with his assessment on this issue as well. I agree that imminent domain has been and is being grossly misused to benefit a small portion while leaving the actual people living/ owning said property in the dirt.
I am not a party line person and can see whats in front of me. I see the misdeeds of both sides.
@andy77e (5156)
• United States
29 Sep 12
I have said this for years. Greed is not wanting to get paid for what work you have done, but rather it's wanting to get paid for work you haven't done. Or equally to get goods and services you haven't paid for.
It's important to realize that you can be greedy when you earn minimum wage, and don't have $100 to your name, just as much as you can be greedy when you make millions a year, and have a billion dollar net worth.
I would argue though, that very few rich people are greedy, and a massive number of poor people are greedy.
The only difference is, we hear more about greedy rich people, because they have tons of money. The greedy poor people are not worth interviewing on the news.
But the truth is, greedy people have a hard time keeping a job, because bosses don't typically like employees that want to get paid for things they haven't really worked for. This is why most greedy people are poor.
But as far as politics is concerned, there are far more people demanding hand outs, and so politicians play up to that. But nothing infuriates a human being more than being called out accurately for what they are, and nothing makes a human being more comfortable with what they are, than accusing someone else of doing what they themselves do.
Thus it's politically advantageous to accuse those who work, of being greedy for wanting to keep the money they earn.
This is what the left in the world, is all about. Blaming everyone else for being greedy, when they themselves are greedy.
2 people like this
@SinfulRose (3527)
• Davao, Philippines
29 Sep 12
It is never greed to save money. But having a lot of money and not be satisfied with what's enough to keep one alive is. Taking someone else's money is considered stealing, but taking somebody else's money legally such as selling something in exchange for money, is fine as long as that someone is not fooling people via his product.
I guess, Thomas Sowell didn't really emphasize what he meant here as there are many things to consider on a certain event especially the circumstances surrounding the event. This sentence lack certain details like those that I mentioned above. Perhaps if I have some information as to when he said this and what was happening around him, maybe I can understand better and see whether he is truly correct or at err.
@SinfulRose (3527)
• Davao, Philippines
29 Sep 12
It seems that I still need a whole lot of things to learn. I can't relate the two at all--Your discussion and the article.
Although I really do agree with the author. Either way the market goes, people will always find faults in others and say that they are greedy--especially towards politicians and certain businessmen. And I agree with Will Rogers: "We are all ignorant. But ignorant only on certain matters."
And I do know that most people are ignorant on the fact that if they won't control their spending and financial accounts, sooner or later they'll go knee deep in debt and blame it on the falling economy or the government. While call those who becomes rich "greedy." Is that justice? I don't think so.
I also know in History that hundreds of years ago, before income taxes, the poor wanted to take money from the rich. They then developed this taxes levied only on the rich. The government obtained money and yes, the rich also used their heads and get to slip away from such laws by devising corporations. The government had tasted money and became greedy so it passed on laws to take taxes, not only from the rich but from the average and the poor classes as well. Karma backfires, greed is at work. But the game was started by those who are envious so they took the consequences of their actions. That's the beginning of why we're even paying income taxes nowadays.
The ignorant, if I understand correctly, are the majority who knows nothing about how money works. And "demanding that people who know what they are doing must be subject to the veto of people who don't have a clue " is just plain fruitless as we all know who really wins this game.
Although I really do agree with the author. Either way the market goes, people will always find faults in others and say that they are greedy--especially towards politicians and certain businessmen. And I agree with Will Rogers: "We are all ignorant. But ignorant only on certain matters."
And I do know that most people are ignorant on the fact that if they won't control their spending and financial accounts, sooner or later they'll go knee deep in debt and blame it on the falling economy or the government. While call those who becomes rich "greedy." Is that justice? I don't think so.
I also know in History that hundreds of years ago, before income taxes, the poor wanted to take money from the rich. They then developed this taxes levied only on the rich. The government obtained money and yes, the rich also used their heads and get to slip away from such laws by devising corporations. The government had tasted money and became greedy so it passed on laws to take taxes, not only from the rich but from the average and the poor classes as well. Karma backfires, greed is at work. But the game was started by those who are envious so they took the consequences of their actions. That's the beginning of why we're even paying income taxes nowadays.
The ignorant, if I understand correctly, are the majority who knows nothing about how money works. And "demanding that people who know what they are doing must be subject to the veto of people who don't have a clue " is just plain fruitless as we all know who really wins this game.1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
29 Sep 12
Quite interesting.
In my part of the world, I think, it would be called theft or robbery if anyone took somebody else's money. It would not be greed as it is not legally earned and also it is someone else's money, ethically.
I am aware this is not the right way t
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
29 Sep 12
And where did the rest of it go???? My Keyboard or the Fingers...
Anyways, here is the completion -
I am aware this is not the right way to differentiate but I had this belief out of my limited knowledge... maybe I will keep an eye here to see what actually is the difference
1 person likes this
@joliefille (3690)
• Philippines
29 Sep 12
I can relate to this saying. I work for my money, I have a job yet I also contribute to the family. If I just kept the money to myself, my family would think I was being selfish to just attend to my needs and not care about theirs.
In a way this kind of complex, me helping them and my family receiving money from me as help has been perpetuated by both parties. So if I understood the saying right, both parties have a bit of greediness in them.
1 person likes this
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
29 Sep 12
I have always been impressed with Thomas Sowell. It's a shame more blacks have not learned from him and Walter Williams. I suppose, having grown up in the era before the "great society", they've been able the see what taking from one to give to another has done to their people.
@AgentGulaman (3546)
• Philippines
29 Sep 12
Taking somebody else's money is already thievery. Also there are a lot of individuals who are greedy enough to keep their money and even other's money as their own. Look at all the corrupt politicians. They are a great example for greed!
1 person likes this
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
1 Oct 12
Hi,
Money is necessary for us to fulfill our basic needs food, clothing and shelter and some other things. But if we demand more and more money and our want of money is endless then it can be termed as greed of money. I think taking others money is also selfishness or greediness.
