7 Deadly Sins, #1- Greed

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With the recent development in the economics of the world, the one word thrown about is Greed.

Ah, yes, one of the 7 Deadly Sins. So I began to think through all of them again.

The current economics of the world shows it certainly is a global economy and the house of cards came tumbling down.

Yes, wall street and all the other stock exchanges world wide are a bunch of greedy people. As well as the investors who hope to gain profit with buying shares of companies. And the companies are greedy for charging high prices for low quality goods, shipping work out to low wage countries so they don't have to pay decent wages, and possibly falsifying books to appear more solvent than they really are. So then they can get more for thier stock and pay dividens so the stock holders are happy.
The heads of the finacial banks are greedy. From Presidents and CEO's who make unbelieveable money for what they actually do, down to your friendly local loan representative who gets a bonus when they sell a mortgage. I look at the home builders and see companies who tear down forest and farmland to build yet another mall or office complex that we don't need or $300,000 homes to sell to people who really only could afford $80,000 to $150,000. And wonder why our cities are falling to ruined run-down neighborhoods. And the realtors and sellers who make more money selling over inflated homes to home buyers who think they can live beyond their means because everyone is telling them they can. The car salesman, the credit companies and all the advertizers drawing the consumer in to the web of credit.


And here is to the sporting industy who get so much money that a day at the ballpark can cost a family of four almost $200. So that leaves out family trips to games for most people. And we call the players sports heros. -- And let us not forget the entertainment industry where a family of four for movies is over $40, and music industries want every royalty for everysong played, bought sold, or used in any manor.

To the internet where on every page there is something for you to buy and it is even personalized just for you and your interest. and to all the people who promis to make you rich if you just . . . . .

And a big nod to all the governments, the federal, state, county, city who all want thier tax money, fees, licences, lotteries, and permits. And then tell you they don't have money for school buses.

Most of all - ourselves - who want to live beyond our means so -- what? we can feel we are sucessful or modern or cool or a part of? Do we really need a $30,000 car? or the latest in tech gagets, a 60" flat TV with HD, or a brand name on our shoes or handbags? Or even something simple or mundane like the schools that send our children out with some companies catalog of over priced crap to sell to soft-hearted people. Or garage sales where sellers want store prices for thier valuable stuff or buyers who want to pay pennies intead of a fair price.

And I could probably write a book on the subject.

My own personal sin of greed -- I don't think I am too sinful. Money to live and pay bills is fine for me. But, I don't have enough to do that. I don't take vacations, buy new clothes, or own anything of value - everything is used or 50% off. I struggle to pay bills. Yes, I want more money. I want to beable to help my children. But I know I would never do anything that is not morally sound to get it. So, I just keep working, cutting costs and wishing. I buy a lottery ticket now and then and dream of how wonderful it would be or think that I deserved part of my rich uncles estate. (and now I have gone back into the dream of having money -- it doesn't take much to get me there)

Greed - it can bring people down to the hellish depts of great wrongs from personal crash to a countries final collapse .

I really envy greedy people.

I try not to be greedy and I am so surprised of the greed that there is. In university I can see all the greed that there is in business and even in the governments. Business are always looking for ways to get the most they can, wile giving the smallest amount they can, and it actualy anoys me how they are trying to teach us to get the most we can while staying in the law. Here is a question that they say, if a business asks someone who wants to be or is there accoutent what 2 + 2 is, the accountant says "what ever you whant it to be". Also I thought that in Australia the governments are friendly to each other, but apparently all the states want as much as they can and dont whant to give any power to the federal government.

Also a problem we have here is where supermarkets try to nock fruit and veggie shops out. What they do is try to make there prices lower so the small business will run bankrupt and then the supermarkets can charg what they want. Another thing that has happend is that banks are getting money from governments, luckily not here thouh, do they think they can take so much money from customers then when they need to give back they dont have any, same with interest rates. And last couple of day the government have decided to help people, I like this as I suport this party, but from looking at what the opposition have been doing they have been trying to get any praise for it possible, while bagging out the other side. Mind you this opposition spent millions on government advertising up to the time we were smart enough to know these big spenders who suport the corporations out. Though as a good note the one that came in actualy gave wage cuts to themselves to show that they did not need as much as they were getting.

The Deadly Sin of Greed has its antidote in the Contrary Virtue of Charity.

Why?
A greedy person could never be satisfied.
I don't think it sounds like a nice fate.

L.

I agree. but I have yet to see it happen in the banks and wall street. No one there had admitted guilt or making amends. Like Leman's $500,00 'spa retreat' for corporate executives. and to make matters worse they came up with a plan to spend millions in advertising, apologizing to the country for thier little foray and insensitivity, until one bright guy mentioned this was a bad idea.


TO SpiceWolf:

I think MissConstrue statement is not that she wants to be greedy. It is a tounge and cheek statement. Sometimes I too envy (oh,oo another deadly sin up for disscussion at a later time) greedy people, cause if you are greedy you don't worry or feel guilty about stepping on co-workers to get ahead or who you screwed in a deal to maximize your profits.
Obivouly then we are not greedy or greedy enough to do that to people because we know the consequences of that type of behavior.

The wages of sin is death.

Maybe not immediate death, but death eventually.

Greed is the cause of financial slavery around the world. The reason many go for years without insurance to the detriment of their health. Why must an innocent child be denied treatment for cancer because his parents are impoverished? Bloodsucking businessmen use illegal immigrants as pawns of the corporate establishment in order to bring all of our wages down and drive the housing prices up due to overcrowding (more demand) the varying ethnic tensions that many yearn to escape from (creating a demand in the suburban housing market).

How many worship the golden calf?

Many. Many, many, many.

Those greedy banks are probably proud about there gluttones, and will lustfully release there wrath on those who they are too slothful to tell that they shouldnt borrow. I bet they were envyous of hystorical tyrants.

These vipers have a myopic vision of the future; they are far too short-sighted in their mentality to think or behave rationally. Short-term profits are always on their mind without regard to the long-term consequences. It's only a matter of time before the U.S. economy sinks into a depression greater than that of the 1930's.

Yeah they like to take when people are doing well, but when they are in hard times all they want is for others to bail them out. Maybe they should have throught about that before giveing so large salerys to there corporate heads. Also I was trying to add every deadly sin in my last statement anyone notice?

The CEO's and other corporate heads should have to accept pay cuts instead of cheating their employees and investors. There needs to be a system of checks and balances in the business world. Several of my family members lost money in the stock market due to the recent financial collapse. Greed is the deadliest and most wretched sin because many other wrongs stem from this great evil. For example, a man can brutally murder his wife due to a life insurance policy.

Kinda off-topic, saw some news here about a guy in the
US that whiped out his entire family and himself because
he had lost everything in the stock market tragic

That is not neceserily off topic. It is what the greed can do.

Maybe greed is simply/actually wanting to possess anything, ( or anyone ), rather than just "wanting more than one needs".

Pluto is about to enter, is already in the early stages of entering, my astrological "second house", which is traditionally to do with that part of life covered by the phrase "I have", so I am interested in what greed, and possessiveness/acquisitiveness, might mean.

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