Greed v Envy

(By the way, it's great to get comments!)

Is there a difference between "greed" and "envy?" Perhaps they are just degrees of the same thing. And maybe it's about time we began "labeling" things the way they really are. (I know, I know--"Let's not point fingers" and "Let's just move on" and "Let's not affix blame." If we don't do that, who, then, ever has to be held accountable? Doesn't that just throw responsibility out of the window? Ah, "Your public schools. There's no better place to learn.")

OK, the Wall Street folks, Big Oil, Bankers, and their ilk are all "greedy." I get that. They bear the label and maybe deserve it. After all, with much of the US in economic freefall, do the CEOs and other corporate managers really deserve the incredible amounts they get? Nope, not at all. And, I might argue, just like MLB players and other professional athletes, college coaches, Hollywood-types, and hippy-rock stars, they get far too much money. Who, seriously, is worth tens of millions of dollars a year? And, how much money is enough? Is money the only thing that drives people to success, to innovation? I hope not and don't think so. (How interesting that those who do think so--likely "conservatives--are giving credence to a philosophy of Karl Marx, the commie!) But, I don't begrudge them the money. Would I turn down more money if my employer offered it? Would I give back money from my paycheck? Nope. And my strong feeling is that not many people outside of Mother Teresa would either. In that sense, perhaps "greed" takes on new meaning or at least can be seen in another light.

But what about the Wall Street Protesters? What is it that drives them? Is it, as one of them was quoted in the newspaper this AM, "crony capitalism?" Indeed, if it is "crony capitalism," then they are protesting in the wrong place. They should be in Washington, DC! Is it that some people have things and they don't? Listen to some of them blathering away and that's a logical conclusion. They want what other people have. Isn't that "envy?" And, of course, isn't that "greed?"

Would I want more money? Of course I would. Even Mother Teresa would, although she would use it far differently than most folks. But I don't obsess over it and never have. (OK, this is where I was misunderstood in the schools. Far too many took the very simplistic view that I wanted more money and that was the root of my disenchantment. Those closest to me or those who actually listened knew better. Among other things, it was the dishonesty of my employers/bosses more than actually higher pay. It was the ridiculous ways things were done--policies, programs, and whatnot. But, I digress....) I don't covet what other people have or have earned (and, again, it's debatable whether CEOs who drive their companies to the brink or farther deserve or earn their salaries). What they get doesn't deprive me of what I have.

Thomas Sowell in his recent book (and thanks to Walter Williams for pointing this out) makes this situation abundantly clear. Two poor boys live in Russia. One has a goat; the other doesn't. The one who doesn't finds a magic lamp and, upon rubbing it, gets a wish from his genie. His wish is for his friend's goat to die. Huh? you wonder. Yep, that's what the Wall Street Protesters want. They want all those who have to not have. Looking at Sowell's example shows the folly in this. "Greed" or "Envy?"

Williams had just a great column! Oprah Winfrey made $290 million in 2010. Do you think she paid her make-up person $100,000? Even if she did, the make-up person "earned" about 1/2900 of what she did! And, remember, 1% is 1/100. According to Forbes Mag, the average salary of the best-paid CEOs was a bit higher than $100 million. (Of course I don't think anyone is worth that, but if that's what they can finagle out of others, more power to them!) So, hmmmm.... Why aren't the Wall Street Protesters picketing and sitting in on Oprah's house or studio? Or what about the studio of Lady Gaga, who made $90 million? Howard Stern took home $76 million. I wonder what he pays his sound man?????? The top ten CEOs averaged almost $43 million while the top ten celebrities averaged $100 million. And I wonder why the media and politicians don't demonize Tiger Woods ($75 million) and LeBron James ($48 million). I wonder how many protesters they could attract if they attacked these "superstars."

Yep, I know the answer...and so do you.