Full Version: The 12-Stepping of America
As you may have noticed, there are "12-step" programs for all kinds of addiction: alcohol, narcotics, gambling, even sex. But why is there not one for plain old greed? For the all-consuming need for more money, even when you've reached the point where you have more than you could ever spend?
Example: Adelphia. Three people stole a billion dollars from the company. In the words of Lewis Black, "What were they gonna do---start their own space program?" That is more money than you could possibly spend. And the things that they bought---basically they were just to show off "Look how much money I have." Putting aside the fact that stealing is illegal, what would you need a billion dollars for even if you came by that money legitimately? They buy objets d'art that they never even SEE. What the heck, people?
Another example, this one closer to home: My boss. Always groaning and moaning about how his kids are growing up so fast, and he wants to spend all this time with them. He makes over a million a year (that we know of), has a million dollar home that he paid cash for ten years ago, and does everything he can to penny-pinch, including paying his employees the bare minimum, and praying that they're too mousy to ask for a raise (which we are). He could retire, right now, and still maintain several vacation homes and never have to worry about money again.
The essence of the definition of addiction lies in how much the activity in question interferes with your daily life, and those of the people around you. If you are devoting more time to making more money on top of the perfectly good money you already have, isn't that an interference? If you are strictly looking at your balance sheet for your happiness---isn't that a form of sickness?
So my question is:
Why is greed acceptable? Why is it not something that they've developed a "12-step" program for?
Example: Adelphia. Three people stole a billion dollars from the company. In the words of Lewis Black, "What were they gonna do---start their own space program?" That is more money than you could possibly spend. And the things that they bought---basically they were just to show off "Look how much money I have." Putting aside the fact that stealing is illegal, what would you need a billion dollars for even if you came by that money legitimately? They buy objets d'art that they never even SEE. What the heck, people?
Another example, this one closer to home: My boss. Always groaning and moaning about how his kids are growing up so fast, and he wants to spend all this time with them. He makes over a million a year (that we know of), has a million dollar home that he paid cash for ten years ago, and does everything he can to penny-pinch, including paying his employees the bare minimum, and praying that they're too mousy to ask for a raise (which we are). He could retire, right now, and still maintain several vacation homes and never have to worry about money again.
The essence of the definition of addiction lies in how much the activity in question interferes with your daily life, and those of the people around you. If you are devoting more time to making more money on top of the perfectly good money you already have, isn't that an interference? If you are strictly looking at your balance sheet for your happiness---isn't that a form of sickness?
So my question is:
Why is greed acceptable? Why is it not something that they've developed a "12-step" program for?
Greed is good. I do actually believe that.
Greed is passion and it is what makes people desire to be better and go farther and create things no one else has before.
without it we would still be hunter gatherers.
Anything has a dark side and always an example that seems to be the final nail in a coffin, but after a few moments to calm down you can find the other side.
I would start my own space company, think of the potential that you could trigger with that kind of start up cash. think of all the neat stuff you could start. Alt energy, a movie studio, 3D stuff, restaurant chains, invest in a wicked amusement park.
Fund medical research...........
Greed is passion and it is what makes people desire to be better and go farther and create things no one else has before.
without it we would still be hunter gatherers.
Anything has a dark side and always an example that seems to be the final nail in a coffin, but after a few moments to calm down you can find the other side.
QUOTE
what would you need a billion dollars for even if you came by that money legitimately?
I would start my own space company, think of the potential that you could trigger with that kind of start up cash. think of all the neat stuff you could start. Alt energy, a movie studio, 3D stuff, restaurant chains, invest in a wicked amusement park.
Fund medical research...........
QUOTE(christopher @ Dec 6 2007, 12:24 AM) 
Greed is good. I do actually believe that.
Greed is passion and it is what makes people desire to be better and go farther and create things no one else has before.
without it we would still be hunter gatherers.
Anything has a dark side and always an example that seems to be the final nail in a coffin, but after a few moments to calm down you can find the other side.
I would start my own space company, think of the potential that you could trigger with that kind of start up cash. think of all the neat stuff you could start. Alt energy, a movie studio, 3D stuff, restaurant chains, invest in a wicked amusement park.
Fund medical research...........
Greed is passion and it is what makes people desire to be better and go farther and create things no one else has before.
without it we would still be hunter gatherers.
Anything has a dark side and always an example that seems to be the final nail in a coffin, but after a few moments to calm down you can find the other side.
QUOTE
what would you need a billion dollars for even if you came by that money legitimately?
I would start my own space company, think of the potential that you could trigger with that kind of start up cash. think of all the neat stuff you could start. Alt energy, a movie studio, 3D stuff, restaurant chains, invest in a wicked amusement park.
Fund medical research...........
True, Christopher. If I won a billion dollars, I would probably start a non-profit health insurance company that would not be based around cheating people out of their medical claims.
But what I'm talking about here IS the dark side of greed---and there's far more of a dark side than there is a "light" side. So my question is: Why is there not a 12-step program for that, the way there is for everything else? Please answer that question.
Dayna, Dayna, Dayna ------ There is NO Dayna, only Zuul!
Define the depths of Greed and where is the Red Zone?
Because Greed for one is simply initiative for another. or what you would say is greed would be considered an effort to force others to conform to your values (cant you just hear the screaming about socialist communistic christmas haters).
How would you gauge greed to be at the point it needs a 12 step program? What are the signs or the points of no return? When do we have the Intervention -- and will there be pizza rolls?
In France they had the 35 hour workweek--which i think they repealed? -- and you could be arrested for working overtime.
Many argued that those opposed to it where outrageously greedy and were trying to ruin it for everyone else who wanted 35 hours or less and if you had people who would work overtime why those jobs might start becoming scarcer. The outrage!
In the argument between left and right is the argument about common good. many consider my points on not being forced to pay taxes to support others as greed defined while I consider their arguments merely rationalizing theft.
I think the Adelphia case goes beyond greed to more of a psychotic episode.
Define the depths of Greed and where is the Red Zone?
Because Greed for one is simply initiative for another. or what you would say is greed would be considered an effort to force others to conform to your values (cant you just hear the screaming about socialist communistic christmas haters).
How would you gauge greed to be at the point it needs a 12 step program? What are the signs or the points of no return? When do we have the Intervention -- and will there be pizza rolls?
In France they had the 35 hour workweek--which i think they repealed? -- and you could be arrested for working overtime.
Many argued that those opposed to it where outrageously greedy and were trying to ruin it for everyone else who wanted 35 hours or less and if you had people who would work overtime why those jobs might start becoming scarcer. The outrage!
In the argument between left and right is the argument about common good. many consider my points on not being forced to pay taxes to support others as greed defined while I consider their arguments merely rationalizing theft.
I think the Adelphia case goes beyond greed to more of a psychotic episode.
Greed is the desire for excess (one just can’t get enough of it); it would be a vice but for its popularity. It’s even better if you incorporate it.
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