No One Calls Themselves Greedy

So, we are not ‘greedy,’ but others are?

I suspect each of us is by nature self-interested and we want the best for ourselves and our families.

Even first lady Michelle Obama recently told Barbara Walters in a 20/20 special that it is “practical” for her to put herself highest on her priority list; is that ‘greedy?’

Our forefathers acknowledged this self-interest and self-evident truth in expressing certain unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence.

Some folks call it the American Dream – Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.  These rights are granted to each of us.

While we may have differing dreams, we still retain the same rights.

How is pursuing one’s own dreams considered ‘greedy’ for some, but not for others?

I think we would be better off admitting that we each carry some self-interest and self-enrichment within us – some people may want more; why is that not OK for them?

Because someone has more than others does not make them bad people; if you really think so, why are they bad?

Personal responsibility is not a zero-sum game.  Somebody else’s success is not another’s failure.

In attacking the so-called “greedy,” how does taking someone else down bring you up?

Why has there been all this name calling and class warfare, suggesting others are ‘greedy’ (and somehow, each of us pursuing our own self-interest is not?)

By the way, what is the threshold between greed and not greedy?

I think some use ‘greedy’ because it’s a catchy word to get people riled up and finger-pointing.

To me, name calling is a childish defense of attacking the other person – it can show signs of immaturity, insecurity and anxiety.

Some say it is envy.

Often times, people raise the volume in their name calling, in hopes that drowning out another view will somehow make themselves appear correct.

We each define success, happiness, living comfortably and fulfilling our dreams under our own terms; why do we all need to be the same?

Each of us is different; it is unfair to judge someone else under our terms – they are living their lives under their terms.

No one else is in our dreams; why should we compare ourselves with others?

And, why do we care what someone else has or is doing?