Today we often associate greed with big corporations and business execs with yearly bonuses greater than many people earn in a lifetime.  According to research, the top 1% of Americans account for 43% of financial wealth and the bottom 80% account for only 7% of financial wealth.  On a larger scale, 1% of the population controls about 40% of the world’s net worth.  The bottom 50% of the entire world’s population accounts for only 1.1% of the total global wealth.

These extremes do demonstrate just how imbalanced things are. Presented with finite resources, finite wealth and growing population, it doesn’t make sense that our advanced 21st century civilization would even consider such conditions, much less tolerate them.

On a smaller level, we recognize greed and generally frown upon it.  I am reminded of a character from a popular television show.  He and many others survived a plane crash on a remote island.  As people tried to recover supplies and items of value to everyone’s benefit, this guy hordes things for himself: things he doesn’t even need and will not even have use for (such as pregnancy tests) and then demands others give what little they have to him in exchange when they need it.

Most people look upon these actions with disgust.  We don’t like a greedy person.  When things are personal, on a more intimate level, we naturally gravitate towards balancing wealth for the better of all.  Bu somewhere along the way to the large scale, we loose that intimacy and what was once considered greed, is now given glorification.  We call it the “American Dream” here, or perhaps “free market”.  Those who can pay the most, get the most.  Those who have the most, can get more.

We don’t like those actions when it’s a guy on an island.  Why are we defensive of the same principles on a national or global scale?  And the more pressing question is, are we any different than the corporate executives or that guy on the island?

Almost everyone who has purchased a lottery ticket wants more than they need.  How many computers do you own?  How many televisions?  Can you think of how many things you own, but really never use?  I’m not opposed to having good things.  I’m just asking you to take a look at yourself and decide something.

I’ve heard it said that those people in the top 1% are no different than us.  What makes them think they are so special?  Why should the island guy get to horde all the stuff?  Stuff he took from others in the first place!  If they are no different than us…then we are no different than them.

Maybe our goal should be to be different.

Many of those in the top 1% got there because of their own efforts.  At one time they were one of us, and now they are one of them.  It’s that desire for excess, a desire most of us can find within ourselves without much effort, that causes so much suffering.

Change won’t happen from the top down.  It won’t come from a political party.  It won’t come from philanthropic corporate efforts.  It begins with each individual recognizing that greed takes away more than it gives.  Pouring water into a full cup is wasteful.  Things we have in excess don’t benefit us.

The “dream” needs to change.