What are your opinions on this?
Yes, I am only thirteen and all of you are probably thinking, "Honey, be a kid and don't worry about these things." I just want you to answer the question.
2007-05-30 08:50:10 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Not at all. Greed has been part of the human equation since prehistoric times. It's nothing new.
In a free-market limited-government constitutional republic, like the US used to be, greed had very little impact. Free-market principles actually use greed to improve society.
A greedy person wants more money. How does he get it? By providing the best product or service, or the same product or service at a lower cost. Either way, it's better for everyone, no?
Greed always has more impact as the government grows bigger and stronger and more in control over peoples' lives. Authoritarianism attracts greedy people the most. In a totalitarian government, greedy people steal from the people. Every dictator, especially the communist ones, becomes extremely wealthy by stealing from the people.
Bottom line - a limited government, such as the one we used to have that followed the Constitution, limits the impact of greedy people.
2007-05-30 09:02:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Honey, 13 is hardly a kid. This is your country and you are the future. I'm glad you are thinking about it. Greed ruins everything it touches. Greedy people never have enough and don't share except when it benefits them. Look around you and write letters to your elected officials. Attend your local council meetings and learn how things work. You can still be a kid but at least you will have some idea as to what your parents have to pay for when the school board votes to add on to your school and when property taxes go up. You'll be able to see what it will take for you to survive in 5 years. Don't worry, start to make a difference. Remember 12 year olds are fighting in wars all over the world and 12 year olds fought in the US Civil War. 12 year olds were heads of households before the child labor laws were enacted. And children are still working in sweat shops all around the world. By realizing that and by having a goal(s) for your future, you will be a contributing factor to making the world a better or worse place and you can initiate the discussion with your friends. Good Luck! You are smart to think ahead and ask questions and demand answers. Always question authority. Had we done that with the Government, maybe we wouldn't be in the fix we're in today. Our Government needs to be micromanaged. Maybe you can give some ideas on how to get the job done or some insight as to how young people like yourself can be more involved.
2007-05-30 09:00:55 · answer #2 · answered by Mindbender 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think people often mistake profits and success for greed. They are judging those who are successful based only on their success. The problem is not that these people are greedy it is that we don't have enough to make it from paycheck to paycheck. Some of that is probably our own fault. Bad planning, spending on things we don't need, not buying the cheaper product if it is comparable to the more expensive one, etc., but our government takes a large chunk of our money right out of OUR paychecks. Then WE end up borrowing money to buy food, pay rent, buy medicine and things like that. Withholding tax is an interest free loan to the government, then we pay high interest rates to borrow. That is the high cost of income tax to the taxpayer. It is incredibly inefficient and just plain stupid.
Our government taxes business to the point that many businesses move out of the country or just close down. Some can't move so they hire illegal aliens(they don't have to pay taxes on them). This means fewer jobs for American citizens and legal immigrants which means fewer people paying taxes and more people needing public assistance. That raises the bill and cuts the number of people paying the bill which equals a higher percentage of the bill for those who are paying. That means that those who are working and paying more in taxes are not able to spend as much which means less money for business which means either more layoffs, fewer benefits, less hiring, more companies closing or moving overseas...
Does there seem to be a pattern emerging? Raising taxes leads to raising taxes again and again. We have to stop punishing achievement and encourage those who are less fortunate to strive for more. They don't have to strive for great wealth, just for a better life. A life that they make for themselves instead of a life given to them by the so called "greedy" people. I think most people would prefer that life. I know I would.
2007-05-30 09:23:45 · answer #3 · answered by srdongato2 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Lots of factors are combining to destroy America, but greed is not at the root of them. It's often part of the symptom, though. If you implement a flawed system, the greedy will exploit it. The problem isn't the greed, it's the flaws in the system.
2007-05-30 08:54:21 · answer #4 · answered by B.Kevorkian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greed didn't exist before? Greed has been and always will be a problem. But I don't think it is that bad that I would not sleep at night.
2007-05-30 13:03:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greed is what runs America, free enterprise and crap. In a perfect world everyone would be happy with what they have and our world is not perfect. Things would be a lot better with no greed but I don't want to be a communist.
2007-05-30 09:02:49 · answer #6 · answered by adamtxstud 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Begun. That is my opinion. Corporations and companies are recording record profits and not sharing any of it with their employees. Oil is an example of how greed has already begun to effect our daily lives.
2007-05-30 08:54:45 · answer #7 · answered by bs b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has been since men became men....there has always been someone who has wanted more for less and it cost them everything....just read some history....kings have been falling off the throne for thousands of years, destorying countries, people and anything that got in their way because of greed....and it will continue to happen because that is the nature of man....some are just worse that others.
2007-05-30 09:01:19 · answer #8 · answered by yetti 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Greed is nothing new at all. I honestly think ignorance to facts and truth, apathy, laziness, and blatant spite are more problems than greed.
2007-05-30 08:53:44 · answer #9 · answered by sociald 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Greed is nothing new and has always existed and had an impact on our economy.
2007-05-30 08:52:37 · answer #10 · answered by Brian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋