GREED

The unfortunate truth about our world is that it runs on the principles of greed.  Greed for money.  Greed for power.  Greed for possessions.  Greed for religion.  It frustrates me to no end that this is the basis of  our civilization.  One may disagree with this statement but, to me, there is no question of its grip on humanity.

Jodi and I were watching a show on HGTV last night.  It chronicled the story of how Spelling Manor was built and the lengths his wife (Candy Spelling) went to in order to make every detail perfect.  Traveling the globe to find specific items to go with motif of the home.  The show then moved on to her having to sell the Manor so she could move on with her life and start fresh in a penthouse suite.  She got her asking price of $150 000 000.  That is correct,  a hundred and fifty million dollars for a house.

The only stipulation from the buyer was that Candy was completely moved out of the property in a month.  The next twenty minutes of the show  chronicled the itemizing, packaging and moving of all her belongings.  Her doll collection was probably worth more than I will make in a life time.  They almost attempted to make us feel sorry for  her and all her efforts to move such a magnitude of lavish crap in a month.  It kind of made me sick to my stomach.  The fact that this journey was even a program on television,  boggles my mind.  What is worse is that,  I sat there watching it like a dumb ass.  All I could think of after is all the struggling people she could help with the proceeds of that sale.  I have no way of knowing what Candy Spelling does in terms of giving to causes but,  who needs a 150 million dollars.  Her net worth is approximately 600 million dollars.  Imagine the good that could be done with that type of wealth.

I want to clarify that I have nothing against Candy Spelling personally.  How she came across her fortune and what she does with it is her business.  I just used it as an example of what my blog is trying to assert in its essence as I just viewed the program last night.

It is said that 1% of the population controls the world wealth.  That in itself scares me.  How are we supposed to progress as a society with that economic structure?  It will not change though.  Individuals, Groups and Political Leaders are too damn greedy.  Why do you think AIDS is still around?  It has been showed in studies that we have the capability to abolish the disease worldwide.  We have the technology and the medicine to take on such a huge endeavor.  That would mean however, that the billion dollar profits of pharmaceutical companies would significantly diminish.  How would they make money if a disease was cured?  The greed factor again.  Why fix a problem when you can prolong it and make a shit load of money from it?

I watched on the sports programs this morning that Floyd Mayweather (boxer) is wagering
 $ 3 000 000 on the Michigan Wolverines to cover the 13.5 point spread tonight.  It showed him on his plane,  throwing down stacks of money on a table in preparation for his big bets.  That kind of self indulgence is almost comical.  How is someone in the southern states supposed to feel when they see that?  They are without homes,  cars, jobs, food and belongings and this guy is flaunting his wealth on national television.  Just think how much supplies, shelter and comfort that 3 million could provide.

These are just a few examples of greed in our society.  I would be writing all night if I mentioned all of them.

I am guilty of greed in my own life at times.  Thinking of what I do not have and things that I want.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to build a better life,  I just have to remember the wonderful people that surround us and how fortunate we are.  We struggle sometimes but,  really have so much to be grateful for.  Sometimes simple things are the ones that bring us the most joy.  All I have to do is turn on the news and realize that there are so many people in our world that need help.  I am just trying to say that if that 1% realizes just how much impact they could have on the 99%,  we could start moving in a more positive direction.  I want my nephews to grow up in a world where we can slowly start putting others first and realize that giving of ourselves is the greatest gift of all.

Hope your having a great Labour Day weekend.

Take care,  Shawn.

Get up to watch the sunrise,  its brilliance will amaze you.