Power and Greed

Power and Greed.  These two things have shaped the course of our existence for centuries.

The thirst for power has always been evident if we look back on our history.  Countries wanting to have power over other countries leading to war and devastation.  Kings and Queens wanting to have power and control over their kingdoms and the people that live within them with very little thought or empathy for the common man or woman.  Emperors insistent on spreading their glory throughout the lands simply to show they can, demonstrating their power over others, not considering the destruction they leave in their paths.  Presidents and Prime Ministers wielding power over the people that they serve, concerned mostly with their own agendas.  Politicians vying for power within the political landscape amongst themselves and other parties, very rarely considering working together to create action and policies that would be beneficial to all people, not just the few.  CEO's craving the strength and reverence of their positions and caring little about the people that work so hard to every day to make their company what it is.  

Greed has always been a part of our world.  Look at the financial disparity globally.  First world nations taking advantage of other nations to make their goods at a cheaper price.  Not considering the human beings that break their backs with blood, sweat and tears all to make sure the bottom line is good and that stocks rise.  The notion that more is better.  The 1 per cent indulging in the pursuit of material things.  Bigger houses, nicer cars, more fur coats, more vacation homes.  Always wanting to squeeze as much as they can from those that serve them and the people that were trodden over to build their empires.  I can remember growing up watching the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.  Show such as that engrained in our nature to falsely believe that the key to happiness in life was to own more, to buy more and that dollars and cents should be the only barometer to the success of a person..

Power and Greed have driven our world for so long.  It is not until we can truly take a look at their impacts on us and own the fact of how much they control our daily lives.  There must be a shift in to our thinking as a humanity to make it more about how each person on earth can make a better life for themselves and their families and not just a sliver of our population.  Leading a country, a constituency or a company should be a privilege, not a right to belittle and ignore the plight of the average person.  There is nothing wrong with wanting a better life and to strive for prosperity.  I am not saying we should not strive for this in our lives.  But we cannot lose site along the way of what really matters in life and how our own actions directly and indirectly affect our fellow man.  When I look at the amount of money some of the richest men and women on earth possess,  I no longer look at them with envy.   I have learned through my own journey that there are so much more important and impactful ways to validate our existence.  All I see when I look at that wealth is how much good could be done in the world with it and at what cost to individual lives, health and the environment was that wealth built upon.  

I do not have the answers.  I am just an average person sharing my opinion.  But I think it is important that we all take a look at ourselves and how we can make positive changes in this world and put less importance on power and greed as we move forward.

Take care,  Shawn

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

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