Ed has a blog post about the recession that has been making me think lately. In it there is a claim that the economy fuels human suffering, and that we would be better off if we "democratize property in some way". Is there really a system that can raise us all up from utter misery other than unfettered greed? To answer this, I summon the spirit of Milton Friedman...

I don't necessarily think that greed is good; rather I think what is good is giving people the power to decide for themselves what is good for them, whether it be amassing billions, or living in a yurt and making a living selling wild berries. A lack of personal possessions has been a personal ideal for me. After all, a wise man said, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." Of course, lusting after a new car shows that I'm not in the least bit perfect. Perhaps though, in these tough times, it behooves those of us who have, to be more generous to those who have not.

I guess if you buy your own car with the money you justly worked hard for then it is not greed. but if you wanted to buy a car and found ways to try to get money from other people to buy it, then that would be greed. Greed comes from the intent not the purchase. Or so I think.

This thread is closed. Threads are automatically closed after 14 days.