- Zack K
- Arvada, CO
- United States
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How do we as a people overcome greed
I think that the reason for all the problems in this world arise from greed. So how then do we stop it.
How do you stop greed in government
As a society do we encourage greed?
Topics:
Greed future solutions goverment society
James Kindler 20+
Mary M. 100+
"It is only by spending oneself that one becomes rich."
And also: "There are those who are so poor,
so poor,
so poor,
that the only thing they have........
is their money."
Greedines comes back and bites you. People, are very short sighted, and do not see what an undesirable human trait it is. Still, we can and should help othes to see the value of being giving persons.
I think many of us on TED are just of that kind. We are not greedy with our thoughts or ideas. We freely share them and then spread them around our communities worldwide.
Be Well James.
James Kindler 20+
Manue M 10+
I also find this to be true: the more you give, the more you get in return. And I am not necessarily talking about goods or money here.
I try to explain the way advertising works to my kids. I explain to them how it makes them want things they don't need. And they are very good at understanding that. They are good at making their own toys, and good at sharing. I think education is a good way to overcome greed.
Mary M. 100+
How true Manue. Let me just add, that even with all the cheap goods that have come into
this country....and sold at $1 stores, we can be fooled into thinking that it's ok to just spend a
$1 since this is not much.
I also explain and teach my children that advertising of any kind......buy one get one 1/2 off....buy one get one free......New and Improved....is all meant to make you buy buy buy buy buy......and there is only so much a human can use at any one time..
My daughter has a friend who buys a pair of shoes "every" week...She is greedy with her desire for diversity in footwear yes??? Well, my daughter gets a "kick", pardon the pun, out of looking down at her friends feet each time they see each other.
The obsession is huge....at the expense of her parents, who are not wealthy individuals. Others who see this, have started to also want to copy this style. So greed for shoes.......can then have a domino effect on others.....jealousy, envy, obsession and so on.
Greed is very undesirable.
Yes, when we are dead, we cannot take anything with us. It is the relationships we form and the experiences we have, and the good we do to others and for others that make our brief existence on this planet worth living.......you are so right my friend.
Be Well Manue.
Zared Schwartz
Mary M. 100+
Does this mean that it has been greed that has driven every single humanitarian act we have seen on earth thus far?.................the doctors without borders, and engineers without borders, those that go and excavate humans out of the ruble caused by natural disasters, and those who work in soup kitchens, and those who labor for habitat for humanity and the missionaries who forgo their own comfort to take the good news to those living all over the world????
Please explain yourself.....because I happen to disagree with you.
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Zack K
Would anyone that isn't already
partaking in meditation and the eight-fold path
consider it.
Plus, I'm pretty sure if people truly followed
most religions or philosophies we wouldn't have this
problem in the first place.
Also, what Siddhartha Gautama "found" is a lot
easier said then done
Mike Euverman
Are you ignoring greed over territory and land? Ignoring the wealth that the Vatican has? Ignoring the superiority complex where their god is better or the "true" god, while everyone else is wrong? Ignoring how many people are killed in the name of god? Ignoring how people refuse to take responsibility for their actions, because either god will forgive them, or because they believe the world has an expiration stamped on it by god? Ignoring how people only do good because they're being rewarded, and therefore can't comprehend how an atheist would ever do something good? I'm sorry, but religion does not have a monopoly on morality.
If we want to combat greed, then people need to stop discriminating and forcing others to fit into predetermined categories. Stop rewarding people for being greedy, and stop basing someones self worth off of their networth. Stop basing the value of someones opinion either off of the degrees that they have, or have off the money that they've earned. The more that people understand that we're all the same, the more that they're willing to share with others.
Mary M. 100+
I got something totally different from reading Zack's comment. He says, and I quote:
"if people truly followed
most religions or philosophies"
then we wouldn't have greed. And I will have to say I totally agree with him. I cannot speak for any faith based system except for the ones that follow holy scriptures. But it is truth.....if people who "claimed" to be practicers of their religions followed what the scriptures mentioned, there would be less greed in the world. Just look at the principles found in scriptures:
--we should not be greedy for dishonest gain.
--Do not be misled....greedy persons will not inherit God's kingdom....
--Quit mixing in company of those who are greedy
--Let....every sort of greediness not even be mentioned among you.
--There is more happiness in giving than in receiving
Selfishness and greed, although innate in most of us, can and should be kept in check. The desires of the eyes is what gets alot of people in trouble.....They desire what the see....even if it belongs to others.
I loved your expression "stop basing someones self worth off of their networth"....I have heard it before and it is true. Partly, greed is attractive, because those who are greedy and gain much are admired by others.....so the greed is fed, and desirable....isn't this horrible??
Yes, also, I agree, we are all the same, and we should be willing to share with others.
I'll share what happened in a grocery store this past weekend. An elderly gentleman purchase already prepared food...he was frail and tiny in size....when the time came to pay, the bill came to $8.55 and he only had $5.00. He had even asked the attendant he did not want the entire allotment of food that came with the meal. Well, he still got charged the whole amount. A kind family behind him payed the difference. The cashier later commented how she worked with the elderly, yet she was not moved to help this elderly person. Greed..let's eliminate it!
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Mary M. 100+
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Mary M. 100+
First YOU have to realize you have the problem......then YOU have to take the steps to remediate it.
Zack K
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Mary M. 100+
Being kicked in the ego can be a life changing experience.
This is my personal opinion of course