"...greed is not always destructive, while envy is. Greed is the desire to have more and, depending how that desire is acted upon, can be beneficial or detrimental. The profit motive has made the United States the most prosperous nation in history; but, conversely, the abuse of that motive was greatly responsible for the September 2008 financial collapse. When envy, on the other hand, is acted upon, there is no good, only bad. At its worst, it leads to mass theft and murder. But envy does not have to be acted upon to be harmful. Its very nature produces resentment and enmity. Thus, even dormant, the coveting of one's neighbor's belongings is destructive.
Additionally, envy is often disguised as righteous indignation against some perceived iniquity. Lately, that iniquity is most often the putative greed of others. Thus, it is not envy or covetousness that animates the outrage targeted at "the rich"; it is the moral certitude of seeking "fairness." Thinking that at a certain point your neighbor has made enough money and that he must pay his " fair share" just makes things more equal because it " spreads the wealth around." Disguised envy has been the motivation for many a road paved with good intentions.
Covetousness also undergirds the twin pathologies of victimhood and helplessness. Blame of the other is easier than confronting one's own mistakes and bad choices. Blaming the other because his success was supposedly at your expense makes it personal. When it is always someone else's fault, control of one's life is ceded, thereby relegating one to a passive spectator. Things just happen -- good or bad, they just happen.
On a personal level, covetousness and envy usurp any chance at a fulfilling and happy life because one can never be grateful. Life is a constant comparison to others who always appear "better off," with little motivation or desire to better oneself. On a corporate level, when covetousness and envy infect a significant percentage of the populace, the results can be catastrophic.
The envious who are so quick to lament the greed of others generally focus only on one type of greed -- the love of money. However, greed is not limited to money; it manifests in many currencies, including the desire for power. While the love of money can affect the lives of others, its main objective is wealth-accumulation. Material gain is the goal, and, of course, that gain can be at the expense of others, but not always. But the desire for power is always at the expense of others because the goal is to have control over others. There is a big difference between wanting to spend one's own money and seeking the authority to tell others how they should spend theirs.
Real trouble begins when those who crave power gain it by manipulating resentments. It is where greed meets envy -- the structural foundation of the political left..."
americanthinker.com |
