The curse of greed seems to be surging ahead as if astride the wings of the galloping Greek mythical horse, Pegasus, despite a worldwide pandemic. Everywhere one turns nowadays, there is another example of its ugly head yet again, boldly glaring at us in the face. It appears as though the world is being engulfed by two pandemics simultaneously, one inflicting anguish on the human body, the other crippling the mind, both destroying the soul of mankind.
“The point is ladies and gentlemen that greed, for the lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and catches the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge, has marked the upward surge of mankind, and greed [pause] you mark my words [pause] will not only save Teldar Paper but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA,” the now famously quoted words of Gordon Gekko, a corporate raider, played by Michael Douglas in the 1987 film, Wall Street.
The last generation in the annals of time (30 years) has apparently taken Gekko’s lines as the mantra in life and pursued those ideals to the ends of the earth. The hounding of material wealth in all its forms; palatial estates on all continents, private islands, Lear jets, fleets of exotic cars, burgeoning collections of art, large details of personal bodyguards, memberships at elite golf and country clubs, have become the order of the day. Jostling and conniving at all costs to ensure that their names remain on such lists as Forbes 400 are also par for the course.
This blooming list of wealth gatherers extends from individuals, corporations, and most sadly, to government officials, those elected to serve their country, who instead seize the opportunity to serve their self-interests and those of their families and their cronies. Why is the infliction of greed on the human mind and spirit so maddening? Once ensnared in its vice-like grip, its victims – now enchained by the trappings of wealth – have no means of escape back to a life of balance. The more wealth they acquire, the more they become consumed by the lure to acquire further riches.
How fast is the gap widening between the super wealthy and the middle class – the fabric of any society? Examining the numbers from the Federal Reserve Board reveals a rather dismal picture. As of October 18, 2021, the collective net worth of the 745 billionaires in the USA had skyrocketed to US$5 trillion, having grown by 70 percent during the pandemic. Meanwhile the bottom 50 percent of American households collectively could only muster two-thirds of that sum, as the pandemic devastated their lives, leaving 89 million without jobs and making 44.9 million sick. When will the base of the wealth triangle stop extending?
To what end does the assimilation of wealth serve? Fulfillment of ego? The late Bob Marley pondered the question in his song Zion Express: “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul; Wisdom is better than silver or gold”. Those of us blessed or destined to earn extravagant sums must also bear in mind that with the acquisition of such wealth comes inherent responsibility to assist those not quite as fortunate. If it is left to the next generation, they will most likely plunder it with wanton haste and glee. Or, it could very well remain unknown and unclaimed in a numbered offshore account.
Here in Guyana, we witness the same lure. The unquenchable thirst to control, driven by an insatiable greed, which knows no limit. No amount of wealth acquisition will satiate this want pursued by those who are seemingly oblivious to the existence of everyone or everything else. In their greed, they are driven by an uncontrollable maddening force to be the richest persons in the country.
At the age of 32, Alexander the Great lay on his death bed having conquered half the world. He knew that he wouldn’t make it home to see his mother again, and therefore made three simple requests of his loyal generals: that his surgeons bear his coffin to his final resting place; that the way be strewn with all the riches he had acquired in his conquests; and that his hands be left outside of the coffin.
Those consumed by greed would do well to remember one small fact: we come into this world with nothing and we leave with nothing.
