Greed - Avarice,- Society´s Cancer

G.....Grasping or Grabbing all that one gets one´s hands on. Regardless of the needs and welfare of others. We want it, no matter, what or who else has a greater need. R.....Relish usually applied to food but the greedy find relish only in what they can amass in the way of possessions needed or not. E.....Epicure. but really applied in the sense of the word to (Wealth). In this, For the greedy, they desire to possess all of the available wealth in Epic proportions. Leaving None for others. They would not agree that is their desire... E......Edacious usually applied to someone too fond of eating but when used in another sense, it can be applied to a person who accumulates large amounts of wealth resulting in others downfall. Put another way, to the exclusion of others. I attended functions where People took Lots of food at the expense of those behind them and when pointed out to them, answered tough luck. D......Desire to own everything that their eyes settle on. This does include all Power. They have a Burning, and one can say, unhealthy desire to own all wealth and valuables tangible or intangible and to control what is not theirs.

What´s not considered, even, given a second of thought is this, The Ramification of Rampant Greed can and will be society´s demise as we know it. It kills Love. It creates far-reaching and deep distrust. It is an enemy of Relationship. It murders Friendships and creates disruption within Families. Greed destroys the person exercising this trait. Greed, in my opinion, is an element of PURE EVIL. Today this is, likely, the prevalent trait. We now have a society with an ever-growing distinction between the Haves and the Have-Nots. Between Rich and the Poor, Poor is the largest growing sector of modern-day Society. Homelessness may be the fastest-growing segment, especially among our Seniors.

Most people don´t give much thought to "Greed" or the effects of this great evil. We may say of someone who overeats or in some other way indulges that "He/She" is greedy. We all, in some way or another, have succumbed to this malady if only in some small way. We do not consider how our "Greed" can and does affect others. We don't consider the injury our greed causes others. We assume "Greed" only effects ourselves. That is until we see it being used on a large scale by huge conglomerates, International Companies, or other huge groups of visible entities. We may not recognize it even then unless pointed out to us. The greed of Banks for instance with exorbitant and unneeded Fees and charges.

Understanding Greed´s Harm.

The dictionary describes greed as a selfish, grasping desire for all wealth and other valuables. adds Covetousness and Avarice. It says that greed has no concern or care for others affected as long as the desire is satisfied. It also says Greed is being eager to excess for gain, regardless of others needs. This is a very apt description of certain happenings in our Modern world. If we then go to a thesaurus we have other words such as Gluttony, Longing, Coveting, Want and Avarice plus a few other words demonstrating the disease of Greed and how this malady affects others. Phrases such as "It's Good Business", "Market forces are what dictates the prices that we Charge", "You have to look after Number One", and so on. I have overheard other phrases used to deny acts committed are Greed. One must be prepared to examine one's actions in light of how those actions harm others. If our actions cannot meet the light of day, of an examination with a clear conscience then we should rethink what we´re doing. Today there are many forms of "GREED," all used with impunity, with complete disregard for others welfare. To justify the actions we look away. Only ME, after all, counts.

Embroiled with Greed.

A person consumed with the desire to acquire all wealth, sow the seeds of their own unhappiness and Loss of friends. They have no care, nor any concern, for people other than to manipulate them into helping them grab all wealth. The greedy cannot trust anyone. Not even themselves. Today we have many phrases used to cover our greed. Phrases such as "It is the way business is", "This is Business" and "We don't determine Price. Supply and demand are responsible", "Market Forces". and other pieces of conscience silencing Wisdom. All of these sayings are there to salve our lack of Conscience. We have no Concern for lower Income Citizens. Especially as it concerns food and housing. There is an attitude of "If they want a place they'll pay the price. They do not consider whether the folks looking can actually afford to Rent or to Buy at the level being asked and when wages are miles behind rampant inflation (although it is covered up) by whatever ways that can be used to disguise this state. Concealing Wrong does not change Facts. The result is some pay the rent and has nothing for "Food" and. Some purchase Food leaving nothing for Rent and become homeless, having been evicted. We have become an Unchristian, uncaring society. A "ME FIRST" Society. We have no concept what "to love one another means. Indeed, we show no degree of care or concern for our neighbour. We do not Know Who our neighbour is. It is time, we again Found our conscience and listened to it and acted for the good of all.

Another Look

Greed from another perspective. I live in an area where the ability of longtime local residents to buy or rent homes in the Area has been erased. Here I speak of "Vancouver" BC Region. Prices are through the Clouds, kissing the sun. A great number, Born and raised here cannot afford to live here because of factors that could have been easily avoided. There is large "Offshore" ownership, a result of Speculation purchases, with empty units as the product. City Councils that issue Demolition "Permits" to destroy Perfectly good Homes, then issue permits to Build "Over-sized houses on Normal-sized Lots. Not many locals can afford the asking price for these "Monster" homes, as prices outstrip the wages paid locally from trades down to minimum pay. Minimum pay is a joke. We then have "Banks" with fees to withdraw some of your money and also fees to deposit. They charge Fees to cover more and more services provided. One has to pay to buy Checks and then there is a fee to use each Check. also, there are fees for Bank Statements. Fees for using bank Machines. Fees to use your Bank Card to purchase anything retail. Banks also make money on the sums of money deposited into your account. To close your account there is a Fee. For deposits also there is a fee. when an account goes dormant for a period they whittle that account a little at a time, until it is gone. They then try to collect from you for keeping the now empty account. An Account that (THEY'VE) whittled away. Credit unions are not much better. Some time back I received a Bill for a total of $75.00 that I supposedly owed a credit union because an account had gone dormant. An Account I had not opened and one I was not aware of. (The bank had opened it themselves). I got annoyed. Paid them a visit. Demanded they show me how I had incurred this Debt. The account had been opened by them with $20.00 and then they had run it up by taking a couple of dollars a month off the account until it was in the red and kept on going till they had run up $75.00. I pointed out to them that they had no authority to open an account in my name and also that they did not have the right to RUN up debt on my account (Especially one I had No Benefit From). They gave me the $20.00 eliminated the $75.00 Debt they built up for me. Where they Found the $20.00 originally I have no idea. I was never consulted on any part of the transactions.

Culprits of Greed

Then there are credit card companies, charging exorbitant Interest rates. Rates a short time back, not so long ago, were called usury. Some have high Members Fees but also they have Late payment fees that are high and sometimes the late payment is their fault. In this state of being (I call it Economic Slavery), people are complicit in their own enslavement. But we have to factor in the use of High Powered Sales folk and the element of desperation on the part of one taking the credit card. Finally, if payment is held up for a day or two, they increase the already exorbitant interest charges significantly. I put this scenario down to the Fact that Banks want to have all wealth to enslave people. We talk Glibly about How from the rich and so-called powerful we must allow the trickle-down theory to work its piece of magic. (Trickle Down Has NEVER worked). As one old Anglican Priest once put it "The trickle-down Theory Might have Worked Were It Not impeded by The SPONGES at the TOP). We should remember that a river that has gone to a trickle is drying up and the beginning of a drought. Speaking of Sponges, change that to Dams. A river that´s been dammed, the flow of the river is sadly reduced. Life downstream is very radically altered. This also applies upstream. Downstream is much worse off.

Then there are.

Now take "Realtors" and the recent call for The 3000 registered members of the Vancouver Real Estate Board, to protest the (15%) buyers tax imposed for offshore purchases of Real estate in the "Vancouver Region". This is a group that has on a continuous basis claimed that sales made to offshore Purchasers amount to less than 1% of real estate sales. (Question:: [Why would those same Realtors maintain offices in Asian countries and Cities if their case was correct]).] It is my wonder if those same 3000 members of the "Real Estate Board" really want to take issue with the millions of citizens that have been hurt by their actions.

Also in medical

We have the big drug companies who develop drugs or revamp old drugs that have huge markups on the product and will continue to make medicine costly for a lot of our people. This is not just peculiar to Pharmaceuticals but in all areas of medicine. Even with what we have in the way of Government (Universal Health Care) there is a problem for some to afford to buy the medicine prescribed. One of the most important parts of any Health care system is "Dental Care" and this is not covered under the government plans. Left to Insurance companies "Dental" becomes "Prohibitive" for a lot of our People. Especially seniors who are reliant on Government Pensions. We have before the courts a case where a Doctor wants people going to private clinics paying to avoid wait times for treatments. What´s wrong with finding solutions to long wait times rather than bigger profits. Where are the caring Doctors now...

Basic Rights slowly denied.

Basic Rights to Justice is denied to the vast majority of citizens because of the high court costs. The justice "System" has been made too expensive for 70% or the greatest number of citizens. Court Fees are out of range and Lawyers fees make lawyers only affordable to the rich, powerful, and major Corporations. Justice, saying least, denied by costs in many ways to vast numbers of our citizens. My understanding being, that a lawyer charges for his time and a there is then added the cost of paperwork and other fees. Such as phone calls etc. (I could be Completely WRONG in this). But that is how I understand what happens when one gets involved. There is Legal Aid but From what I have Heard The only purpose of a legal aid lawyer is to have the whole thing processed Quickly. I am told this assistance is only available to criminal cases but there again, I cannot be sure.

We are not dealing with "Justice" but with Greed. Greed not only hurts the Greedy but also a myriad of people are affected by it, Innocent people, both Adults, Seniors, and CHILDREN.

Can we reverse this State

Yes, we can but It will take both Efforts on the parts of the People and Concrete action by all levels of the Government. Education, plus Action will work.

What should have been done? In the case of the "Real Estate" and the affordability of Homes? Should have been a complete "BAN" on Absentee Offshore Ownership of Real Estate. A Tax placed on all realtors selling to Offshore Speculators Plus the tax for Offshore absentee Buyers. A tax imposed on all units remaining empty for long periods and that tax should be from the Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Governments. It is my opinion, and I am convicted in this belief, that it is criminal; to have large numbers of empty units, when we have huge numbers of Homeless people, because of the actions of a few Miscreants.

We should follow Past tradition.

In the not too distant past, we had 20% of the people working for the other 80%. Then came the industrial revolution and this was slowly reversed and soon 80% of folks were working for the other 20% and now Even that number has been changed and it could be close to 85% now working for 15%, but a lot of the 85% is kept very largely unemployed. This is not in the interest of the economy but in the interest of Control and that by Fear. When too great a percentage of the workforce is unemployed then the Elite lose Control, also if everyone is employed control is in the hands of the masses, of the people. Real Democracy is and I Quote.- "Government of the People, By the People, For the People". This means that Government should be for the good of "All the People" and of the "Good of Our Environment" to the "Benefit" of All living things (HUMAN; Animal; and Plant) in our oceans and on our land surface. All life is valuable and has great worth. Our Ecosystem NEEDS all of this. We are stewards of our world and we have a mandate to keep it alive.

Other unethical profit Practices

We have forestry Companies who destroy large tracts of Forest in the interest of the bottom line. We have fishing groups and nations that overfish sensitive areas and large mining groups and other industries who pollute rivers and oceans to glean the last Dollar. Thus we have a whole society of uncaring individuals rushing headlong towards their own doom and the doom of many not associated with the industry or even close to. We also have to include the damage and harm caused by these self-serving, uncaring acts. We have our sewage being emptied into the sea from our cities without the benefit of a very complete treatment system that is Biologically designed to fully disarm that sewage and make it safe. I know that the technology is available to do this. This means that all countries have to work together to speed the cleanup process. If we all are really prepared to work together and to work Diligently towards a better and more healthy, happy world for the good of all living things. Includes, Human, Plant and Animal. All wild-Life. This can, with determination and concerted effort be fully achieved. The proof is in the Pudding.

Governments Role.

The government must develop the ability and the skill to listen and to perform in the interest of the Good of all. They must attain the strength of Will. We must start now with Education and Action on an equal scale. We need a very special someone with the Balls to face the World and challenge it to improve in the way that we know it can. Who shall we Send? Who can we call to take the lead? There are many voices that are loud and clear on this matter. People who are taking parts and attempting to build a much better future. Listen to them. Join all Ideas Together to improve our life and be part of God's plan... Our children and our Children´s Children require it.

A hard destructive Master.

We must always keep in mind this point., Remember always that Money and Wealth are great Good Servants, but Hard demanding Task Masters. It is always wise to Keep in mind that silence sometimes is Golden and of diamond quality, But there are other times when it is just plain Yellow and Cowardly. We must exercise our voices for the improvement of life, of the environment and of Justice. For the good and Betterment of Society and the Ecosystem. But should not keep our tongues still when unnecessary, unjust, harm is done to others. It is always the sign of good and fair wisdom to listen at least twice as much as we speak. But also when our words are few. Prudence and wisdom. is in the art of good Persuasion. When persuasion fails, then we must DEMAND!!!

We must exchange the society where reigns "Greed" to one of caring for sharing and Love. A World where everyone is counted of Value. Only when we bring Love, Faith, and Hope to the mix will we have the society we need and should be striving for with all our strength to bring about. A world where all living creatures and things count and their Value is Recognized. We must be love and we must demonstrate love. And we will have returned to us more than we give. Try to have Five minutes of Concern and Love of our peoples and our Earth each day. Just Five Minutes of being Holy.