Greed
By Peter LloydThis is the third in a series of Right Brain Workouts devoted to the Seven Creative Juices. Using the Seven Deadly Sins as my starting point, I've audaciously re-positioned them as the natural forces that drive creativity, innovation, invention, the arts, and human progress. Today we meet Greed.
Hey, over here. Look at this. Who am I? I'm just what you need. That's right, I'm Greed.
I'm the greatest force behind capitalism. I make the economy go. That's because I make inventors and designers and artists and writers work. Hey, if nobody wants stuff, nobody buys stuff. So why create, innovate, or make anything? Know what I mean?
Now, the Buddhists say people get me mixed up with happiness. Did I say anything about happiness? Naw, I'm just stuff.
Don't mix stuff up with happiness. Economists have measured this in studies. They found out that you need the basic stuff to be happy--food, clothing, shelter--but after that, stuff don't make nobody happy. No way!
You wanna live in a cave? Of course, not. You want a roof over your head, right? Well, I inspire architects, builders, and construction workers--not just to make houses, but to design and build better houses. And when lots of these folks are trying to build better houses, they have to innovate.
You wanna walk to work? No way. You want a decent set of wheels. Same thing goes for houses that goes for wheels, computers, cell phones--you name it. Seriously, would anybody make beautiful clothes, your great artistic masterpieces, and all that good stuff, if nobody bought it?
Let's face it, I'm good for you, and for commerce, industry, service, science, education... Am I right?
Let me ask you this. What's the world's most popular pastime? Watching TV. Right? Okay, what's TV but commercials, with some so-called entertainment thrown in, so you'll be there for the commercials?
Oh, excuse me. You watch public television. Right. How long do you think it's gonna be before they got real commercials? Get outa here.
You ever buy a lottery ticket? Come on. Admit it. You know how fantastic you feel just dreaming about winning.
Face it. You can't live without me. I'm good for you. Would I lie? You want capitalism, you need me.
Just try me. Whataya got to lose? I'm tellin you, if you don't have Greed, you don't want anything, and you end up with nothing.
Read all Seven Creative Juices: Pride, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Envy, Anger, and Sloth.
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