[opendtv] Re: Definition of Greed
- From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 20:57:21 -0700
The desire for wealth isn't a major driver in innovation?
Dan;
And, having savings isn't 'exceeding' one's costs?
Isn't an "inventor" one who possesses or seeks to posses a patent? Isn't
that a deed that permits one to extract "monopoly rents?"
I don't like the word greed. I blanched when I read - and saw, in the movie
"Wall Street" the "greed is good" quote (transmogrified from the original).
However, I am not completely opposed to the writings of Ayn Rand. She laid
it bare.
The context was that "GM is greedy" and engages in a "conflict of" (an
unstated) "interest." by having an open interest in XM.
Since savings or retirement, or loose change, exceeds one's needs, it is
"excessive." I am opposed to "from each according to his abilities (or lack
of same) and to each according to his needs."
I am in favor of free markets and free people. It tends to limit the
excesses.
John Willkie
_____
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de dan.grimes@xxxxxxxx
Enviado el: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 10:58 AM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Definition of Greed
John Willkie:
"And, note that "savings" or "retirement" isn't an actual cost: it's pure
'greed.'
"Come to think of it, aren't you retired nowadays? The greed! The greed!
....
"Without greed, or the seeking of greed, there would be little innovation,
and no progress."
I find your use of the word "greed" to be quite incorrect both on a literary
and philosophical level. The dictionary uses the key word "excessive" to
describe the acquisition of wealth.
It disappoints me when people use positive words in a bad connotation (such
as your use of "savings") and bad words as good (such as your use of
"greed").
And I certainly would disagree that greed is the sole or even major drive in
innovation. However, it may be a major drive of those that bring innovation
or invention to the market. I would argue that there is a great disconnect
between the inventor/innovator and the person that uses the innovation to
make money.
If someone were to purport that the majority of the large businesses today
are driven by greedy people, I would not disagree with them.
Dan Grimes
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