Is Greed good or bad... In the United States?

[seager]

I personally think greed is bad, because greed leads to the exploitation of workers in other countries and on a moral note greed cannot be good altruism is morally good not greed.

But, recently I have been hearing a lot of arguments about how greed is good such as:
-increased innovation
-production of cheaper goods
-A larger economic pool
-Better products
-possibly more jobs.
-better more efficient workers (skilled labor)
And finally greed led to the growth of our country as a whole and made us the superpower that we are today.

But I don't like this at all i have always deemed capitalism as bad being a country that focuses on self interest and greed.The only reason we have any rights is because people stood up for themselves by forming labor unions and labor laws etc if none of that had been formed people in the U.S would be treated the same as the exploited factory workers in China. So what are some more arguments for pro greed vs. con greed?

[jabin20]

What is your definition of greed?

Someone earns more money then you, so they must be greedy,,,,it's just another name for class envy or class warfare, which is a favorite democrat political tactic.

See many on the left have decided that profit = greed, and that is wrong, or Corporations are greedy but government is not.

Oh' EXXON must be greedy because they have record profits, but those profits are in line with the cost of oil exploration, so they are not greedy.

Greed is the government wasting our tax dollars and then demanding more.

Now greed is also an excellent modivator, in order to be greedy you must be able to make more money either by having a better product or by making products more efficiently.

There is no greed in the private sector. Greed comes from monopolies, like the government and government labor unions.

Chris Mathews: "Social Security Is A Ponzi Scheme"
http://townhall.com/video/chris-matthews-on-social-security-yep-its-a-ponzi-scheme

BILLIONS Wasted in Bloated and Duplicate Government Programs
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703749504576172942399165436.html

$17 BILLION in Unemployment Fraud
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/03/national/main20076594.shtml

97% of Long Island Railroad Workers Retire on Disability
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/nyregion/21lirr.html?oref=slogin

SS Will Borrow $130 BILLION in 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-01-27-social-security_N.htm?csp=34

Top Campaign Contributors
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?order=A

22 Million in Stimulus Checks Sent to Dead People
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/249200/light-end-tunnel-oncoming-train-douglas-holtz-eakin

Federal Employees Get Paid Double
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/income/2010-08-10-1Afedpay10_ST_N.htm

Federal Employees, More Get 6 Figure Salaries
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-12-10-federal-pay-salaries_N.htm

Federal Wages Eclipse Private Sector
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0624fedsalaries0624.html?&wired

[larry]

Nonsense.

I work because I'm greedy. I want to make the best living I can so I can support my family and enjoy life. I don't do it for the greater good. I work for my good.

You call this greed. I call it self-interest.

So look at it this way. If you are greedy and providing value to others as a way to make money, that's a good thing. If you are greedy and NOT providing value to others as a way to make money, that's bad.

So folks like Steve Jobs should be praised. Folks like Ken Lay of Enron should be held in contempt.

[darce]

Greed is bad, outsourcing work to other countries? Good for the other country, bad for the US. Out sourcing means that people in other countries make wages for jobs which they may not normally have. Unemployment in the US has risen because of NAFTA. As a US citizen I would love to see the end of exploiting other nations for our greedy corporations, to bring back jobs into the United States.

[jerard]

Greed is a necessary aspect for capitolism, just like selflessness is required for communism. You are exactly right in you post. However, greed has become extreme and those who profit from wage earners are not raising their wages although the profiters arw making the greatest profits in many years. This is not the capitolism this nation became so powerful on. So, greed has gone out of control.

[rumford]

Greed is GOOD.

And since you allude to economics in your mentions, let's hear from Economics Professor from George Mason University: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK_-iVppgQs&feature=player_embedded


BTW, you have a lot to learn about free markets if you think a unionless U.S. would lead to a communist China-like work force.

[zackary42]

Republicans think Greed is a virtue
They do think that it is only greed that motivates people .
Which is not true at all.
Jesus said One can not serve two Masters - one can not serve Mammon ( Money ) and God too.

[demarco]

Greed is a sin, so it's bad.

Come on, anybody that knows right from wrong and has any kind of ethics should know that.

.

[cinnard]

Greed is a sin, so it's bad.

Come on, anybody that knows right from wrong and has any kind of ethics should know that.

.

Greed is bad, it is evil. If less people were greedy there would be no homeless people because everyone would have money instead of it all being in the top earners pockets.

[felabeorbt]

There's a difference between greed and striving to succeed. If you want a real look at greed, you need look no further than the halls of washington.