The Sneaky Greed: An Uneradicated Behavior

By Bamigbade M.R.

Every human being in this world has a natural way of competing aggressively with one another; whether during their youth or when we are progressing in age. In fact, the idea never completely dies in us, but it is minimized as age takes its toll on us. As time passes, we later reveal our competitive edge either openly or secretly, while not wanting people to know what we are going to do amongst our playmates, companions, friends and even our neighbors.
Furthermore, we hide our competitive mood despite our looking forward to using it to acquire our goal. Yet, we do not allow anybody, including our parents, to convince us to cease from achieving our competitive advantage. Although our desire for advantage may be rudimentary in our minds; we still always strive to achieve it by all means possible. As it is yet burning in our minds, discouraging pieces of advice from rivals are persuading us to step aside. Be it so, all that we are thinking about is to keep persevering in our competiveness, and not to give up as we are sensing that opportunity is the momentum for competing successfully.
Immediately, as we are tuned to market competition, we stick to it and remain firm so as remain in business. As we are prospering in the market, we quickly set our minds on how to maximize the profit on our products. Since our aim is to keep on maximizing profit, we do not encourage any other firm with a similar product to compete close to our location. The point of view is that selfishness on our part has caused us to think that a firm has the power to monopolize market competition. Thus, to prevent an unfair monopoly government establishes regulations to protect and control deceitful marketing tactics.
On the other hand, displaying avariciousness is not an abnormal trait, but one that is naturally embedded in us. However, this natural characteristic can get to the point where it surfaces and becomes observable by others. Although human beings may use a common technique to obtain profits for themselves, we criticize those who do so when it leads to excess. Avarice is displayed in everybody when we see valuable materials at our disposal and our eyes become affixed to them and we grab them like a hungry dog that cannot eat moderately; but tries to consume everything within its reach while leaving some small portion for any other dog that is just as hungry. Hence, it behooves us to remind ourselves that the live and let live scenario makes life worthy living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493160945

Book preview

THE SNEAKY

GREED

AN UNERADICATED BEHAVIOR

Written by:

M.R. Bamigbade

Copyright © 2014 by M.R. Bamigbade.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014900332

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4931-6093-8

                 Softcover      978-1-4931-6092-1

                 eBook            978-1-4931-6094-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 01/16/2014

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CONTENTS

A.   Dedication

B.   Why I Wrote The Book

C.   Acknowledgements

D.   About The Author

E.   Introduction

1.   The Beginning Of Greed

2.   Efect Of An Observed Commotion Among Three Brothers

3.   Impact On Debate

4.   Unaware Greed Part I

5.   Unaware Greed Part Ii

6.   Effect On Some Religions

7.   Effect On Nothing Is Enough In Politics

8.   Corollary On Achievement

9.   Corollary On Human Behavior

10.   Corollary On Picking Fruits On The Farm

11.   Upshot On Eating

12.   Effect On Mountain Climbers

13.   Sequence On Explorer

14.   Effect On Food Stamps Or Coupons’ Collector

15.   Effect On Shiftless People

16.   Impact On Two Dogs Named Taiwo And Kehinde Seeking Food To Eat

17.   Effect On Fornication

18.   Impact On Domination

19.   Effect On Together Friends’ Conversation

20.   Scheduling Of Patients’ Appointment Impact

21.   Effect On Grabby Hand

22.   Impact On Public Entitlement

23.   Effect On Hierarchy Position

24.   Me, Me, Me Effect

25.   Impact On A Member Of A Political Organization

26.   Effect On The Kickback

27.   Land Acquisition Impact

28.   Effect On Entertainer

29.   Effect Of Not Being Satisfied

30.   Effect On Money To Foster Improvement

31.   Impact On Illegal Drug Addiction

32.   Impact On Person Who Is Taken As Or Who Takes Hostage

33.   Impact On Consumer’s Purchasing Power

34.   Effect On Participant In Decathlon Contest

35.   Effect On Renowned Sportsman

36.   Impact On Gala Dance

37.   Effect On Business Diversification

38.   Impact On Commodity Shortages

39.   Senatorial Impact

40.   Effect On Illegal Aliens

41.   Effect On Wellness

42.   Impact On Divorce Challenge

43.   Impact On Specialized Store

44.   Impact On Pharmaceutical Industry

45.   Impact On Certain Colonial Trade Competition

46.   Effect On Corruption

47.   Impact On The Rich

48.   Effect On Trust

49.   Gambler’s Sequel

50.   Impact On A Game: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

51.   Impact On Greed Derivative

52.   Effect On Credit Card Use

53.   Suggestions

54.   Conclusion

55.   Endnotes

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the people who have a passion for others, and whose individual convictions focus on the belief of a live and let live philosophy who can also contribute their progressive visions coupled with innovative ideas that would benefit the needy 99% (middle class and haves and have-nots) of people.

It is also directed to people whose beliefs have rejected excessive avariciousness in acquiring wealth, and this should not be attributed to being lazy or unable to work hard, or bestowing on those that are too weak to climb the economic ladder due to their always being economically blocked by the 1% (very rich) people who are preventing the 99% from achieving economic self-sufficiency.

This dedication also embraces those inhabitants who relate to the belief that all human beings are equally born but not equally talented, and believe that to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots the most feasible thing would be wealth sharing.

WHY I WROTE THE BOOK

For many years, there has always been a disparity in the wealth acquisition and distribution between the rich and poor. It appears that the gap between the two classes cannot yet be truncated, making the contention become an on-going class warfare struggle.

In the 21st century there are two similar named factions that surfaced that are called the one percent versus the ninety-nine percent. The one percent group is considered to be the millionaires; while the ninety-nine percent consists of the poor and middle class who are always noted for their frequent economic consumption. It then seems to us that there is no immediate solution to the economic disparity between the two classes, especially when there is either an economic recession or depression.

As we all aware we are equally born, but not equally talented. Consequently, it creates a mindset for every human being to wonder why the statement becomes the main focus today. However, many people view its interpretation as a myth. For those who believe in a pure capitalist system as opposed to the pure socialist doctrine that encroaches upon the system of private property and free enterprise through state action. Socialism condemns one man having his many millions while his neighbor has nothing as being unacceptable, but on the other hand, capitalisism prefers for the millionaires to redistribute their wealth so that everybody will have an opportunity to earn his own share, provided he is not lazy. But what about the people who are born weak? They must survive too, but they can only do so if the one percent people are not too greedy hoarding wealth at the expense of ninety-nine percent of the people.

Back to the above statement, although we not its truth, in reality we acknowledge that equality can never be maintained for long because of the uneven distribution of wealth that occasionally surfaces when the economy is at an upturn or downturn. As a result, we can only try to constantly disallow the wealthy group from dominating the market for profit realization, without being curtailed. Consequently, disseminating wealth redistribution would be a genuine concept that would curb the covetousness of the filthy rich class of people.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to my wife Brenda and her two sons, Graig and Kirk for their wholehearted support of me while they tried to help mold my ideas into writing this book.

My further appreciation goes to my wife’s granddaughter Kira and her great grandson, Travis, for their remarkable quiet composure when they visited, as they observed me writing. Both displayed no attitude of disturbance around me, especially when they stepped into my studying room.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Moradeyo Raheem Bamigbade was born in Fiditi, Oyo State Nigeria. He attended elementary Baptist Day School, where he graduated in 1955. Then he taught at Ansaruden Elementary School in 1956. Later, he attended Fiditi Grammar School and graduated in 1963.

He worked at the Ministry of Works and Survey for four years in Lagos, before leaving for France in 1967 to study the language. In 1968, he moved to New York City, where he studied at the RCA (Radio Corporation of America) technical trade school in New York City.

He gained admission to Pace University in 1970, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1973. Mr. Bamigbade has a dual Masters Degree from Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus), the first, a Master of Business Administration in 1974, and in 1985 he received his Masters Degree in Economics from Fordham University (Bronx Campus) New York City.

He went on to work for the Health and Hospitals Corporation in New York City at their head office in 1981 as an Assistant Systems Analyst. He then transferred to the Harlem Hospital Center as a Systems Analyst, later he became a Coordinating Manager.

Due to a budget crisis, he left to work for the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) of the City of New York as an Administrative Staff Analyst where he retired in October, 2009.

Bamigbade is also the author of The Circle of Corruption (The Deterioration of An African City).

INTRODUCTION

Every human being in this world has a natural way of competing aggressively with one another; whether during their youth or when we are progressing in age. In fact, the idea never completely dies in us, but it is minimized as age takes its toll on us. As time passes, we later reveal our competitive edge either openly or secretly, while not wanting people to know what we are going to do amongst our playmates, companions, friends and even our neighbors.

Furthermore, we hide our competitive mood despite our looking forward to using it to acquire our goal. Yet, we do not allow anybody, including our parents, to convince us to cease from achieving our competitive advantage. Although our desire for advantage may be rudimentary in our minds; we still always strive to achieve it by all means possible. As it is yet burning in our minds, discouraging pieces of advice from rivals are persuading us to step aside. Be it so, all that we are thinking about is to keep persevering in our competiveness, and not to give up as we are sensing that opportunity is the momentum for competing successfully.

Immediately, as we are tuned to market competition, we stick to it and remain firm so as remain in business. As we are prospering in the market, we quickly set our minds on how to maximize the profit on our products. Since our aim is to keep on maximizing profit, we do not encourage any other firm with a similar product to compete close to our location. The point of view is that selfishness on our part has caused us to think that a firm has the power to monopolize market competition. Thus, to prevent an unfair monopoly government establishes regulations to protect and control deceitful marketing tactics.

On the other hand, displaying avariciousness is not an abnormal trait, but one that is naturally embedded in us. However, this natural characteristic can get to the point where it surfaces and becomes observable by others. Although human beings may use a common technique to obtain profits for themselves, we criticize those who do so when it leads to excess. Avarice is displayed in everybody when we see valuable materials at our disposal and our eyes become affixed to them and we grab them like a hungry dog that cannot eat moderately; but tries to consume everything within its reach while leaving some small portion for any other dog that is just as hungry. Hence, it behooves us to remind ourselves that the live and let live scenario makes life worthy living.

THE BEGINNING OF GREED

The instinct of greed finds its beginning the moment the fetus first develops in the mother’s womb, from the moment of conception where she is unaware of the new life within her until the baby is delivered during labor. Throughout the nine months she is carrying the young child, the fetus is slowly and steadily developing.

While we may not know if it is a boy or girl until the doctor identifies its gender during an ultrasound, it is nevertheless developing into an identifiable human being. As its development continues, the unborn baby begins to feel the effect of the nutrients it receives from the food the mother is consuming. This process continues for the next nine months until it is time for delivery. The baby comes into the world crying and feeling the unrecognized hands trying to touch and hold him without any knowledge or ability to distinguish whether the hand belongs to his mother or the doctor.

Periodically, the crying of the baby coupled with the opening of its mouth signifies that it wants something. Following the fulfillment of his demand for nourishment, the child stops its crying that resulted from its stomach being empty. For the infant, the food needs to be given in the form of a liquid because it cannot and does not have the ability to digest solid food at this stage of its development. As we watch its reaction the first time it receives liquid food in its mouth, right away the baby begins demonstrating a quick sucking, making us aware that any other baby that might be around him would not be able to share it with him. It also implies that the liquid food is for him alone and nobody else. At this point, he has developed adequately. Later, the baby’s fast food sucking of liquids abates and sleep overcomes him as he is safely in the hands of his mother.

As the child continues to develop he begins crawling and from time to time he will observe an object his eyes recognize. He makes an attempt to grab the object and either put it in his mouth or tear and rough it up, affirming to any would-be competitor that they will not be permitted to play with his coveted object unless his mother provides a more attractive object for the second baby. Similarly, when two babies are put together in the living room