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>Greed is perceived in a good light in the USA. Yeah! That's why Martin Shkrelli was so admired as a national hero in the U.S. ...right? I can't think of a s

by serf 7y ago

>Greed is perceived in a good light in the USA. Yeah! That's why Martin Shkrelli was so admired as a national hero in the U.S. ...right? I can't think of a single place on this planet where greed is admired, unless you want to over-generalize and lump in general capitalism and entrepreneurship -- but I think that the effort to over-define greed into any and all wealth accumulation is missing the actual point behind the concept of greed itself.

rossdavidh 7y ago
Lots of downvotes, but this comment is essentially correct. I have never seen an American business mag lionize an executive for their "greed", for example. Innovation, vision, boldness, etc. etc. It may all be B.S., but it's not saying "this executive, he's so greedy, isn't that great?!" Greed is not perceived as negatively in the U.S. as in, for example, Japan, but it is not, here or anywhere I am aware of, perceived "in a good light". When you want to suck up to an executive in the U.S., you don't commend them on how "greedy" they are, because (in the U.S. like anywhere else), that's an insult.
- TheOtherHobbes 7y ago
  Naked greed is perceived badly, because it's frankly rather lower class. But cut-throat monopolistic market domination, gaming, and consumer/employee abuse - that's just sound business ethics.
- whyhow 7y ago
  I think what you are missing is that "greed" is in the eye of the beholder. Of course a business magazine never worships the "greed" of a great businessperson, but they do worship a person's ability to make huge deals. America definitely worships actions that many would consider to fall under the "greed" term, even if you don't. A great example is that Donald Trump's main qualification for being President was his wealth and business acumen. I think half the country would consider him a poster child for "greed" while the other half think his actions fit in on a resume.

by serf 7y ago

rossdavidh 7y ago

Lots of downvotes, but this comment is essentially correct. I have never seen an American business mag lionize an executive for their "greed", for example. Innovation, vision, boldness, etc. etc. It may all be B.S., but it's not saying "this executive, he's so greedy, isn't that great?!" Greed is not perceived as negatively in the U.S. as in, for example, Japan, but it is not, here or anywhere I am aware of, perceived "in a good light". When you want to suck up to an executive in the U.S., you don't commend them on how "greedy" they are, because (in the U.S. like anywhere else), that's an insult.

TheOtherHobbes 7y ago
Naked greed is perceived badly, because it's frankly rather lower class. But cut-throat monopolistic market domination, gaming, and consumer/employee abuse - that's just sound business ethics.
whyhow 7y ago
I think what you are missing is that "greed" is in the eye of the beholder. Of course a business magazine never worships the "greed" of a great businessperson, but they do worship a person's ability to make huge deals. America definitely worships actions that many would consider to fall under the "greed" term, even if you don't. A great example is that Donald Trump's main qualification for being President was his wealth and business acumen. I think half the country would consider him a poster child for "greed" while the other half think his actions fit in on a resume.