Why Is It That If You Make Enough Money to Live Comfortably You Are Greedy

My take. Person who makes a lot of money : Not greedy
Person who makes a lot of money but pays his employees nothing to make even more money: Greedy

Person who takes exorbitant amounts of tax breaks so he can "make more jobs" then adds the extra money to profit instead of making jobs: Greedy

Businesses who make millions in profits but continue to lay off people to make bigger profits: Greedy

I don't begrudge success. It's glutteny that pisses me off. That is one of the dealy sins, afterall. That's how Marie Antionette lost her head. Gorging on all the best life has to offer, while people died of starvation in the street. Conspicous consumption, such as throwing lavish parties, is not the same as living comfortably. If you are blessed, bless others.

Where exactly are you seeing this? My husband makes quite a bit of money and we don't give it all away. No one has ever made me feel greedy about that.

Because it's easier for some people to sit back and try to make others feel guilty for not giving them a handout than it is to be responsible for their own lives and choices. When someone complains how xyz job makes so much money and it's not fair, I say "well then go get that job." Oh - you didn't pay for expensive graduate school and take tons of tests and study all the time when you were a kid? So you can't get that job now? Well - doesn't make the person who did study all the time etc greedy to have the job. And lots of people scrimped and saved to be able to invest and grow their net worth vs buy a new car every 5 years and have the biggest house on the block. Sure, there is greed but overall, capitalism is the best system and rewards innovation and effort and if those rewards weren't there, nothing would get done.

Anyone who makes more than I do is greedy and selfish.
Anyone who makes less than I do is lazy and shiftless.
Whoa - that pretty much takes care of everybody!
Perhaps people just like to complain because they like the sound of their own voice.
If you can place the blame on someone else, you don't have to look yourself in the mirror and say "I guess my own decisions/actions got me where I am today and if I don't like it, only changing what I am doing is going to make a difference.".
Nah, that's not as much fun as kvetching and moaning.

ETA: Please forgive the typos.
ETA2: Is this really S. K? This doesn't read much like her usual questions.

I have been so poor I could not pay rent and had to rely on friends to have somewher to sleep. I have nearly starved to death. I have traded my dignity so I could eat. Just eat.

I am comfortable now. Quite so. And generous too. Without judgment.

Our local homeless shelter has stated that the most generous givers are not that well off - that they're people with average incomes who have "been there." Know why? Because we understand that very, very few people chose everything that led them to that place. Anybody, absolutely anybody, can be broken if enough things -including things outside their control- go wrong. And anyone can fall on hard times.

Moreover, people tend to stay in the social class in which they were born - because contacts and financial advantages (like parents who pay for college, or a car, or a down-payment on a first home) make a difference. Not everyone comes from a middle-class family and it's not because we're lazy, shiftless, stupid, losers, or addicts.

If you have never been poor, you have no idea how difficult it is to get "out" of poverty. It isn't simply a matter of making smart, responsible choices. If it was, there would be very few poor people.

I went to college on scholarship, I had the help of friends who believed in me, I had faith. Lots of people want to use me as "bootstrap" example, but I do not like it. I didn't climb out "up" alone. And frankly, if I hadn't been of above average intelligence - a blessing (or accident, if you will) of birth - there would have been no scholarships, and probably no friends who could provide the kind of assistance I needed (though I'd have had friends who would have tried).

When one is struggling to survive and doing everything one can, yes, it's hard to hear people who are blind to the advantages and blessings they've enjoyed chalk *everything* they have up to their hard work. It's hard to hear them say "I worked hard so I should have to share -ever." Which person is over-entitled? Do they really think the person mopping up the vomit in the nursing home for minimum wage isn't working hard?

I don't think anyone should pay my rent or buy my food, but I am more than willing to help people overcome hard times. If no one was willing, where would I be? I am, in fact, currently supporting a member of my extended family who is going through a hard time. I don't want it to be forever. But who would I be if it was never? Greedy? Maybe not. Selfish? Definitely.

Incidentally, here is some scientific data that may shed light on who behaves in an entitled way. It's not who politicians say it is:
http://educationandclass.com/2012/04/27/social-class-link...

blessings to you,
e

I wasn't going to respond until I read LeeLee's response.

I am sick and tired to read about how horrible Romney is and he doesn't pay his fair share. Oh yes he does and if you can't or won't understand our tax code that is on you. He paid his share and if you think Obama would have done any differently then you are not honest with yourself. Bring back the taxes under Clinton era? Are you kidding me???? I didn't prosper damn near bankrupted us! So don't talk about fair and not fair. Whats not fair is paying into a system that allows illegals access to. What is not fair are people who are abled bodied and don't do anything but suck the life out of those who work. What is not fair is paying into a system that won't be there when I'm ready to retire.

You want fair, lets talk fair. Fair for everyone. Even those who don't pay ANYTHING into the system. I'm all for a flat tax no problem. But EVERYONE needs to have skin in the game.

My husband and I have been successful. No help to the government! Our parents paid for our education, we are paying for our childrens education. Our son has joined the United States Army. We give to our church and to alzheimers. Those are the charities that we give to. I will not feel bad because we are comfortable not rich but comfortable. We worked damn hard.

The bottom line, hell yeah, I wish I was rich! I would be an awesome rich person but I don't think I would be rich for long!!!!

Hi S., I think sometimes we forget that we ALL make our own choices. That is to say, Haves and Havenots alike (and everyone in between) has made CHOICES that have resulted in where they are now.

That is not to suggest the choices we make are EASY, or easy to live with the consequence. Only that they ARE choices after all.

Least that's my take.

:)

Ditto every single thing "yarrmatey ☠" said, especially: "Last time I checked roofers, garbage men, nurses, teachers, etc. work hard and yet they aren't wealthy. If you are a have and you cannot give to a have not then that is a marker of greed."

What I personally don't like is the assumption that if someone has less money than I do, that person must be lazy, undeserving, etc. No one is expecting you to give away 100% of your income, but I would encourage you (not just you, but people in general) to ask bigger questions: What kind of person do I want to be? What kind of example do I want to set for my children? What kind of world do I want them to grow up in? How do I want people to remember me when I pass on?

The answer may surprise you.

Poor people are greedy too! I don't think having money or a privileged life is a prerequisite for being greedy. Actually, I've found it to be quite the opposite. My mother-in-law does very, very well for herself, and she will give anyone anything. This woman doesn't have a greedy bone in her body.

But if you ask my uncle who makes an average income for a quarter for the parking meter, you better have an explanation ready about why you don't have your own quarter, why you need his, and when you're paying it back.

Huh?

ETA: Perhaps the first example you gave was born of frustration of living in poverty while observing the excess. The second example sounds like financial frustration.

Like I replied to the rental post--we live on less than we make. As our income has increased, we are freer to give more.
I don't see how this is political. (Unless you are implying that you buy into the sound byte that liberals (poor) wand the conservatives (rich) to give all of their money to the them. Which is ridiculous and misguided.)

To me, it's simple. If you have a lot and don't share at least some, you're greedy.

We live a middle-income, comfortable life and do our best to donate to friends in need and charity as best we can. If we ever make it "big," one of the things I'd enjoy most is sharing some of the wealth with others. I was raised by parents who are big on volunteering and try to volunteer as much as I can, too. It's about making the world a better place and supporting the community.

People are entitled to their wealth, but when I see obscene purchases of ridiculous cars, jewelry, homes and other excess (well beyond what's needed to live a nice lifestyle), I always think about how many poor or sick people could have been helped with that money instead.

I don't think someone who has money is greedy. I think someone who has disposable income and NEVER helps anyone, is greedy. For that matter, I think ANYONE who never does anything for others, is greedy. (Poor or rich. The poor obviously have to be more creative, since they can't typically just give a lot of money.) I think most people think the same thing. Did you know most donations to churches, charities, homeless shelters (etc.) come from middle class and lower. It's not people with money they couldn't spend in a lifetime helping others, it's people who are already struggling to make it. I find that awesome in one way, that people are that kind...and awful in another, that people are so greedy.

I've been on both sides of this. As of right now, I would say we are comfortable. Yeah, we have debt, but we have a roof over our heads and a car that works well enough (over 10 years old) and I'm able to be SAHM.

But I recall growing up, my family applying for welfare because my father could not find a job in his field and my mother kept getting her hours cut. At some point in time both of my parents worked jobs that were "below" their education, because they had to. We also been very very well off. We lived in the middle east, I attended a boarding school. We bought a house and a car out right for my older sister who could not come with us. We helped friends, people we personally knew and gave to a church back in the States.

I think if you have and can give you should and if you don't have you should not expect a free ride either. Yeah, you may be a Registered Nurse or and Aerospace Engineer, but some times you have to work at Wal-mart or Domino's pizza. Do what you must and be smart about what you make.

Define greedy? My wife does very well and we live very comfortably. We give to no one but our church, does that make us greedy? That is our decision and we have never been guilted into helping out or handing out to anything else.
People choose different places for their money to go. It's all about priorities.

S.:

You are NOT greedy if you live comfortably AND give back or pay it forward. Greed is keeping it ALL to yourself.

I don't know where this is coming from. Is this from another post or is this from the news?

I do NOT expect ANYONE to pay for my way. Nor do my children. We have made this generation an entitlement generation. Parents don't parent their children and want to be their friends instead...kids don't have to EARN their grades anymore. If not - their parents may sue the county for not passing Johnny or bullying him.

Any way - not sure what you are getting at here. Might help if you advise about what spurred this question or statement...giving us clarity.

Who is this *you* you are referring to?

I think people have different ideas regarding living "comfortably". I am sure that some people would think that we are very well-off. We have food enough, medical insurance, a roof that doesn't leak over our heads and clothing on our backs. We do without anything other than our converter box when it comes to television, don't have a lot of gadgets, grow as much of our own food as we can and our car is almost 20 years old and gets 42 mpg. And we make charitable donations regularly, even if they're small. We take maybe two beach trips/vacation trips a year and perhaps fly out to visit relatives cross country every other year. I feel comfortable.

For us, comfortable is living within our means. Some people would not be comfortable with this. I choose to live according to my conscience and keep my 'needs' fairly low.

However, I also think it's safe to say that when people who make millions start to snivel and whine that they are 'giving jobs' to people and so they should be exempt from equitable taxation, I kinda want to throw up. One does not usually 'give' people jobs, one has work which needs to be done and so they hire people. I have friends who run their businesses well, pay a fair wage and do pay a reasonable share of taxes--it's not the small businesspeople who are getting the benefits of the tax breaks that the multi-millionaires receive. For me, I get upset when the head officers of large corporations are raking it in, paying next to nothing, all on the backs of others and aren't willing to ensure fair trade practices and good working conditions for those who are supplying their goods. I get p.o.ed when I see that their workers are not making a living wage but the CEO has a million dollar-plus salary and multiple houses, cars... Then it is time to give back. It's a person's choice not to, to hold onto more money than they or their children could reasonably use in their lives, however, that's not the kind of person *I* can relate to or look up to.

There's a big difference between living a life which takes care of one's simple material needs and family's expenses (medical, education) and living a life of wealth and extravagance on the backs of others while we have a national poverty rate of 15.1 %, (which is 46.2 million people) --it's a bit hard to swallow. I thought Warren Buffet was setting a great example--too bad others wouldn't recognize that this is a time to be the bigger person and follow suit. What the 1% have to give is a small loss to them, but could very well make a huge impact on those at the bottom.

It's like this bumper sticker that I saw "I hate rich people, they have everything and they don't share!" Made my blood boil. I wanted to pull this person over and ask them when have you ever got a job from a poor person or do you even have a job?

I don't understand this thinking that we have penalize the rich and spread the wealth. Especially those who have worked their entire lives to have what they have. It is theirs not yours, mine or anyone else's. They obviously had ambition, something that is missing from those who want to take from the rich. You don't get anything for free in this life. You have to work for what you get. If you give nothing in life, you get nothing out of it. Simple as that.

I don't have much but what I have, I worked for and I'll be d***d if I am forced to give what I have to someone who is too lazy to get it themselves. Again, only referring to those that are truly lazy. I don't mind helping those who help themselves or who are truly in need.

I'm witnessing someone right now being completely greedy and selfish. There's an inheritance coming to about 5 adult children and one of them is putting up a fight because he just found out he's not getting the same as everyone else because a few years back his mom paid his house off ($98,000 worth) as part of his inheritance. He's trying to claim it was a gift that it had nothing to do with his inheritance. Her wishes have been made known and is in the will so he doesn't have a leg to stand on but he is still trying to cry about it and cause issues. Now I'm sorry, that's just plain greed and selfishness if you ask me. So yeah this whole idea/concept frustrates the you know what out of me.

I think there is only 1 question to ask yourself. If you lost it all tonight and had to live on the bare minimum would you be happy? If you say 'yes' to that answer then you are not greedy and selfish. If you say 'no' to that answer you need to do some soul searching.

I think that people who hold that particular view (the view that people who honestly make their money and don't spread the wealth, but live comfortably in it) are "greedy" really are unable to verbalize eloquently what it is that's bothering them. They just don't have the mental or intellectual capacity to explain the emotions they're having, but they also don't understand how business and class work. They're comfortable being perpetual victims, and someone else's wealth or PERCEIVED wealth has absolutely nothing to do with them, but they're so feeling so much self-pity and self-entitlement that they can't see past the nose on their own face.

The fact is that it's another form of being judgmental. Not "making a judgment" but "being judgmental" based off of what they think they know. Unless you live in that person's home and can account for every dime coming in and out of their wallet and credit card, you really have no idea "how" they're living and if it's "comfortably." They just might be living comfortably because they're frugal and invest wisely. They may have been gifted money from generous relatives or have a trust fund. They may be excellent at shopping deals and coupons and simply don't tell the world.

Money is a personal thing. It's just too bad that most people don't keep it private, and that many people think they're entitled to know and judge what goes on in someone else's pocketbook.

There are plenty of greedy people in the world. There are CEO's of big corporations pulling down ridiculous salaries, yet paying the people who actually do the work next to nothing. That is greed. There are people who have good jobs and comfortable lives, partly due to their own hard work, but also partly due to circumstances. They say that everything they have is because they worked hard, but they don't realize that having a college fund, or parents that paid for their first car, or families that gave them large wedding gifts gave them a huge advantage in life, and not everyone is so fortunate to have had those advantages. Some people have learning disabilities, and do not have the same earning potential as others, but that does not make them lazy. It means they have to work very hard for little pay. Some people have worked hard all of their lives, only to lose everything due to recession. It is greedy and selfish not to care about those who are not as fortunate as us. So many children grow up with a sense of entitlement. They feel they deserve the best of everything, and as much of everything as they want, without any regard to anyone else. There is nothing wrong to having a comfortable lifestyle, but please remember to give back and pay it forward. Please teach your children the same thing. Teach your child the value of money, to appreciate the things they have, and to have empathy for those who do not have these things. We live comfortably, but I still buy most things second hand, as a matter of principal. Just because we can afford to buy new things, why should we? The kids get allowance, but they donate a portion of that to charity. The kids and I volunteer for charities. I teach them these things in hope that they will grow up to be better people, and make a difference in this world, instead of believing that the world is all about them.

Because people's definitions of comfortably vary so much.

What I find ironic is all the people grabbing for my money bc we're "rich" makes me want to hold onto it tighter. We're not rich. We don't sit around - I work full time, so does my husband, we don't live in a fancy house etc. But we're comfortable bc of our hard work and frugal ways and all this talk of higher taxes etc just makes me want to save every dime we can because I have no idea what's in store for the future. It makes me defensive that people are actually angry at us bc we're comfortable financially. So all that does is make me hold onto my wallet tighter bc I'm afraid vs greedy.

I agree with LeeLee about the top echelons. But I'll be bi-partisan in bringing up how piss-poor I think it is that Biden gave so LITTLE to charity. And he knew that his tax returns would be seen by the whole world. And STILL couldn't give more to charity? What?

I don't remember the post you mentioned about parties and roaches, so I can't comment on it, except to say that I don't think anyone on THIS site needs to be calling anyone else on this site greedy over their parties for their children. I do think that it is VERY hard on people without means to see decent apartments with high rent. However, it is hard to be a landlord. We have a couple of ladies here who are landlords and it's a tough job.

Dawn

CAPITALISM sucks and is the downfall of our country on ly the haves agree with capitalism....it is greedy if u dont ever give back....i dont know anyone well off that doesnt give back...but it is greedy if u make a lot of money and dont give back a little. but u would really need more details to define greedy and selfish and money....on here everyone is greedy. a poster a while back asked what should there pre teen daughter do for the summer....not one response besides mine even suggested volunteering for a 13 yr old. pathetic.....in the next 20 yrs i can see that NOONE will be giving back regardless of finances and thats sad.
watch Capitalism a love story by micheal moore...u will see how greedy the rich are with their tax breaks, and all....i love that bumper sticker "rich people have everything and dont share" becaue it is true...blue collar workers have paved the way for richies to stay rich and comfy while they are the ones who keep this country running get the shaft and looked down on....sick. college bound kids are no more likely to get a better job then anyone else, thanks to capitalism....regan and his reganomics...lol...how great thou art...not

I grew up on welfare my entire life. I know what it's like to be hungry, sleep on hard floors, live with roaches & rats (not mice).

The word "GREEDY" comes in many classes. I applaud the Romney's for all the charitable contributions that they freely GIVE. While our own Vice President only gives approx $700 a year to charity. My husband & I are not by any means wealthy but we give way more than that to charity every month.

I love working for what I have. I don't want any handouts or handups. I find great satisfaction in what I can do for myself. HOWEVER if I was in absolute dire need of help, I would have absolutely no problem seeking help and I would be the first person to encourage anyone that needs help to seek it and do not feel bad at all. I do not feel bad that my donations or taxes go to help families in need, nor does any Conservative that I know, in fact Conservatives are the most *giving* to charity, doesn't sound so greedy to me.

It doesn't matter how much or how little money you make some one is going to say something about it. "You are greedy because you make to much, you are lazy because you make to little" So if you are rich, poor, or in the middle, its nobodies buisness.
And Elyse E. I can not tell you how much I love your answer!

ETA: You may want to explain more about want you mean by live comfortably. Things are going to be very tight for us for the next 3 yrs (intill the last payment on our bankruptcy is paid). By tight I mean sometimes we don't have the money to pay postage to mail bills and have to borrow a $1 to do so. We don't have cell phones, our tv gets 10 channels, we are sharing a car on its last leg, but none of us our starving, we have a house that is heated in the winter and not to hot in the summer, so I say we are comfortable. Its all how you look at it. Don't get me wrong sometimes I am very frustrated with living from paycheck to paycheck, but I know it will get better and that it could be worse.

I think that a lot of the outrage comes from the fact that wealthy people are not seen as paying their fair share of taxes. It is also hard for someone who is struggling just to get by and feed and clothe their children to hear rants about "class warfare" or see "reality" shows about wealthy people having cat fights or complaining about their supposed hardships while wearing an outfit that costs nearly as much as the average American's yearly salary.

There must be a balance found between providing for oneself and caring for others; I have relatives that are very well of financially (multi-millionaires really) but they are some of the most generous people I know. Yes, they take care of themselves and have some nice things, but they are also very involved in charitable works, not just handing out checks but really getting into the nitty gritty and helping people. They have also adopted AIDS orphans. It is possible to be wealthy and a generous, good person, I wish that more people would behave that way instead of buying yet another overpriced pair of shoes and whining about their mistreatment by the media.

What is really puzzling to me is when middle or lower class people want to stick up for the wealthy, what do they imagine will happen? Do they think that they will be rewarded somehow? I just don’t understand the urgency.

I don’t believe that successful people are greedy, most of them actually give to others often and to be honest, they can’t get poor enough to make other people have more.
Greed to me would be if theyused your wealth to take advantage of others and don’t help others, but you shouldn’t have to apologize for enjoying what you’ve earned or inherited.

My husband and I are fairly comfortable as well but we have never felt like people think we are greedy or our child is entitled. We also don;t like to show off and are making an extra effort so that our LO knows the value of money.................are you referring to the OWS crowds or people you come in contact with on an everyday basis??

I think there is alot of division in this country . . . people are tense and we all know that there are major problems. We just disagree on how to handle them. It's easy to blame others, when the real blame goes to people and entities we will never see or know.

We can't make war for a decade and not feel the pinch here at home. We've gone from pinch to major gash.

Who benefits most from these wars and globalization of trade?

usdebtclock.org

It's so they feel better about themselves.

I don't think people are greedy who are unhappy about people whining. We budget to pay for our things and we get called "wealthy". We make the same as these people who whine to us about not being able to do the things we do. They have things like cable and house phone and internet. We don't we have 10 netflix and 50 internet....that saves us 90 bucks! It is the little things.

I accidently posted this part on another thread lol! But if you can donate more than 700 a month YES you are wealthy in my book lol! That is almost my house payment and would be my car payment and all of our vehicles insurances and our camper lol! Not judging you or jealous...okay maybe a little jealous, but we have a car payment and camper so had we not those we could swing that too lol! Could you mean more than 700 a year?

Actually, I've noticed that someone who does that (Calls someone greedy for having x,y,z), IS the greedy one.

They want what the other person has but is angry for someone else having what they want, or wants to control someone else's financial decisions... That's not sane. A person can be a glutton with NOTHING.

Most of us want things other people have. But it doesn't make the other people bad because they have it. Most of us would make different financial decisions... That's our right AND theirs.

Thinking someone else is greedy = jealousy