need vs. greed

Need and greed. Both words rhyme, yet each word has such a distinct different meaning from one another.

Imagine if we could interchange these words.

I wonder how the American automakers would be faring right now if they had looked at the NEEDS of America and built cars which actually had a lifetime of more than three years. If they built cars which had better mileage, used technologies other than fossil fuel, and were more environmentally friendly. I wonder if when we had the first oil embargo during the Carter administration, the American Automakers sat together and said we must become less reliant on foreign oil, so we must use our American ingenuity and develop cars which will satisfy the state of current events, and lead us into the future. But then not selling new cars every third year, not building cars which would break down, building cars to help the oil companies make a better profit, were really the success of GREED.

I wonder how many Politicians ever sit down and ask, what do my constituents NEED. How can we create a health plan which is cost efficient, actually puts a premium on proactive behavior, allows the sickest person to the most likely to fall prey to illness individual access the exact type of necessary medical coverage possible. How can we as elected leaders of this nation, develop a fair and equitable form of health coverage so those in the profession of practicing medicine receive their due dollars, but those in need of medical help, do not have make a choice between rent, food, or health.

I wonder how easy an American Health Plan might come to fruition if the GREED of most politicians to receive money from the lobbyists of for profit health carriers or pharmacy conglomerates was replaced by the NEED of the people they supposedly represent.

I wonder how events would play out if the Evangelicals who build mega churches, pay for lavish bling in the form of cars, wardrobes, houses, vacations, saw the NEED of the poor, the homeless or of the sick would change if dollars collected went to the same groups people Jesus prayed for, walked with and gave care to.

I wonder how many homes would be built instead of ornate Evangelical palaces. I wonder how many people would be fed instead of the lavish four or five course meals the ministers/pastors and their families eat, and I wonder how many real lives would be saved here and now day by day instead of promises for a better life after you are dead. Seems the leaders of most Mega-Churches live a great life here and now.

So many examples of NEED versus GREED. So many of us have been GREEDY, and unless we have ever been NEEDY we many times find little relevance in the difference of NEED and GRRED. Often times we chastise those in NEED as the enemy, as lazy, as irrelevant and bothersome. And as we collect our rewards from GREED bask in the glow of, "NEED is for someone else, not me.

Wonder what life would be like if we all NEEDED one another and were only GREEDY with our love, care and concern.