Yesterday I wrote about Christmas and how it is ultimately all about materialism or that "give-me" mentality fostered by consumerism. Since then, however, I have given additional thought to the issue, and I have decided that perhaps we humans can't help being materialistic because being so is a natural state for us and has been since the beginning of time. After all, look at history. Haven't we always been a greedy lot? Hasn't greed been the driving force behind most of our actions--from the Crusades to Columbus's voyage to the Americas, from westward expansion to almost every war ever fought on the face of this planet? One tribe wanting what another tribe had, one country wanting what another country had—one ruler, one man, one woman—always someone wanting something that did not belong to him or her.

Personally, I think it's a shame that we humans have not figured out how to share; but then again, I guess most of use don't want to share because, as I said, we are inherently greedy. If you want proof, just look around here in our own country. This is supposed to be the richest nation on earth, yet there are children going to bed hungry at night, people living on the streets, and millions of citizens without health insurance (Of course, we are the only industrialized nation in the world that does not provide national healthcare to its citizenry, but that's another topic). While such appalling conditions are allowed to exist, however, we yet have professional athletes, movie stars, and other celebrities making millions upon millions a year and living like royalty.

Of course, I guess one might argue that celebrities are indeed our modern-day royalty--the lords, ladies, kings, and queens of the 21st Century. Well, it seems to me these sovereign few should be required to share their good fortune with the downtrodden and less fortunate. Besides, do they really need to own not one but several palatial homes, cruise around in outrageously expensive cars, and spend more than the average person makes in a month on frivolous doodads like Gucci handbags, Rolex watches, and real mink jackets for their pampered pooches? (And, yes, I realize that many wealthy people donate to charities and involve themselves in humanitarian causes, but the truth is that most do not and many who do are simply doing so for the tax breaks. )

And that reminds me of an argument I have often heard, which is that the rich "deserve" their wealth because they worked so hard to obtain it. Give me a break. Disregarding the fact many were born into wealth, I say the filthy rich among us simply got lucky. After all, don’t most people work hard all their lives? Don’t most people strive to obtain the Good Life? Don’t you? I know I have. Yet, many of us barely eke out an existence or else live in abject poverty. And that, my friend, is the reality.

Oh, well, I guess that’s enough for today. I apologize for the tirade, but, as my friends know, I’m a bleeding heart liberal, so what else can you expect?