Privilege and Deceit

Paul Krugman (PhD economist and Nobel Prize laureate) kicks off the new year with an intelligent and well-deserved poke at billionaires in general, but at their harmful behaviors in particular.  He cites several sources that show the ultra wealthy are less ethical than others, while they see greed as good.  My thoughts immediately went to Mitt Romney and his assertion that 47 percent of Americans “want stuff” and will never vote for him and those like him because they are jealous.  It seems that real science and real research show the opposite:  To paraphrase their findings “crud rises to the top.” 

Delving into the cesspool of the ugly side of psychology is not my bailiwick.  But I am not at all surprised about the findings of psychologists after observing the same smelly stuff wafting through the air, and stinking the place up during my lifetime of meandering with my eyes, ears, and nose alert to my environment.  In particular, the shrinks note that a sense of entitlement is an attribute of the wealthy, not the poor as many wealthy love to proclaim.

I am pleased that another economist has the cojones to bring issues of this kind to the light of day.  Calling a “spade a spade” won’t change much of anything over night.  But it helps to put the load where it belongs—on those who are afflicted with this human short-coming.  And who knows?  It could bring about change in a million or so years.  That is better than never. 

Read all about it here:  Click here.  Or cut and paste this link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/01/opinion/privilege-pathology-and-power.html?emc=edit_th_20160101&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=38266206&_r=0