The Evil of Greed

It is a Bottomless Pit of Degradation

Today’s passage in the US Senate of the MAGA GOP bill that steals trillions of dollars from 99% of Americans to give to the top 1% of Americans is a bottomless pit of evil. It has yet to be confirmed by the House, but we can see the handwriting on the wall.

We are living in a country where a significant percentage of people apparently do not care if their own wealth will be stolen from them. Cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and, potentially, Social Security will eat away savings people have been working on for decades, negatively affect nearly all Americans, and even kill many. Donald Trump and MAGA have ignored all polling that shows a significant majority of Americans oppose his kleptocratic bill. He desires unlimited power and control and will do anything to get it. He has his political base, SCOTUS, and both chambers of Congress on his side. It is pure cognitive dissonance that so many have relented to his demands.

In the end, Donald Trump and those closest to him desire unchecked power and unlimited wealth. They are the definition of greed that is evil. The Bible says, “The LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil” I Timothy 6:10. Trump, MAGA, Republicans in Congress, and millions of their followers have cast off any and all self-restraint, moral obligation, and a faith-centered compass to show their true goal of accumulating as much money as they can.

What do we do with this in a country that is based in democracy, equality, and fairness? Our Constitution calls for all people to be equal. Our Constitution calls for America to be governed “…of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Yet, the 1% are now governing the 99%. The Constitution calls for the opposite - that the government’s power comes from the consent of the governed.

Our national life has been flipped on its head. We can no longer ignore this. Those with wealth have staged a coup on us. While many in America seek “The American Dream,” too often this has been envisioned as achieving enough wealth to give people everything they want and insulate them from disaster or suffering. It is a mirage. Money cannot buy love or safety or security. But The American Dream continues to be served up to us as everything, and more, than we ever hoped for.

Greed is behind this. America has become the land of greed. We have had far too many delusions of grandeur, and for far too long. Think of it. Truly, what percentage of people achieve this “dream” of massive wealth and scot-free living? In “normal” life, how many can live without worrying about their economic life on a regular basis? I am not poo-pooing great dreams or working hard to achieve more than we ever imagined. Jumping from one American caste to another is possible, but rare. But, what kinds of lies do we continually tell ourselves about wealth most of us cannot and will not ever achieve?

Yet, greed is our golden calf. I used to ask my Confirmation students, “How much money do you think people should be able to make in a year or in their life?” Nearly all teenagers responded, “As much as possible.” I wasn’t surprised, but I was floored by how little introspection they had been given by their parents. My reply was, “Really?! What if you made huge amounts of money and sold products because teenagers like you were working in sweat shops in other countries and were tortured by long hours and very little pay?” They hardly batted an eye. I was sickened by this. “What if you made your money by selling diamonds that people died for to get?” Barely a response from them. “What if you made your money because you inherited it and didn’t work for it and your parents or grandparents laundered it and passed it along to you?” Hardly a response. “How about companies and businesses that are price-gougers?” Silence.

Aside from the ethical grayness of becoming fantastically wealthy, my heart always sank when kids (and, clearly, their parents) thought making as much money as possible was one of - if not their primary - goal in life. What about the common good? What about looking out for your neighbor in need? Jesus himself said we will always have those neighbors with us. What about giving and sharing so more and more people at least have something they otherwise wouldn’t have and could live sustainably because of it? What about having a heart full of compassion for others who suffer a whole lot more than we do? As time has gone on, those Biblical and even national paradigms have evaporated in our current generations and society, tragically. We are living in a radically and dangerously self-centered America.

So, here we are. Our highest national leaders are teaching every American, perhaps more than anything else, that achieving the greatest wealth will lead to ultimate power, regardless of whether every other American is not only left behind but dramatically maligned. Our national leadership has sold out 99% of Americans in order to gain dominance and their own run at unlimited wealth. This is pure greed. The root of all kinds of evil.

Do you think any one of those Congresspeople who voted for padding the pockets of the 1% today cares about you? If you do, I pity you. You have lost the plot. They don’t give one rip about you. And, they don’t care one iota about any other American but themselves.

It is time to call them out. It is time Americans take to the streets until this MAGA GOP Party is eliminated. There aren’t any Republicans left who love America. Perhaps three measly Senators voted against the bill today, but it is highly likely all three still side with MAGA if push comes to shove. Today’s MAGA GOP is a cult of Donald Trump. Mind control over them is real.

When unwealthy Americans are left to die because Medicaid and Medicare have been cut, this is evil. We must call it what it is. When unwealthy Americans lose the retirement savings they have invested in Social Security during their working lives because it has instead been given to the wealthiest among us, this is evil. When children and families who do not have enough income, for any variety of justifiable reasons, lose their safety net because billionaires (who likely achieved their wealth unethically!) have stolen it, this is dramatic evil.

MAGA GOP has sold out our country. MAGA GOP has sold you out. MAGA GOP loves those who are their followers because you think they are on your side. MAGA GOP plays you because you are triggered by abortion or racism or the unattainable thought that their desire for wealth will somehow trickle down to you. They have tricked you with abortion politics, they have parlayed your wicked racism into subservience, and they have lied to you about sharing their wealth with you. Their unethical governance knows no bounds. This and they are the root of all kinds of evil.