Great Expectations

I grew up in a society where pragmatism is valued over ideals, where being content with a cushy job providing a stable income is met with nods of approval while greed and high materialistic expectations are shunned like sins. At the same time, I belong to the generation that expects altruistic help to be extended to the needy, and charitable organizations that raise funds by providing incentives are dismissed as hypocritical.

Bullshit.

I subscribe to the ideals of wanton capitalism, to greed, to materialistic expectations and to biting off more than I can chew. How can I not, since I learned how capitalism, powered by human greed has led to so much progress and prosperity? If we had all lived according to the Confusian philosophy, we would all still be ignorant, starving farmers seeking solace in the flapping of a butterfly’s wings, completely unaware that it caused a tornado that ripped apart the homes of unsuspecting villagers elsewhere.

Altruism is nice. If people cared and shared as they should, the needy won’t be needy. But altruism cannot be an expectation and the efforts of incentive-powered corporations and people cannot be negated. If organizations get their tax breaks and publicity from making donations, so be it – The money that would have been squandered on bureaucracy or elaborate advertising gimmicks now flow into the pockets of the needy. If the possibility of winning a car is the only way people will make donations, so be it – The needy are fed with food bought from money, not altruism.