The normalization of greed in society has indeed reached a point where people who make or amass a lot of money are looked up to and emulated.

Social media platforms often give these people a stage to show off their riches and lavish, often unsustainable lifestyle, without facing backlash. Instead, they attract followers who want to live just like them. It’s like a cycle where the more they show off, the more followers they get, and the more followers they get, the more money they make.

What we forget is the manner in which wealth is accumulated most of the time. Big fortunes are usually built by taking more than giving. They are gained through exploitation, whether of labor, resources, or markets, less through sharing and distribution.

Margins and profits have become increasingly bigger and bigger. The costs, e.g. for going to the movies, theaters, concerts and sports games, have gone up so much that many of us can’t afford to do these things anymore. It’s sad because these used to be simple pleasures that everyone could enjoy.

With no cap to how much profit anyone can make, unchecked greed comes at the expense of fellow humans and the environment.

Therefore, it is up to each of us to recognize our responsibility and extend it beyond self-serving interests to serve the greater good.

Rather than perpetuating inequality and constantly chasing after more, we should remember that the power and wealth of people at the top comes from the support of the masses.

It’s the collective efforts of ordinary people that can shift the balance of power and shape a society that values people over possessions and focuses on genuine well-being not only of a few but of everyone.