OLYMPIC PAYOUT HIGHLIGHTS MORE GREED
The most recent news about another Olympic scandal involving organizers is certainly a topic for a MY CANADA commentary. It is not so much the scandal is Olympian in nature but the fact officials were allegedly paid sums of money to overlook doping. The issue rings as unbelievable for a couple or reasons. Not only is it shameful that appointed or elected officials might be involved in such a scam but the fact those same supposedly honest individuals could not be depended upon to keep Olympians trustworthy. It seems national pride no matter how obtains is now more important than the lofty goal of reaching the pinnacle in amateur sport.
Greed seems the criteria for everything. Politicians, sports executives, business tycoons and the list seem unending all seem to believe it is alright to steal. Getting exposed isn’t even much of a problem since penalties for those accused and often convicted of the crimes border on ridiculous. A slap on the wrist with a naughty, naughty statement in public and demotion or reduction in bonus levels while simply announcing barring from future activities seems to be accepted as sufficient punishment for these crimes. The qualified in this issue is ‘if the person has some money’ otherwise for those without the ability to be part of the working population with an above poverty standard of living a jail term is a distinct possibility.
In Les Miserable Jean Val Jean was sentence to jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed a hungry family. Today t story’s character would probably have been called naughty and allowed to go back and steal again. It seems greed trumps common sense or at least fairness in everything. As an example for instance a ten cent per litter jump in the price of gas simultaneously at every service station is the essence of greed at its finest. Consumers are told through media reports that the reason for such increases is a refinery glitch, oversupply, maybe under supply of the product or the price needs adjusting since the corporate sector is not making the customary profit and shareholders might react by selling off shares. None of the reasons make much sense but the public accepts the justification because fuel is needed to operate vehicles and after all the cost is affordable even if unfair. In other words the corporate philosophy seems to be if you don’t want the item or cannot afford the price dictated then don’t buy the product. You could always seek an alternate source if there was one, which is impossible since price and supply is under control of the supplier. That is just one example however the situation leads to other cost increases since essential product sellers can raise the cost of everything in the store stating the increase is necessary since the increased cost of fuel.
The end result of following the supply and demand criteria that has been a part of the process for hundreds, even thousands of years is adjustments will bring prices to a more affordable level. A stock market crash or widespread war facilitating the need for price controls, are a couple or ways price fluctuations happen. Competition between suppliers was another plus for consumers until the multinational corporations became huge destroying the need for competitive pricing. Greed will always dictate the cost of every item the public needs while consumers and public reaction can at times force price moderation.
So what’s the solution? There isn’t really a solution aside from the communist model which history dictates is not a viable alternative. Maybe a dictatorship such as the Nazi’s tried to impose leading to the devastation of a world war will be attempted by some probably religion based future world order. Democratic politics isn’t a solution either since as the Olympian scandal is proving anyone can be bought off with a few dollars. Although our political representatives will harp and accuse other factions of causing the problem, the end result will not change because those elected representatives also succumb to the pressure of monetary offers of various types. When was the last time the media reported a high ranking politician or business executive jailed for misappropriating funds? It doesn’t often happen if ever and even though the public demands honesty everyone is subject to bending or breaking the rules of honesty if offered enough of a cash incentive even apparently Olympic officials.
Greed seems the criteria for everything. Politicians, sports executives, business tycoons and the list seem unending all seem to believe it is alright to steal. Getting exposed isn’t even much of a problem since penalties for those accused and often convicted of the crimes border on ridiculous. A slap on the wrist with a naughty, naughty statement in public and demotion or reduction in bonus levels while simply announcing barring from future activities seems to be accepted as sufficient punishment for these crimes. The qualified in this issue is ‘if the person has some money’ otherwise for those without the ability to be part of the working population with an above poverty standard of living a jail term is a distinct possibility.
In Les Miserable Jean Val Jean was sentence to jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed a hungry family. Today t story’s character would probably have been called naughty and allowed to go back and steal again. It seems greed trumps common sense or at least fairness in everything. As an example for instance a ten cent per litter jump in the price of gas simultaneously at every service station is the essence of greed at its finest. Consumers are told through media reports that the reason for such increases is a refinery glitch, oversupply, maybe under supply of the product or the price needs adjusting since the corporate sector is not making the customary profit and shareholders might react by selling off shares. None of the reasons make much sense but the public accepts the justification because fuel is needed to operate vehicles and after all the cost is affordable even if unfair. In other words the corporate philosophy seems to be if you don’t want the item or cannot afford the price dictated then don’t buy the product. You could always seek an alternate source if there was one, which is impossible since price and supply is under control of the supplier. That is just one example however the situation leads to other cost increases since essential product sellers can raise the cost of everything in the store stating the increase is necessary since the increased cost of fuel.
The end result of following the supply and demand criteria that has been a part of the process for hundreds, even thousands of years is adjustments will bring prices to a more affordable level. A stock market crash or widespread war facilitating the need for price controls, are a couple or ways price fluctuations happen. Competition between suppliers was another plus for consumers until the multinational corporations became huge destroying the need for competitive pricing. Greed will always dictate the cost of every item the public needs while consumers and public reaction can at times force price moderation.
So what’s the solution? There isn’t really a solution aside from the communist model which history dictates is not a viable alternative. Maybe a dictatorship such as the Nazi’s tried to impose leading to the devastation of a world war will be attempted by some probably religion based future world order. Democratic politics isn’t a solution either since as the Olympian scandal is proving anyone can be bought off with a few dollars. Although our political representatives will harp and accuse other factions of causing the problem, the end result will not change because those elected representatives also succumb to the pressure of monetary offers of various types. When was the last time the media reported a high ranking politician or business executive jailed for misappropriating funds? It doesn’t often happen if ever and even though the public demands honesty everyone is subject to bending or breaking the rules of honesty if offered enough of a cash incentive even apparently Olympic officials.
