When is enough, enough?

Every story deserves a song...

I recall being a young sprout riding in the backseat of my parent's car, coming home from a bonfire party at their friend's abode. Somehow, the subject of money became a conversation. I was curious and open with them in those days. In latter years, I was zit-ridden and remote. Ya got to love puberty:)

My question at the time was in regards to bank checks as we still know them. I didn't comprehend why money would ever be an issue if you had this piece of paper that you could "pay" anybody any amount of money with. Heck, all you had to do was fill in the blanks. My father then told me that, "If you write that amount to pay them on that piece of paper, it means you have to have enough in your account to do so." It was then when I learned about not bouncing checks that can't be cashed.

Before I entered the Mortgage Industry in 2001, I was in tough times because of my own creation. I remember it well; my mother was celebrating her 50th birthday and we (my brother, Dad, & I) all took a cruise to Mexico in that very celebration. I had a credit card with a credit limit and while I'm not much into gambling, my addictive personality threw myself into the essence of that very notion. I gambled everything I had and didn't have, in hopes that luck would look my way. It looked my way and gave me the proverbial finger. It was then when I learned about spending.

I thought my woes would be solved when I got into the Mortgage Business. Hell, that's how & why I initially got involved. My quest was to make a crap-load of money and make that aspect of my life one less worry. Then, I developed a passion and knowledge of the business. I even developed relationships in this very business. Money took a backseat to trust, as it always should. It was then when I learned about greed.

Have you ever watched the movie, "Wallstreet"? One of my favorite speeches in any movie is the one Gordon Geiko gives on Greed. Here it is...

And my retort...

Management should always have a stake in any company it owns/is a part of. Frankly, WE own the company and the franchise and the government we are under. In fact, WE have a bigger role than we give ourselves proper credit for. (Who WE are is a subject of debate. even if we can suspend any economic bounds).

For the people, by the people, blah and blah again. Without us, there is no them. End of that story.

I believe in Capitalism, the Free Market, & Ethics. I also believe in Humanity. I'm not some pious bastard living off the streets proclaiming anarchy and instant change to all those who don't share the same luxuries... I'm the bastard who would simply like to put everyone (including me) in their respective place.

I see an athlete asking 18 million when he is offered 14 million, without fans... he gets nothing.

I see depository & non-depository banks asking for your money but lending little of it out. Give them a "free pass" on dollars given to them and they can pay their high-ranked CFO's & CEO's.

I see politicians squandering every bit of credibility by doing the same thing over and over again. That costs, especially Locally.

But I don't see a pessimistic fear. I see a compromising light. Color me stupid, yet stupendous greed and blinding reality ensures that Mr. Sardi ain't that little boy any longer. I won't write that check if it won't clear. I don't and won't trust anybody whose greed is larger than the ego I already have. And I absolutely will take no part in the extremes that seem so unnatural... at least to me.

Greed is good when it incites riots of relevance. To you, Mr. Geiko (the movie persona that you are) I offer up "making money one less worry in life."

That holds no greed, circumsizes no sins, and behooves the very ones who live in the lap of the poverty they perceive.

Mr. Geiko, greed isn't good... we are. Besides, we created that phenomenon in the first place.

(And I didn't even hit on the good parts/points)