Thomas Sowell on Unearned Greed
on Monday, January 19, 2015Thomas Sowell Money Quotation saying wanting to keep versus wanting to take away from others are distinctly different types of greed. Thomas Sowell said:
“I have never understood why it is ‘greed’ to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else’s money” — Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell is questioning the double standard around the concept of greed as it applies to money. He argues that it is considered greedy when people want to retain the earnings from their own work and labor.
However, it is not typically seen as greedy when politicians or activists want to raise taxes on others in order to fund expanded government services. Sowell suggests this perspective is inconsistent and unfair.
By taxing the earnings of some for redistribution, the state is essentially taking money that others have rightfully earned through their own efforts. But this act of confiscating the property of others for public use is not usually called greedy.
Overall, Sowell appears to be criticizing the selective application of the term “greed” and advocating for a more even-handed view of individuals’ right to their own financial resources.
Birthday: June 30, 1930