Greed and COVID-19

By Faith Nguyen, Copy Editor

Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

The immediate effects of the pandemic are obvious: a raised death count, quarantine, cancellations, panic. However, it is quite certain that these effects will pass; we, as humans, have the advanced resources to sustain us.

The one thing that will remain is the greed fueling the anxiety and panic. The grocery store hoarders, toilet paper accumulators, and medical supply collectors are all examples of the worst of human greed.

Together, society must rise above this nauseating greed in order for it to pass with the other effects of this pandemic.

Famous theologian Reinhold Niebuhr tackled the concept of human greed, explaining that the uncontainable need for certainty fuels over-consumption of materials and wealth.

“Man is, like the animals, involved in the necessities and contingencies of nature; but unlike the animals he sees this situation and anticipates its perils,” Neibuhr said, in “Theologian of Public life.” “He seeks to protect himself against nature’s contingencies; but he cannot do so without transgressing the limits which have been set for his life. Therefore all human life is involved in the sin of seeking security at the expense of other life.”

The concept of seeking certainty in the uncertain seems to be directly applicable to the situation at hand. With the unknown length of this quarantine, with the inability to assure that grocery stores will remain open, the over collecting of materials increases at an alarming rate— leaving shelves empty.

A person sees others filling up baskets and carts to the brim, then feels the need to do so himself. The result is a sense of helplessness felt by those who cannot afford greed. As Niehbuhr said, there is essentially a “sin of seeking security at the expense of another life.”

The elderly who cannot fight for supplies, those living paycheck to paycheck arriving at grocery stores and leaving empty handed are those who suffer as a result of “seeking security.” Medical workers who are unable to protect themselves because of the lack of supplies carry the consequence of human greed.

However, this is not to say that greed is completely harmful.

In “Taking ADvantage,” by Richard F. Taflinger, greed is presented as the code programmed into human genetics to promote survival— to motivate the collective to adapt and advance.

“However you regard it, unrestrained greed is detrimental to society; unrestrained disapproval of greed is detrimental to society,” Taflinger said. “People attempt to find a balance between biological imperative and social necessity.”

The need for balance, when applied in today’s situation is especially essential. Most can agree that a parent’s instinct to provide their children with security and certainty is “right.” But that “right” loses its value when a parent’s attempt at protecting their own comes at another child’s cost.

Security, regardless of whose it is, should not come at the cost of others. The second the balance of greed shifts too far in one direction, humanity begins setting its own expiration date.

There is a duty to each individual: to recognize and pass on basic human kindness. Shop for the old widow next door, leave toilet paper on the shelves if you have some at home, leave professional medical equipment to the doctors and nurses.

We must not let this pandemic be the tipping point of society’s destruction.