Extreme Materialism: Hard to Watch, Instructive to Learn
This morning I was struck when I watched the following video featuring former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski. Materialism, especially in a soulless alienating place like New York, can completely consume one’s identity. Kozlowski was taken down on a technicality, avoiding sales tax by shipping art to New Hampshire instead of New York. But his real crime was the ugly materialism- when you consume like he did, you make yourself a target. The video also highlights the complete decadence of our elites- those who should be our leaders waste their time and money holding four-day parties complete with Jimmy Buffett. We’ve come a long way from the days of Jefferson, when the wealthiest were often those most interested in projects, notably politics and education, to improve their state and country.
This video is a warning to anyone lucky or skilled enough to accumulate wealth- materialism has no upper limit, and I think there has to be a harsh judgment for someone who allows so many financial resources to be utterly wasted on meaningless stuff. To him whom much is given, much is required.