Greed Sells
Back in the mid-80s when I was the marketing director for one of the state's largest banks, I remember my bank's president telling me, "Greed sells." Based on the kinds of "deals" I saw supposedly savvy business people grab onto in order to get loans that eventually led to the worst banking crisis in New Hampshire history, I certainly came to agree with my boss. Unfortunately, lots of businesses went under, some of the largest banks failed, and thousands of people lost their jobs. All because people got greedy.
It's a sad fact of life that most - not all - people are willing to overlook common sense to get a "good deal." It doesn't matter if it's a house with no down payment and ratios that don't make sense, or promises of above-average returns on savings and investments. Most of us are susceptible to feelings of greed, getting something for nothing, or getting something better than we really deserve.
I feel sorry for people like the man in this story because I've seen the same weaknesses in people better educated, wealthier, supposedly with more "real-world" smarts fall victim to other kinds of scams. It's all of a kind as far as I'm concerned.
There are a few people -- evidently all on this forum -- who have the foresight, self-control, and wisdom to escape from making such bad decisions -- or perhaps just the consequences of bad decisions. I admire you!
As for me, I am not about to cast stones at anyone.
-- Sky
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