Sunday, March 8, 2009

The dark side of scarcity


The Los Angeles Times posted an interesting article this morning (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cafeteria8-2009mar08,0,4459922.story) about a man who ate regularly in the cafeteria of a Costa Mesa college. He was known for eating almost every meal there, apparently because of the bargain price. For years he sat with students, doling out advice and taking advantage of the inexpensive food.

As it turns out, he was a multi-millionaire, and when he died recently (at age 79) he left his entire forture to the school. They're yet sure how many millions: he made his money by buying and selling oil leases and flipping houses in beach communities.

So, a couple of thoughts come to mind. First, this story made the front page of the LA Times today. Why? It's not simply because someone found a cheap meal and took advantage of it, or even because he lived frugally. What made this story "news" was the secret wealth and the surprise gift to the school. And the meta-story, the "moral" is that we should always befriend the stranger, because who knows...he or she may turn out to be a millionaire and leave it all to us!

now, to be fair no one is saying that...but isn't that what we're thinking? The problem with this thinking is that it's just more of the kind of thinking that has sunk this country into the mess we're now in. It's all about ME. Why not befriend people, welcome them, care about them, even when there is no chance in heaven or hell that they will EVER repay you? In other words, why not look elsewhere (perhaps, inside ourselves) for our reward? (or perhaps, to borrow a phrase, consider a greater reward that is not of this world).

The other problem with this man's story, without trying to take away from his generosity in death, is that apparently he wasn't very generous in life. The article says he would even criticize the "cook" at times, the one who was making the meals that this multi-millionaire was eating every day for FREE (read the article!). And not only that, but he amassed a fortune through savvy business dealing and good fortune. Is that WORK? Is something "work" just because at the end of the day your bank account is larger than it was at the beginning? He bought and sold oil leases and real estate, and then had the nerve to criticize someone who actually worked for a living? Then he hoarded his fortune, apparently he wouldn't even spend money to go to the doctor when he was sick (OK, so I'm guilty here too!) and only shared it when he wasn't around any more.

If that's the "depression era mentality" that we are hoping to revisit in America, I say let's think again. It's the dark side of scarcity, and a real challenge as we trudge through these difficult economic times--to return to a sense of value without becoming fear-based and miserly.

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