Selfishness (There ought to be a law about that!)

Member Name: mqueen

Product:	There ought to be a law about that!
Date:	03/04/02 (36 review reads)
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There's an awful lot of things wrong with this world, and we could all find many things to write about on the subject. But, I've decided to write a brief piece on selfishness. A quality that all of us display to a greater or lesser degree, but, that is behind much of the trouble that ails society.

We all have needs, and to fulfill them is only natural. Physical, emotional, sexual. And, when they are fulfilled in the right way, all is serene. But, when the pursuit of sensual satisfaction becomes a dominant force in someone's life, only trouble ensues.

We have all seen the selfish pusuit of power and how it tends to corrupt, how it desensitizes the powerful, and how they dominate to extremes the people under them. Regimes all around the world, even now, are inflicting so much hurt on their own people through their selfish mis-use of power.

What about at home? When the parents are playing their roles properly, then all benefit. But, if the Dad is always at the pub squandering his earnings on himself and his mates, the family suffer.
Another collossally selfish pursuit is smoking. WHAAAAAT! How can I say such a thing?!

Easily. Smoking only benefits the smoker. If you can call it a benefit. Everyone else around suffers. The family suffers. Why? Well if Dad and Mum both smoke, that's anything between £20-80 a week out of the family budget. No small change.
If Dad and Mum smoke indoors, their children are passively smoking themselves. Shortening their lives.
Dad may pipe up that his cigarette taxes pay for the NHS.
Not true. Taxes generated by cigarette sales in this country are £6 billion annually.
The cost to treat smokers on the NHS is £20 billion annually.
Ah, so smokers are hurting us as well! Our taxes are high, in part, because of smokers. Could it be that many waiting lists are so long, because of the smokers that are clogging the system up?

Do they care? Ask them.

>How can smoking not be a selfish pursuit? This subject is close to my heart, as you can tell. But, I am incensed at it. I try to live my life with consideration for other people, just as I would like them to consider my feelings and well being. It galls me to see blatant in your face selfishness in all walks of life, from the way people talk to one another, drive their cars, act, and so forth.

Lack of consideration for others, instead, a 'let's get it all now' attitude, 'and who cares about the consequences'.

It's downright ugly.

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