PASCUAL, Joshua Ejeil A. Oct.

10, 2017
I – A / 2012 – 30683 Law 115 – Prof. Ryan Oliva
Reflection Paper

Greed and the Law

Inequality has pervaded our society as far back as we can trace. History is brimming with
examples of persons having more than others. There were the emperors, kings, nobles, lords,
bourgeois, and other elites. On the other side are always the poor. Different in form but never in
substance. History has but given them few titles to know each of them by.

In the Philippines, one does not need to look far to get a picture – just look at the man who
begs on the street and compare with the man who drives his luxury car. This stark inequality is
furthermore sustained and spread by the systems in place in society whether they be political,
economic, social, and cultural. Those who have more gain more; those who have less continue to
lose what little they have. All these are motivated by that universal human characteristic: Greed.
Greed fuels those who were fortunate enough to be born with a silver spoon in their mouths to
obtain more. Why would it not? It is but human nature to desire more of the good life has to offer.
Similarly, greed is what fuels those who have nothing to actually gain something. However, as the
world is characterized by scarce resources, those who are better positioned end up getting a bigger
slice of the pie; so much so that those severely disadvantaged are often left with crumbs. In this
world full of greed, some end up with a lot, while most end up with little to nothing.

However, if there is but one thing which would regulate such greed – and, in turn, give a
slight glimmer of hope for the “less fortunate” greedy – it would be the Law. In particular, its
regulation of the actions of those who are deemed “greedier”. Law(s), as a measure upon which
societal actions are to be regulated, can and should be used to at least even out the playing field,
and to punish those that wantonly disregard the equal opportunity inherent to those who are less
fortunate. Why? If only for the reason that in a society such as ours, where ideals such as equality
and equity are placed in high regard, opportunity to live a life of dignity and worth is to be strived
for. I am of the belief that such an opportunity will never even begin to see the light of day should
the desire for power, influence, and money of those who have more are not regulated. True, they
have the right to expand what they have. However, there are those who seek more at the expense
of the basic liberties and opportunities our society holds to be enjoyed by all.

A question arises: where do we draw the line in determining the extent one can practice his
or her rights in acquiring what one desires? Surely, the more fortunate are equally afforded the
liberties and opportunities of those less fortunate. The answer would be up for continuous and
inconclusive debate. In the meantime, however, greed should be regulated to such an extent that,
in the pursuit of the answer to the above posited question, the basic rights of those who have less
are to be protected against the insatiable and what we may consider forceful appetite of those who
have more.

Greed is within all of us. It is just a matter of controlling lest we forget that in the pursuit
of its ends another one loses the opportunity to live a life well-lived.