Creativity, Morality and Responsibility

Conventional wisdom (better described as recycled ignorance) holds that creativity is spawned by greed.  While it is true that empires are often built to satisfy irrational greed, notable accomplishments are driven by the need to satisfy intellectual curiosity and the need to accomplish something worthwhile.  To our greatest scientists, money is, at best, a necessary but potentially corrupting way of buying what is needed to support the creative process.  When money becomes the end rather than the means, creativity ceases.  John Boyd, the most notable man to wear the Air Force uniform, is an excellent example of amazing creativity driven only by responsibility and the need to accomplish.

Moral fiber is the controlling force that keeps us rational and distinguishes us from the lesser beings like corrupt Congressmen, right wing evangelists, and greedy CEOs.  A sense of one's responsibility to his fellow man and to the universe is the counterbalance to greed.  Each of us will have to walk alone to the Pearly Gate one day.  At that point, a large bank balance will not help us.  Having lived right and helped our fellow man might.  I can't predict my fate on that judgment day.  I can say that as I take my last breath I will be satisfied that I did my best, lived up to my responsibilities, served my country, and didn't sell out to greed.

When we, as citizens, accept greed and corruption as part of the political process, we have sold our souls.  We must  recognize that it exists and fight it.  That doesn't mean that we complain without doing anything about it.  It means that we stand up to be counted.