With the fall of communism
Those who are motivated by self-interest
Won the day and raised their flag
Now the fortunate need no apology
To dominate the unfortunate
So we live under the tyranny of consumers
Of rational misers and social climbers
Anybody can be a millionaire
And everybody wants to be one
Everybody wants a big house
And everybody is willing to break a few eggs
To make an omelet
But a society structured on greed and envy
Unleashes the wickedness of men
So now watch the financial system unravel
And follow the trail of greed
But don’t blame cheap loans and the greedy banks
Don’t blame the overpaid C.E.O.s
Don’t blame predatory lending practices
Don’t blame making money out of money
Don’t blame irresponsible risk-taking and speculation
(Even though they are all culpable)
But blame the get-rich-quick Jackpot mentality
Blame the failure to find other ways of living one’s life
Other ways of valuing and finding happiness and meaning
The wild horse running with no reins, is us
-Rotterdam, Netherlands
