Based on the worldwide currency of truly bad behavior, in politics, in business and in daily life, it seems impossible these days to identify sins, as in offenses against the supernatural ruling party.
It has become more difficult to know what sinning is than how to buy a pair of shoes with bitcoins.
The most heinous wrong-doing seems to have changed over time. For example, cheating and lying once shackled you in a pillory, while today, they seem celebrated and could lead you right to the top in any endeavor surrounded by others who know you are cheating and lying and can’t wait to introduce you to their children.
Working your way around the law amazes the law itself, and done without compunction, makes the tricks all the more admirable. It inspires others to the same actions. In other words, it’s infectious.
So who would want to dismiss it or even punish it? Sun Tzu, Machiavelli and Tommy La Sorda all said, “Nice guys finish last.” (Hundreds of years apart.) So, aggressively pragmatic self-serving is good. It’s not what we have become, it’s what we are.
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