The spoiled rich child leads a charmed existence. Because the
child’s wants are perpetually fulfilled there is no need to cultivate accomplishment
and ambition. The parents protect him and witness no maleficence on his part. No
voice is raised to discipline the child’s misbehavior. He suffers no consequence.
No action is too intolerable. The result, the spoiled rich child neglects to develop
a sense of empathy. Instead, the child embraces prevarication, laziness,
narcissism and failure to take responsibility.
In adulthood, the spoiled rich child inherits wealth and
power. A horde of lackeys, determined to coddle and bid for the favor of the
spoiled rich adult child, reinforce his developmental flaws. This adulation
feeds a twisted ego. The “yes” man and woman become the chosen ones in the
spoiled rich adult child’s court. When reality does not fit his desired views,
they assist in twisting facts to suit his perception.
For most of the spoiled rich adult child’s life the harm from
poorly thought out practices and irrational behavior is limited. It is when the
spoiled rich adult child’s ego needs to be satiated with great public adulation
that the world bears the burden of his and his lackey’s inadequacies. Here, the
consequences of the spoiled rich adult child’s incompetence and intolerance of
criticism and contradiction become painfully clear.
Institutions revered for their integrity and thoughtfulness
become hallow vessels for advancement of the spoiled rich adult child and his
lackeys’ self-serving agenda. Lies are twisted into truths, facts are ignored,
corruption is protected (even promoted), incompetence rewarded. The competent are
upended, embarrassed, dismissed. Some that remain turn a blind eye. Fear replaces honest
brokering.
The damage from the spoiled rich adult child’s selfish
behavior is stunning. Public institutions are weakened, the integrity they built over
the years of honest effort is maimed, ruined and undermined. For business,
this is a tragedy. For a republic, this is devastation. The nation’s progress
lacks focus for improvement. The spoiled rich adult child’s vision benefits the few. His lackeys blanket him with adulation. Their reward benefit's their self-interest. Sadly, the spoiled rich adult child is a
masterful manipulator and has learned to exploit fear, desire, ignorance and bigotry
to achieve his ends.
In business, the spoiled rich adult child is protected in his
cocoon of ownership, a dictatorship wherein the spoiled rich adult child’s
whims and misjudgments are protected and not questioned. In a republic, however,
the spoiled rich adult child is exposed to criticism and is wounded by truth
and integrity. The spoiled rich adult child whines, complains, prevaricates and
blames others. The lackeys amplify the spoiled rich adult child’s
pronouncements. It is an ugly reality.
The question for the republic is will we allow the spoiled
rich adult child’s behavior to continue to diminish the nation’s once grand
reputation or show collective disgust by sending the spoiled rich adult child
back to his room?
