economic growth (greed)

T'was nearly maghrib, on my way home tadi. I love driving.

I just got a penpal. He's chinese, from another company, whom I deal with at work. He should be in his late 20s. Cute la jugak. Married, and his wife has just delivered. (a baby lah.. bukan surat eh...)

Pink says, he probably has a crush on me.
huh? I don't think so lah............................ kan?

ANYWAY, just now, he got me started on economy. I have some strong ideas about the economy.

'Economic growth' is a phrase invented to justify greed. Think about it.. the earth has limited capacity, how can everyone 'grow' indefinitely? 'Growth will always be at the expense of somebody somewhere.. and that somebody is always the poorer one.
'Growth' is always only for the already-richer ones.

If everybody is happy with just having a good place to live in and good food to eat, everyone will be fine. But the sad thing is, most of us are programmed that greed.. or 'growth' is good.

In the commerce rules of our beautiful religion, Islam, monopoly is not allowed. Then of course there is also the business rule that a % of the profit+ cost of goods, is to be distributed to the poor and needy - it's THEIR right (zakat).

Reading those books on economy and globalisation, and thinking about the hukum that Allah has put forth for men - has helped me become aware of the real state of my surroundings. Not to be blinded by what we're told by these 'smart economists'. I won't be blinded by the carrot that they hang in front of us, insyaAllah.

Wealth SHOULD be distributed - if you are going to charge rich companies/rich people more - go on. But charge the poorer company and the poorer people less and help THEM grow.

And serve Allah. Ascribe no thing as partner unto Him. (Show) kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and into the neighbor who is of kin (unto you) and the neighbor who is not of kin and the fellow traveller and the wayfarer and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess. Lo! Allah loveth not such as are proud and boastful;

Who hoard their wealth and enjoin avarice* on others, and hide that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty. For disbelievers We prepare a shameful doom;

And (also) those who spend their wealth in order to be seen of men, and believe not in Allah nor the Last Day. Whoso taketh Satan for a comrade, a bad comrade hath he.

Al Quran, An-Nisa 4:36-38

*avarice - excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain.