At work, our stock prices jumped up enough last week to warrant me selling off all my options. I'm not a stock market guy and couldn't care less about trends or graphs or whatever. All I know is at the time I sold, my options were worth enough to make it worth my while to go through the hassle of selling them.

Our stock has gone down considerably since then, probably due to the overall stock market decline. We were discussing the prices and I brought up me selling mine. A coworker complained that (in a joking manner, but one that I took as "I'm only laughing if you take this the wrong way. Otherwise, TAKE IT BEEEYOTCH!") I didn't care about the company or other people who worked here.

To which I replied - "No shit! Seriously, if everyone in the world would admit to themselves that everyone in the world cares only about themselves and act accordingly, most of the world's problems would pretty much disappear."

The look was that of a deer in the headlights with no intentions of moving. Everyone around me got totally silent.

Apparently, you can't talk about reality with some people. The conversation turned to the news that the executives awarded themselves millions in bonuses and you could have heard a pin drop when I suggested that, had I been on the board, I'd have voted for it too.

Nobody likes it when I point out to them that they too are greedy. It's funny to hear people malign others for their greed when they themselves have no compunction about accepting a pay raise or, in the case of my coworkers, accepting the sizeable bonus we got this year. Because, they care about themselves and it's not that big of a deal when their own families are on the line, but some other person getting money makes them mad.

All politicians will use their power to protect themselves and their families. My father would probably not give me a speeding ticket if he pulled me over. I wouldn't charge a family member for photography but instead would incorporate the cost into my other clients. Denying this is reality doesn't help. Accepting it and realizing that every person you meet is operating on the same level only helps to understand why things happen.

I do not condone corruption, just so we're clear. But people will make all kinds of logical pretzels to excuse the behavior of their families or themselves when it comes to that.

Just don't point that out to anyone.