Does anyone disagree that greed’s been hurting America?

The growing gap between the top 1 percent and everyone else, Wall Street’s insane bonuses, big businesses’ incentives for short-term gains at the expense of long-term financial stability, etc. — it’s all, apparently, really cut-and-dry. Greed is bad, right?

The recession is rooted in a lot of things, and greed is the common weave. Our recession’s drivers include: people who bought too-big houses they couldn’t afford; financial wizards who saw ways to fudge their companies’ numbers relating to the sliced-and-diced mortgages on those houses; executives who knew what was happening but chose their bonuses over their companies’ health; and consumers who racked up too much debt in pursuit of bigger and better lifestyles that didn’t make financial sense.

But greed, the root of all evil, is also the root of our country’s success. It’s the absolute necessary component and driving force behind capitalism. Greed forces us to improve, want more and do better. Because of greed (encouraged and abetted by American culture and this country’s general business environment), millions of Americans have better jobs, better educations and better lives than they would have otherwise.

Someone’s desire for $10,000 outfits, yachts and nightclub parties with B-list celebrities might inspire him or her to assist in the proliferation of shady financial instruments that tank the American economy. But most of the time, it’ll just make them better businesspeople — as evidenced by the absolute majority of law-abiding white-collar executives in this country.

In popular culture, we celebrate some types of greed and discourage others. Greed isn’t just about money and resources. It’s a drive for power, legacy and impact, or maybe just a place in history. In a sense, President Barack Obama is greedy for wanting to be remembered as the president who solved all the world’s problems (though that’s obviously not his only motivation).

How many ASU students are motivated by the desire to be in the history books? That’s excessive, greedy even. For the most part, society benefits from that kind of motivation. Ironically, one financial regulator or business journalist’s over-the-top desire for super-star professional status might be the necessary motivator for him or her to crack down on inappropriate Wall Street greed.

Or take Mike Milken, the financial genius, noted philanthropist and inside trader/junk-bond developer who was indicted on dozens of counts of racketeering and securities fraud in 1989. As financial journalist John Stossel claimed in a 2004 Forbes article “In defense of greed,” “Mother Teresa helped many people, but Michael Milken helped more.”

Why make such a statement? Supporting or disputing that would probably be based on religion or politics. But as Stossel credibly writes, Milken’s junk bonds helped save Chrysler and Mattel from bankruptcy, and he helped Ted Turner create CNN. Cell phones are everywhere “in no small part” because of Milken’s financing, and millions of people have jobs because of him. Despite his crimes, Milken’s greed boosted our economy and arguably improved the quality of life of virtually every American.

Greed drives innovation and markets. It motivates people at virtually every level to create a legacy, and it encourages politicians and leaders to be remembered for effecting positive change, in the interest of their own name brand. Surely some noble charities are run by people seeking shameless self-promotion.

Greed also causes an untold number of problems, including widespread suffering and destruction. But when harnessed correctly, it’s a true gift. Criticize it, blame it and appreciate it.

Reach Matt at matt.culbertson@asu.edu.