The Greed of Gordon Gekko

If pop-culture is a mirror on society, then the character of Gordon Gekko is an excellent example.  Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for his portrayal of the character in the 1987 movie Wall Street.  The character became something of a national hero.  Many Americans related to his powerful “greed is good” speech.  This is how the speech went:

“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love; knowledge; has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.”