Greed: Nature’s Way of Balancing Humanity

 

In today’s world, billions of people live in cramped cities, packed into high-rise buildings, barely having enough space to move freely. Apartments stretch 50, 70, even 100 floors into the sky, while the cost of a small plot of land keeps rising beyond reach. But why?

When you look at the numbers, the truth is shocking: each human on Earth, if land were distributed equally, could have around 65,700 square feet (or 1.5 acres) of habitable land to themselves. That’s more than enough for a house, a garden, and even a personal forest!

So, why do most of us struggle in tiny apartments, battling for space in overcrowded cities?

The Myth of Overpopulation

We are told that Earth is running out of space, that overpopulation is a crisis. But in reality, only about 9.57% of Earth’s total surface is habitable land. Even within that, cities and infrastructure take up only a fraction. The rest is either controlled by a few or left unused.

Instead of being spread across the vast available land, human populations are forced into dense urban areas, paying exorbitant rents for a few hundred square feet of living space. The problem isn't lack of space—it’s who controls the space.

Greed: The Real Force Behind the Crisis

Land is one of the most valuable assets in the world. Those who own vast amounts of it don’t want to give it up. Instead, they pack people into vertical boxes while keeping open land for industries, agriculture, or luxury estates for the wealthy few.

Governments and corporations profit from land scarcity. If everyone had equal land, real estate markets would crash, urban centers wouldn’t hold their economic power, and massive industries built around rent, mortgages, and land speculation would collapse.

A System Designed for Control

Think about it:

If each person could own a large piece of land, people wouldn’t need to pay high rents.

If people weren’t trapped in cities, they wouldn’t be as dependent on centralized jobs.

If people had space to grow food, they wouldn’t rely entirely on grocery chains and supply chains.

By keeping people crammed into cities, the system ensures dependence—on landlords, corporations, and governments. It’s not an accident. It’s design.

The Balance of Greed in Nature

But maybe this too is part of nature’s grand equation. Greed isn’t just a human flaw—it’s a force of balance. Some accumulate wealth and land, others struggle to claim their share, and the cycle continues. Nature allows this, perhaps because it ensures movement, conflict, and evolution.

Over time, power shifts. Empires rise and fall. Resources get redistributed, but greed never disappears. It simply changes hands.

The Real Question: Can This Change?

Would the world ever allow equal land distribution? Probably not—because greed drives the very systems we live in. But understanding this truth is the first step toward questioning the way things work.

If we accept that greed is part of nature, then maybe the goal isn't to eliminate it but to channel it differently—toward sustainable cities, decentralized living, and fairer systems of land use.

So next time you step into your cramped apartment and wonder why you’re paying a fortune for a few hundred square feet, remember: it’s not because Earth lacks space. It’s because greed controls space.

Maybe it’s time to start thinking differently.