*  Power is always gradually stealing away
        from the many to the few,
        because the few are more vigilant and consistent.
        --- [Samuel Johnson: The Adventure No. 45]

     *  The only prize much cared for by the powerful
        is power. --- [O. W. Holmes, Jr.: Law and the Court.]

     *  As wealth is power, so all power will infallibly
        draw wealth to itself by some means or other.
        --- [Edmound Burke: Speech 1780.]

     The Greed Factor: That component of most any process which, depending upon its magnitude, motivates the participates of the process to bias the outcome toward their own individual interests.

     There are but two basic kinds of greed, one for wealth, power, and the corruption of things; the other for righteousness, knowledge, kindness and all the other good things. Given that greed posses several subtle differences, the driving force behind it is that of making one's self (or group) feel good. Obtaining wealth and power makes some feel good, so does giving riches to the poor and knowledge to the ignorant make others feel good. Most all actions of individuals (or groups) can be best analyzed for there true meaning by taking note of the greed factor.

• Lawyers making laws which require citizens to use services of lawyers in legal matters.
  
• Legislators with insurance agencies making laws making insurance mandatory.
  
• Politicians making politically correct decisions, regardless of the effect on society as a whole.
  
• Organized criminals keeping drugs illegal for their profit; politicians keeping drugs illegal for their political gains; law enforcement keeping drugs illegal for their funding.
  
• Military officers dictating regulations to better secure their position.
  
• In the name of national security, multi-billion dollar projects only securing profits for the participants.