Character is doing what’s right as opposed to what’s expedient. Caring about the well-being of mankind as opposed to oneself.

In the sixties, the Youngbloods sang about getting together and loving your brother. Now your brother is someone to be stepped upon on your way to a private jet lifestyle inside a gated community. The hoi polloi must pay your bills, but you must never come in contact with the great unwashed.

And it’s not only corporate titans. Entertainers earn the perks of their success, but too many sing about their wealth and their power, it’s hard to relate if you’re a working man.

I’m fascinated by the story of Christian Lopez. The 23 year old who caught Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit, a home run. Surrounded by security guards, he was whisked into the bowels of Yankee Stadium and asked what he wanted for it.

This is the moment we’re all supposedly waiting for. A chance to pull ourselves up the economic ladder, profit upon our own good fortune, that which excludes the community at large.

Christian asked for "a couple signed balls, some jerseys and bats."

Returning Jeter’s Big Hit: No Good Deed Goes Untaxed (Perhaps)

"’It wasn’t about the money – it’s about a milestone,’ Lopez said to reporters. ‘I mean, Mr. Jeter deserved it. I’m not going to take it away from him. Money’s cool and all, but I’m only 23 years old and I have a lot of time to make that. It’s his accomplishment.’"

A Fan Holds History in His Hands, Briefly

Huh? What kind of schnook is this guy? Didn’t he take any business classes in college, couldn’t he immediately calculate the riches in front of him?

Mr. Lopez was "ridiculed for his refusal to consider selling the ball."

But then a strange thing happened. When the Yankees rewarded him with merchandise and tickets incurring a tax burden, and it was revealed that Mr. Lopez was working at a Verizon store while under the burden of $100,000 of student debt, the business community rallied around him. Modell Sporting Goods and Steiner Sports coughed up $25,000 each, and Modell also pledged 5% of revenue from Yankees merch sold in his emporia over the next week to Christian.

Yankees Fan’s Generosity Is Returned, With $50,000 to Ease His Debt

It’s like everything your parents told you was true. Like the Golden Rule really existed. Like people truly were good underneath and a hero could be an everyday person who does the right thing.

We’ve evolved into a culture of winners and losers. And everybody’s trying to climb the ladder and leave the losers behind. This might lead to financial riches, but the enmity of the public is palpable, those left out are angry, and it’s not a good strategy if you’re building a career.

That’s what bugs me about the Live Nation salaries. You’re losing money and your venues are shitholes and you’re paying yourself all this money because other corporate titans make as much? I thought entertainment was about individuality, going your own way.

Guess not.

And acts that scalp their own tickets and bitch about brokers capturing all their revenue. How about keeping prices low so the fans can get in, instituting policies like paperless so those who care aren’t squeezed out.

Can’t be done. The broker’s got to make money. StubHub, owned by eBay, has to make a fortune. No one can sacrifice in America.

Hey, I never had any children, public school should not be free, I want my money back!

And I don’t own a home, so you’ve got to get rid of the mortgage deduction!

We live in a society, and if we don’t watch out for each other quality of life goes down for all of us.

If you truly want to be successful in business, give back, care about your customers first, stop boasting and get down in the pit. This is one of the reasons why country artists last, they put the fan first and keep ticket prices low.

How did money become number one? Our culture used to be led by entertainers, now they’re following behind, trying to emulate the bankers.

We’ve all got to eat, have a roof over our heads.

But how much do you need?

And sure, you might not need those government services today, but you never know what’ll happen tomorrow.

Today’s musicians have games and clothing lines, they’re mini-corporations just trying to get rich. No wonder the public can’t relate.