What do human beings really need? At one tragic extreme, at least 700 million people do not have access to clean water. Every year, half a million children die from water-borne diseases. If we ask a rail-thin Brazilian teenager drinking foul water from a favela puddle about "needs," what reply might we receive? "I really need the new iPhone"?

And at the other extreme … Jeff Bezos needed the world’s largest yacht. It cost $500 million, is 417 feet long, and to get it from the builder’s shipyard to the open ocean nearly required dismantling a historic bridge in the Netherlands. (Public outcry they withdrew the request for the city to take the bridge apart).

Earlier in the year our national media reported on a "high-profile divorce." The court asked the spouse seeking child support to itemize her monthly needs, which topped $1 million and included $6,800 for groceries, $2,000 for stationery, $160,000 for vacation accommodations, and $300,000 for a private jet. Monthly.

I'm sure we all agree that desiring potable water is a need and not a greed. I hope we all agree that $2,000-a-month for stationery flips the equation … But for most of us, what do we really need? When do our desire for and accumulation of more become greed? Do we need larger homes, nicer cars, a weekly manicure, a new set of clubs and season tickets?