WATCH: Why being a crook is the order of the day

WHAT’S wrong with society is that earning a good living doesn’t give you the same kudos as being a crook, says Mark Barnes, CEO of the SA Post Office.

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https://youtu.be/d7imqKQK5mk

Barnes says it doesn’t matter how you make your money, but if you earn a lot of it, you earn respect.

This is particularly true in market trading, where insider trading is commonplace. The Wolf of Wall Street is a classic example of how Jordan Belfort, a character that is actually a villain, ends up becoming a hero.

Barnes says the problem is that there are few people in the know who are in charge of large sums of money in the financial services industry. In this environment, stealing and cheating is seen as outsmarting and outmanoeuvring the other guy.

If it’s commonplace then make it commonplace, he says. "If everyone is crooking then make it legal. The premium for being a crook will disappear."

We all know the difference between right and wrong, but people make that choice irrespective of the consequences.

You can’t catch a crook if they are fundamentally without conscience, says Barnes.

Watch Barnes discuss whether it is possible to get rich quickly:

News Leader airs daily on Business Day TV channel 412