Some Things Are Not Worth Having

Here are three recent examples of those who thought otherwise

Nearly every pursuit in life at some point, in some way, requires a calculation of costs versus benefits. Cost-benefit analysis is more than some sort of mathematical exercise; if it were only that then its practice would be a matter of simple arithmetic or perhaps simply viewing some graph on a computer screen reflecting crossing lines at a clearly defined point.

Unfortunately, conducting such analyses are more often the product of objectivity metered with a high degree of subjectivity. There are always things we can’t accurately measure, and many others that we might not even be aware of that have considerable influence on an outcome.

In the military sphere, we learned long ago that a major factor affecting outcomes will be the actions the opponent elects to take, or perhaps not take. As military people always note, in any operation, no matter how well planned, the “enemy gets a vote.” And that vote can come with a heavy weight.

But another consideration is simply the longer-term consequences as opposed to the near-term satisfaction. Sometimes when one zealously pursues something, the near-term realization of benefits may not adequately account for clear costs that are longer-term. Barry Bonds, the home run king of baseball, used performance-enhancing drugs to elevate one of major league baseball’s most cherished records — home runs hit in a single season — and in the process…