I respectfully disagree. I think the reason is pure greed.
Greed is a natural human feeling that usually comes from a basic survival instinct. That's why greed is deeply embedded in our society. Also, that's another reason why Vulcans are superior to humans.
Yes, greed is deeply embedded. But it rests on a bedrock of stupidity and incompetence. And even the dullest of greedy bastiges can figure out that if Money = Good, then pissing off the people who have it, and who, until you pissed them off, wanted to give you some, = Bad.
No argument at all on the superiority of Vulcans (or whales, for that matter) to humans.
Greed is a natural human feeling that usually comes from a basic survival instinct. That's why greed is deeply embedded in our society. Also, that's another reason why Vulcans are superior to humans.