Wow. I can hardly believe that it's been nearly a month since my last post. Time is passing quickly. But it is all in perfect timing anyway. I felt a pictorial aid may be of use, and therefore I used a stack of US dollar bills.
Money:
Unfortunately, many perceive money as a negative thing. Obviously, this understanding stems from an early association of money with negative things. For instance, many people grow up with the belief that rich people are selfish, evil, and countless other negative traits. It isn't difficult to understand why they would see money in a negative light -- they've made conscious and unconscious associations with it to negative traits.
In another example, a child who grows up in a religious family might, unfortunately -- I might add, foster similar beliefs, as it's common for religious people to feel a certain sense of "guilt" or "shame" in regards to money. It could appear in the form of disdain towards material possessions. After all, doesn't the bible teach that money is the 'root of all evil', and I will paraphrase here, "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God". However, some form of asceticism - denial of one's natural self, and a suppression of one's natural instincts, desires, and sensuality can be found in most religions.
But how can this be so? For money, like all else, is simply a form of energy. Inherently, it is neutral. It is a tool; a form of exchange. It has no preconceived meaning. None.
For the same money that corrupts people and can be used for evil, to fund wars, and other barbaric endeavors is identical to the one used to build schools, community centres, churches, and a tool for the good, overall.
Objectively speaking, money cannot be evil, for it is a neutral tool. It can be both used constructively and destructively; with good in mind, or with evil.
Meh. Discuss.
Sure, Money has no intrinsic value, yet the pursuit of this "commodity" corrupts even the best of us. In a society where ownership of production, the "American" dream, and media images of excessive wealth bombard our thoughts, how can we not view it as a cause for concern? It is not money as a barter mechanism, but the BELIEF that money can buy happiness which is truly evil. I think we need to start understanding that our lives are not defined by the wealth and possessions that we hold but rather the hard work and energy we put into it. Money is not energy when a financial industry uses it to exploit, lend viciously, and fund industries that it knows will fail.
ReplyDeleteI kind of went on a rant here, but basically what I am trying to say is that money itself is not evil, but the utilization and pursuit of it as an END (rather than as a means) is what is truly causing such a negative connotation to its existence.
Now tell me why you don't have a blog on economics?
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, I'd have to agree. In fact, the new emerging paradigm of a resource-based economy, where resources are distributed and used as a barter system instead of money, seems promising in the future. It may very well eradicate many of our current economic concerns.
Here's a link:
http://www.thevenusproject.com/
Actually, the new Zeitgeist movie which I was recently recommended by someone seems to be premised upon this idea. I have yet to see it though, so I can't comment further. Although, I do plan on seeing it.