WingColors

Well if the provocation is to have large homes and flashy cars you are bound to find many who disagree with the motive.

I think everyone wants money if only to assure a certain level of comfort and freedom, after that it is purely and individual thing.

I don't think anyone can tell you it's wrong, but many will tell you money won't make you happy.

Money ensures quality and choice in health care, other than that, I personally have no special purpose in collecting it, in career paths available, in shelter, in transportation, vacation, leisure hobbies etc.

Money allows me to have the health care that I want, so in that respect it is a good thing.

Money can have its negative factors, depending on how people choose to use it.

Money is only a symbol. It depends where you are, but it represents something of value. In the states it originally represented gold and silver, limited comodities that were sought after.

But truly, it's more abstract than that. It's a mechanism of exchange, something that is integral to life in a social society. Money represents the work you do, and the value that work creates. You could be a trash collector, or a factory worker, or the CEO of a software company, it represents the same thing. It is a function of the value your efforts create for others. You can then use it to exchange for the value the efforts of others create. You can translate it into things you need, or things you want.

The bottom line is, money is the medium in which you can transform your skills or determination into those things that make your life better.

Is that wrong? Hell no.

It's funny that I always hear the term money doesn't buy happiness, which I party agree with, however, I'm already a happy person, so if I had more money, I'd be even more happy.

So, no, I don't think money is wrong, but it also depends on what you value in life.

Money's a bit like air: you only think about it when you don't really have enough. And like air, you'll do whatever you have to in order to get enough to survive.

Is it wrong to lust after money? Absolutely: the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. That said, is it wrong to want money? No, not really.

• I want enough money in savings and investments which deliver passive income so in case something happens to my ability to work, I can still take care of myself, without being a burden on others.
• I want money so I can pay for a better car -- say, a Mercedes -- to drive around in, not because I want to be flashy, but because it's safer than my Honda Accord.
• I want money for a nice house and land -- instead of living in an appartment -- not because I want to hug it and say "mine, mine, all mine", but because I want to be able to provide safe, comfortable shelter for my family.
• I want money because I have dreams of traveling I want to fulfill. Selfish? Maybe, but it's been my experience that the best understanding of others, the best way to foster good will among people is to go to them directly, not to sit home and know they exist; to meet them, eat with them, and learn their ways as they leanr yours.
• I want money so that I can start business ventures, not so I can sit on top of a pile of cash and say "ha ha, look at me", but because history shows that when business relationships are at stake, countries are much less likely to go to war (a perfect example of this being the saber rattling that went on when India and Pakistan both got the A-bomb: when the business community stepped in and said "Listen, this is starting to hurt us", the saber rattling stopped).
• Last, and not least (if anything foremost), I want money for the simple reason that once all my needs are met, I can begin to help meet the needs of others. A man cannot truly help others unless he has first helped himself, and you can't really have freedom unless you have economic freedom.

Is any of this wrong?

Again, money is like air: you only think abut it when you don't really have enough.

You could consider the barter system for obtaining 'things' you want and need. For instance: a talent you have that is valuable to others need not be paid for in money but traded for a talent they have that you value. No money exchange but your work is valued...

auburn,

What do you think money is? How many people do you think even realize they can go cash in for gold and silver? And who would want to if they could?

Money is a barter system, except we've standardized it so we have these little symbols that represent the brain surgeon's life saving work, the construction workers skilled use of his tools, the farmer's know how in raising the food you eat. This way we don't have to spend 90% of our lives looking for someone who is interested in trading a tomato for a blog post, because chances are not many people are. Instead you can blog and get visitors, which advertisers want, which product sellers want, which a tomato farmer wants... etc.

The difference between a true barter system and a currency system is that a currency system can work outside of a small village.

Ah... I never really thought about it that way. It's also strange that you specifically mentioned trading tomatoes for some other valued skill because I do trade gardening skills!

"What do you think money is? How many people do you think even realize they can go cash in for gold and silver? And who would want to if they could?"

at this point, it's a very low rate of gold to money. lots of money in, very little gold out.

it's not wrong to want money as long as it is not an obsetion. it is a necessary evil. however the world is to involved in the quest for money which is the fault of those in charge there are the needy and there are the greedy, to many of each. we should be more focused on intellectual evolution.

Whenever things go wrong, human beings tend to blame other things except themselves.

What is wrong with me? I'm just 'money', only I don't have the ability to defend myself against eloquent human beings. Whatever, human beings still love me and hate me, like they love/hate other things.

Under a capitalist economy, spending money benefits everyone. So even if you don't donate to charities or do volunteer work, your purchases still keep the economy flowing.

Bragging about your money is wrong.
Thinking that you're better than someone with less money is wrong.
Spending money to purchase things that make you happy? That's fine.

AmericanVoice said:

it is a necessary evil.

Why is it evil?

Gnorb said:

Is it wrong to lust after money? Absolutely: the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils.

How so? How does money cause evil?

Wanting money is not evil. It is the way we have been conditioned in America. This influence is spreading rapidly to the rest of the world. The true evil is using that money for extravagences instead of helping out others. If someone had a $1 billion, built a giant house but gave a good portion of the rest to charity, the money wouldn't be a problem. Conversely, we call people a**holes if they make $100,000 but spend it all on cars and vacations. It's the mentality of accumulation, not the paper and plastic, that is the root of evil.

njkaters,

I can take your examples of selfishness, but not evil. If someone earns money through their own effort or smarts, then why should they not be entitlted to do whatever they want with it?

Let's go back to the tomator farmer example. If you have a small garden to feed your family, and grow a lot of extra tomatos in a year, sure you can give them away. You can also jar them for next year. Or make a special dinner using them. Is that evil? I don't think so.

Ozone,
There is some social responsibility on people who make large amounts of money to give back to the system that helped them achieve their wealth. Without free markets, community assistance or the good will of people at the beginning of their business venture, they wouldn't be wealthy. That is why it leans more toward evil than selfish. But I see your point.

I didn't mean that money is evil but there are many evil thing and situations that are created from the ever growing need to get rich. just take a moment and think about this. here we are the richest counrty on the face of the earth with quite a bit of gap on the rest of the world which by the way the gap is closing and what are we duing? we're letting the evil that money can create destroy us, and what has been created is a society of greedy people. america has enough wealth to fix ever problem that it has today. njkaters knows what I'm talking about those who are making their wealth off the backs of others need to give back. this over abondence of wealth accumulation isn't necessary. there are people that have enough to take care of their childrens childrens children and still have a fortune but they'll cry about giving their employees healthcare or a weeks vacation with half a weeks pay, and trust me many workers would take that. as a nation we should be more focused on re-educating our society fixing ourselves so that we can live up to our hipe

There is some social responsibility on people who make large amounts of money to give back to the system that helped them achieve their wealth.

Other than theft, every one achieving wealth is also giving those that purchase from them something they value.

Without free markets,

No one provides us free markets. The closest to "providing" a free market would be the government which protects your rights. We pay taxes for that (and many other things.) Nothing is owed here.

community assistance

Why do you assume you can't become successfull without community assistance? If that's the case, then yes I agree that the person should give back, but I can't think of a case where this is reality. I can think of investors, venture capitalists, etc. Unless by community assistance you mean "does not chase them out of town with pitchforks and torches," then I don't know what you're getting at here.

or the good will of people at the beginning of their business venture, they wouldn't be wealthy.

No good will is required. All that's required is that the person achieving the wealth is providing those consuming the goods or services be interested in consuming them. That means the person getting rich is offering something of value in exchange for their value. It's a give and take.

The secret to getting rich is CREATING value. Doing or making something other people want, and then giving it to them for a fair price. If the price is not fair, they won't pay it. If the service or good is not something they want, they won't buy it.

That is why it leans more toward evil than selfish. But I see your point.

That is why I can't see any evil in getting rich, appreciating money, or even being rationally selfish.

Well it depends wat you want money for. If you want it for food,shelter, warmth, water. . . . then thats okay.but if u want it for things that are unimportant that make you very lazy. (lolly pop holders, lottery tickets) then. . . kinda.

good point Dman " things that make us lazy" like the guy that has invented this pill that will make you lose weight without exercising. now really is that going to benefit anyone other than himself? not at all. he will get rich while those lazy vain people buying the pill lose their health and money right along with their weight. now don't get me wrong Ozone42 there is nothing at all wrong with getting rich. and it's not about public assistance. it's about having balance in not only our country but the world. what is the bigest problem facing the world today global warming and that is an inbalance in our eco system and that is a direct result of mankind chasing wealth as opposed to maintaining a balanced eco system. the whole idea is this, tomorrow is coming reguardless of the state we're in we can choose to live it well or not at all it's our choice. did you ever think about this, every other life form on the planet can exsist without destroying the world except the so called most intellegent one. sometimes I wonder. but really mankind has come a long way, but I feel we can do better. one way is to stop thinking that it's every man for himself and understand that the world is like a finely balanced watch remove any part of it, it will not work. there is nothing wrong with capitolism but it cannot be just be left to grow like a wild weed it has to be regulated or there will be damage just like with anything else.

while those lazy vain people buying the pill lose their health and money right along with their weight

I don't think that people are as stupid as you make them out to be. When we learned about the bad stuff associated with smoking, a lot of people decided to quit. If someone makes a bad product, people realize this and they stop using it.

Point is, even without this artificial moral argument against money, we have ways of regulating ourselves.

And global warming is a relatively new problem. Before you attribute global warming to the faults of our society, let us react properly.

Stupid, that's a strong word. tell me what would you call a poor person that voted for Bush in the last election ? maybe just miss lead.......how about this for self regulating. 60% of americans are over weight and obeasity is up sharply. what about oil consumption and saving money not using credit cards so much. it doesn't appear that we are very good at regulating ourselves. these are things that could make a significant difference in the state of our nation. and global warming if 20 years ago we would've started taking action it would've made a big difference today this is not new. the impact of global warming will not wipe mankind off the face of the earth. however it will change things a lot. 65% of the worlds population lives on or very close the coast, what does that tell you ? and what is the proper reation ? think about those to come after us ?
5

I don't think it's wrong to want money. As much as we try not to remember, we live in a world where money is very important - who has it, who doesn't and.. who wants it. People might not 'want' money as such, but they do want the things money can buy and the benefits it gives you. This is why i believe so many people end up in massive debt these days. They want the things money can by - without having the actual money to pay for it.

Capitalism is self regulating if left alone. In most ways it's a more democratic system than any form of government on the planet. People vote by buying the products and services they approve of, like, or need. People succeed by providing those. Products or services that cheat or hurt people will die unless governments step in to protect them (all too common.)

It does require people to think and make intelligent choices, but on a far less active level than say going to the polls on election day.

Much the same, earth is self regulating in a lot of ways. Other creatures do "destroy the earth," on their own scale. Species prey on others to extinction. Species breed themselves into famine and become extinct. Species destroy their own habitats and must adapt or move on. We do it on a larger scale, and are much more aware of our possible impacts, so we have an advantage. The earth is not static, it's constantly changing, all species must change with it to continue to survive.

You're right in that there is a balance that one must find to succeed, and even exist. The catch is that the balance is different every single day.

Wanting money isn't wrong. Working hard, getting a better education to advance your career, awesome! If you come from money and it's given to you, great.

The love of money is the root of all evil. Just my thoughts.

If you can afford the best products, cars or whatever fills your fancy; then by all means, get it.

But if you rob Paul, steal from Peter and cheat Abel to get what you desire, that's evil.

edub,

When you love money to the extent where you have to have only the 'finest products, fancy cars, mansions with butlers and people waiting on you hand and foot; that's wrong.'

Why? Glad to see you put forth your opinion, but would like to see something backing it up.

I'm all for avoiding excess, and not becoming obsessed with anything. But, if you enjoy the finer things, and can manage to get them, why is it wrong in any way, shape, or form?

Ozone,

Thanks for letting me express my opinion. Very cool of you...and the same to you as well. I see you've responded to almost every response on this list, usually in defense of loving money. Obsessed? Your call.

Like I wrote, if YOU work hard, received a good education, worked your way up through your organization and can afford such amenities, that's F*in GREAT! Good for you, give yourself a big pat on the back!

I think what most people are trying to say is:

The love of money, desiring it with every ounce of your soul, lying, cheating and stealing-doing whatever one has to in order to obtain blood money is EVIL.

Now do you understand the meaning and connection of evil and money? Losing your dignity, pride and honor whilst screwing anyone and anything in your way to get the almighty dollar, including family-I think by most people-would be considered an evil MOFO. Get it?