posted
I hope this is the right place for this topic, but here goes. .
Money has always been confounding to me because I love it, I hate it and I don't understand it. I was raised in a well-to-do upper-middle class situation with a really nice family trust fund and it was because of this that allowed my parents to not have to work so they could have more time to stay home and raise my sister and me, which was absolutely the ideal situation for us, and I think would be for most everyone out there. Sure, we're definitely not millionaires, I don't have THAT much money in my account, but I have enough so that I don't even have to get a job for the present. I know I shouldn't feel guilty about having money because it's not a crime to be rich. . .but what about when your huge companies profit at the expense of others, other workers, keeping them poor? I know not to listen to people who have a much lower income than I trying to guilt-trip me into thinking that just because I have more than them, I must be greedy and selfish, when they themselves are usually just plain jealous and just as if not MORE greedy than I appear to be to them.. . but. . the frustration of working your a** off your whole life when you didn't have anything to begin with, just to scrape together some cash only to have to see most of it gone on taxes and various living expenses must be so overwhelming when it seems like you're caught in this cycle of poverty with seemingly no way out.
The lie we all get fed is that if we just work hard, we'll eventually make it and have money to spare---it's not true. But why is it not true? I was having a discussion with my Aunt today about money, our trust and how to manage it, and I don't know anything about it. I'm REALLY frustrated because I don't and I have a feeling that even if I took economics courses and really studied hard at it I still wouldn't understand money, because I don't see the POINT of having any sort of currency at all.
I hate money. I hate hate HATE it. I hate that I need it, I hate that I can't understand it, I hate how it destroys so many people, I hate how it splits up families (don't have an actual statistic on this one, but I've heard time and again that one of the primary causes of divorce or at least most spousal arguments are over money) I hate that people kill each other over it, I hate how so many people don't have it and I hate that everyone doesn't even see what it is: just pieces of paper and bits of metal. . . ridiculous to think how many people put so much value into that. If you have more money, that must make you a "better" person and thus worthy of having special privilages that the "lower" ones shouldn't be allowed, right?. . . bollocks. One of my favorite Tom Robbins quotes: "The loony Legacy of money was that the arithmetic by which things were measured had become more valuable than the things themselves."
I just say, abolish currency completely. We'll have to manufacture our own goods but isn't it true that someone who makes something because they love to make it would produce a product of much higher quality than someone who's doing for the incentive of a paycheck at the end of the week? I don't see how such a thing could be done gradually, though, if we ever did such a thing it would have to be done everywhere instantaneously and I don't see the general population copping to an idea like that since most people hate radical change. I know the whole thing is a crazy idea. . .but you never know, it just might work.
I guess I'm just frustrated, confused and angry at myself. I'm guilty because I have money, but I LOVE not having to worry about finances. . but I hate that I don't understand money and I hate that other people aren't as fortunate. Is money the root of all evil? Is capitalism bad? Well, every attempt at Communism has failed utterly, so what now? It just seems like every "ism" out there is flawed in some way and I don't know which to choose.
Sorry if this was kind of long, mostly it was just a frustrated rant, but I do have a question. I've looked at both ends of the spectrum and I still can't make up my mind. (I hope it's ok for me to post these links)
posted
I actually think this post would be more appropriate in the "It's All About You!" forum, as it is not directly related to any sexual ethics/politics issues. Someone will be along shortly to move it over to the correct forum.
-------------------- disconnect and let me drift/until my upside down is right side *in* Posts: 640 | From: The Valley of the Sun, AZ, USA | Registered: May 2004
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quote:Well, every attempt at Communism has failed utterly, so what now?
I think every attempt at Communism as a governmental system failed. I know of examples of communism as an economic example that worked. Argentina, for example, following the World Bank's recommendations for countries to the letter, had their economy collapse. Now many of the businesses are being run as anarchist co-ops (similar idea to communism), and it was rebuilding the economy for quite some time (recently there have been a few set-backs, generally to do with lack of food/farming and bad weather).
Equally, how about a world government following Plato's Republic and his Philosopher Kings?
-------------------- 19, male, interested in Sadomasochism (BDSM) and some bisexual tendancies. Posts: 157 | From: Canada | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
In my understanding, socialist revolutions have failed because of greed. Lenin was greedy, this is because he wanted equality NOW. It must be a gradual revolution, giving humanity time to develope just as it took democracy a thousand years. All we can do is advocate social equality, as it is the first step toward economic equality
-------------------- Ya Basta! Enough is Enough! - ezln
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to save the world. -Nelson Mandela Posts: 23 | From: Buffalo,NY | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
Lenin was greedy, this is because he wanted equality NOW.
Why is it "greedy" to want equality now? I'm puzzled by what you're saying here.
-------------------- "Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it." - the Talmud Posts: 6944 | From: UK | Registered: May 2002
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posted
Equality can not simply be forced on a people. It must first be understood, then accepted. Lenin skipped the first step because he wanted to live to see his creation. Being such a great politician and revolutionary as he was, and certainly educated, he must have known the consequences of his decision as leader of the Bolshevics
-------------------- Ya Basta! Enough is Enough! - ezln
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to save the world. -Nelson Mandela Posts: 23 | From: Buffalo,NY | Registered: Jan 2007
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