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RE: Obscenely Wealthy

Comment comment by scottb on 12 March 2008

Well, in general, the notion that wealth is intrinsically sinful completely misunderstands basic economics.

I mean, it's incredibly ironic that what may be the wealthiest organization on the planet has declared wealth to be evil, but it's also just plain dumb. Money is a proxy for value - if you have $10 and you want things that cost $20 (and nearly everybody wants things that cost more than they have), you're forced to decide which things you value more. The money flows towards those who produce that which is valued most by everyone else. It accumulates at the points that represent the most powerful generators of value.

Things get complicated from there, of course, but that's the foundation. Wealth isn't (intrinsically) a bad thing, it's an indicator of a good thing.

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RE: Obscenely Wealthy by ldsudduth :: NR6

Wealth isn't (intrinsically) a bad thing, it's an indicator of a good thing.

I agree--it's what you DO with that wealth and how you GAINED the wealth that truly matter. Money itself is not evil.

Posted 12 March 2008, Hide, Parent, Reply
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RE: Obscenely Wealthy by NomadSoul :: NR6

The money flows towards those who produce that which is valued most by everyone else. It accumulates at the points that represent the most powerful generators of value.

That really depends on your theory of value. A lot of people make a lot of money without really adding much to society--at least, not adding any more than many other people who are not paid nearly as much.

Whether or not wealth is bad also depends on how it is defined. If you mean general or overall wealth, then it is not a bad thing. But, if you are talking about one individual being wealthy relative to others who are poor by comparison, then you have an unfair (sinful) situation. Now, if you believe wealth always follows real value, then maybe it is not unfair, but I don't believe money always (or even often) flows to those who produce the most desired products. If it did, janitors, sewer workers, and garbage men would make a lot more than corporate executives or politicians.

Posted 12 March 2008, Hide, Parent, Reply