Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

The Root of Some Evil

I liked this cartoon.

Money is not the root of all evil, but certainly some of it.  Money is power.  Power tends to corrupt.  Not everyone who gets rich turns into an asshole ... but the tendency is there.  The more money someone has, the more they can do and the easier it is for them to get away with misbehaving.  Money and power tend to magnify whatever is already in the personality.  An altruist will put a lot of money toward the public good.  But most people are rather selfish, and there's an unfortunate human tendency to want "more."  That mixes badly with heaps of money, and soon turns toxic.
Tags: art, economics, humor, networking
Subscribe

  • Fieldhaven as Habitat

    If you follow my posts on gardening, birdfeeding, and photos, then you know that I garden for wildlife. Looking at the YardMap parameters, here…

  • A Little Slice of Terramagne: YardMap

    Sadly the main program is dormant, but the YardMap concept is awesome, and many of its informative articles remain. YardMap was a citizen science…

  • Winterfest in July Bingo Card 7-1-21

    Here is my card for the Winterfest in July Bingo fest. It runs from July 1-30. Celebrate all the holidays and traditions of winter! ( See all my…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    switch
    default userpic

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
    You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.
    Help
  • 4 comments
paradigmshifty

paradigmshifty

October 24 2011, 08:49:53 UTC 9 years ago

One small nitpick, which could explain why some do and some don't turn into assholes. The actual quote is "Love of money is the root of all evil." Money itself isn't the problem - greed is.
ysabetwordsmith

Good point!

ysabetwordsmith

October 24 2011, 19:21:50 UTC 9 years ago

Thanks for adding that.
paka

paka

October 25 2011, 01:27:13 UTC 9 years ago

I'd disagree somewhat. I feel that most people operate out of feelings of scarcity with money. There's never enough; they always deserve more. Most people think they've worked incredibly hard for their salary - there are very few people who both have a cushy job and who think they have a cushy job. I think the American situation, where you're good and dicked if you're poor, makes this stuff worse among the middle and upper classes. And of course if someone - like a government trying to raise tax revenue - tries to take any of that money, then that confirms worst fears.

I'd cite complaints about corporate welfare - here leftists manage to a little like right-wingers complaining about the poor and welfare types. Someone else is getting the great deal for free. Regardless of how legit the complaint is, I feel this shows it's a human thing.

I think all you need is a few actually greedy people, with a lot of people having the subsistence/struggle/scarcity mindset, and that's where you have a problem.
ysabetwordsmith

Hmm...

ysabetwordsmith

October 25 2011, 02:13:05 UTC 9 years ago

I agree that the subjective impression of scarcity is a problem, and that it is made worse by a system that tends to abandon anyone who doesn't have the money and power to take care of their own needs. That can make people panicky, and panicky people rarely make good decisions.