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Why do people worship wealth and the wealthy
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I understand people want more, they desire power and control, but why the worship?
Why do some people get upset if anyone dare to criticize the rich, or any actions of accumulating wealth.
There are people who worship wealth so completely that they support laws and philosophies that work against their own best interests, and the best interests of their own families.
These people get down right hateful and spiteful towards anyone who criticizes the accumulation of wealth or the wealthy.
It makes no sense.
Why do some people get upset if anyone dare to criticize the rich, or any actions of accumulating wealth.
There are people who worship wealth so completely that they support laws and philosophies that work against their own best interests, and the best interests of their own families.
These people get down right hateful and spiteful towards anyone who criticizes the accumulation of wealth or the wealthy.
It makes no sense.
I don't know honestly.
Maybe you will find your answer in the following question...
Why do you worship Spinach Mr Pop-Eye? Is it because it gives you power?
Maybe you will find your answer in the following question...
Why do you worship Spinach Mr Pop-Eye? Is it because it gives you power?
reply to post by DaRAGE
Spinach is very good for me health.
The power is just a side effect.
Never been one to lust for power,
or wealth.
All I need is enough to live a good life.
Spinach is very good for me health.
The power is just a side effect.
Never been one to lust for power,
or wealth.
All I need is enough to live a good life.
reply to post by poet1b
I suppose the simple answer is because they don't know any better, and are afraid to stand on their own two feet?
I suppose the simple answer is because they don't know any better, and are afraid to stand on their own two feet?
If you are rich, you have ignored the needs of your fellow man for your own sake.
Rich implies you are living in abundance, abundance that in order to be rich you must horde, the accumulation of wealth leads to behaviors that can be detrimental to the rest of society in general.
Rich implies you are living in abundance, abundance that in order to be rich you must horde, the accumulation of wealth leads to behaviors that can be detrimental to the rest of society in general.
For some of us, the automatic and near knee jerk dislike to any form of accumulating wealth or being wealthy is just as baffling. The guy I do the mod
work for at another site is very wealthy. He earned all of it, too. Nothing given, nothing handed over. He's also a very nice and down to earth guy
you wouldn't guess had wealth if he didn't mention it for relation to current events lately.
Some people do use money as a means to an end, right over the top of their fellow man. The Gordon Gecko types in the real world (Wall Street movie fame, for those who didn't see it). Some also use Faith or just desperate need for love and acceptance to achieve the same thing in running the big, very powerful cults. Different tool...same malicious intent.
So the extreme are bad, but lately? It seems like pretty much anyone who has more then we personally have is supposed to be a person we envy to the point of dislike, at best. At least among entirely too many. Class War has become the new fad ..as it would also seem.
Some people do use money as a means to an end, right over the top of their fellow man. The Gordon Gecko types in the real world (Wall Street movie fame, for those who didn't see it). Some also use Faith or just desperate need for love and acceptance to achieve the same thing in running the big, very powerful cults. Different tool...same malicious intent.
So the extreme are bad, but lately? It seems like pretty much anyone who has more then we personally have is supposed to be a person we envy to the point of dislike, at best. At least among entirely too many. Class War has become the new fad ..as it would also seem.
reply to post by poet1b
And how much is that?
Some people think a good life is just owning a home and raising a family.
Others think a good life is having millions and mansions and expensive top of the line cars.
Others think a good life is having a huge sprawling corporate empire and being able to influence politics and change in the world.
And how much is that?
Some people think a good life is just owning a home and raising a family.
Others think a good life is having millions and mansions and expensive top of the line cars.
Others think a good life is having a huge sprawling corporate empire and being able to influence politics and change in the world.
Originally posted by DaRAGE
reply to post by poet1b
And how much is that?
Some people think a good life is just owning a home and raising a family.
Others think a good life is having millions and mansions and expensive top of the line cars.
Others think a good life is having a huge sprawling corporate empire and being able to influence politics and change in the world.
I have made over 100K a year at one point, I wouldn't consider that rich, but I also didn't like the person I was becoming to make that much.
To me a good life is being able to provide for my family, roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and the tools needed to accomplish and maintain that. (car, home, etc)
One thing I learned growing up is I have never wanted to live paycheck to paycheck and have managed to do that, however my own personally Ideologies would never allow for my own personal accumulation to being "rich".
I'm not sure it's always worship.
A lot of it is consuming a media that's about hurtful scandals and social blunders.
Even conspiracy theory (especially a la David Icke) is kinda working class and targets the rich.
Considering their otherness, I'm not surprised the super-rich have to live and socialize in separate spaces.
I think they're as much "loved" as "hated".
But then again "worship" of anything is always part love, part fear and part resentment.
Thus looking at hating the rich is also relevant to understand our cultural obsessions with them.
Hating the rich can stem from various impulses.
There's certainly the Marxist idea that property is theft.
Then we also have Jesus in the Gospels, who preaches against accumulating property, and essentially damns the rich.
Of course there's a lot of deflection from the very direct meaning of those verses by rich pastors and capitalist sects, but they never really go away.
Rich can be relative (it might mean something different in areas of Africa than in the US, for example).
A person with a goat living a village where nobody else has a goat can be rich.
In that sense, the nail that stands out gets the hammer.
A lot of it is consuming a media that's about hurtful scandals and social blunders.
Even conspiracy theory (especially a la David Icke) is kinda working class and targets the rich.
Considering their otherness, I'm not surprised the super-rich have to live and socialize in separate spaces.
I think they're as much "loved" as "hated".
But then again "worship" of anything is always part love, part fear and part resentment.
Thus looking at hating the rich is also relevant to understand our cultural obsessions with them.
Hating the rich can stem from various impulses.
There's certainly the Marxist idea that property is theft.
Then we also have Jesus in the Gospels, who preaches against accumulating property, and essentially damns the rich.
Of course there's a lot of deflection from the very direct meaning of those verses by rich pastors and capitalist sects, but they never really go away.
Rich can be relative (it might mean something different in areas of Africa than in the US, for example).
A person with a goat living a village where nobody else has a goat can be rich.
In that sense, the nail that stands out gets the hammer.
edit on 25-8-2013 by halfoldman because: (no reason given)
Because in our society, money is the symbol of and materialisation of power.
Our minds are drawn towards power- we have an automatic attraction to sources of power.
(Google Nietzche's "Will to Power"!)
In some other cultures, the masses (not rich) is seen as more powerful (in more socialist and communist tending societies) therefore individuals feel more attracted towards identifying with the majority or collective.
Our minds are drawn towards power- we have an automatic attraction to sources of power.
(Google Nietzche's "Will to Power"!)
In some other cultures, the masses (not rich) is seen as more powerful (in more socialist and communist tending societies) therefore individuals feel more attracted towards identifying with the majority or collective.
reply to post by benrl
I wouldn't say the accumulation of wealth is bad or evil. It greatly depends on how that wealth is accumulated.
I don't think making a 100k in a year qualifies as rich. I think one needs at least th accumulation of 10mil to be considered rich.
Rich is owning several mansions and a fleet of cars and or aircraft.
Maybe there are people who have accumulated such wealth honestly, but when you dig into their backgrounds, often you find commission of very devious acts, taking advantage of others in criminal ways.
I have met more than a few wealthy people, and mostly was not impressed.
I don't see the need for the giant mansions and all the toys.
In this day and age, it doesn't take great wealth to live a rich life, or to make great contributions. Most of the people I have met, or read about, who have contributed greatly, did not become rich, as defined above.
I wouldn't say the accumulation of wealth is bad or evil. It greatly depends on how that wealth is accumulated.
I don't think making a 100k in a year qualifies as rich. I think one needs at least th accumulation of 10mil to be considered rich.
Rich is owning several mansions and a fleet of cars and or aircraft.
Maybe there are people who have accumulated such wealth honestly, but when you dig into their backgrounds, often you find commission of very devious acts, taking advantage of others in criminal ways.
I have met more than a few wealthy people, and mostly was not impressed.
I don't see the need for the giant mansions and all the toys.
In this day and age, it doesn't take great wealth to live a rich life, or to make great contributions. Most of the people I have met, or read about, who have contributed greatly, did not become rich, as defined above.
edit on 25-8-2013 by poet1b because: add ,
Here is a picture detailing some stats on the worlds Billionaires.
I figure some of these guys must have some kind of pull.
Isn't it weird that the energy drinks are from Singapore?
Anheuser Busch is now in Brazil. Who knew.
None in China as they keep putting
their richest in Jail. =(
My feeling is that America is one of the safest countries in the world
for a wealthy family to live, and I want to keep it that way.
As to the question "why do people worship wealth and the wealthy"
Answer me this question, and I will answer yours.
"Why do people worship themselves"
What.
You don't want to be wealthy?
Mike
Originally posted by poet1b
reply to post by benrl
I wouldn't say the accumulation of wealth is bad or evil. It greatly depends on how that wealth is accumulated.
Well, like I said, personal Ideologies wouldn't allow for that.
For me as an example, to have 2 mill in the bank that sits and gains interest, means I have disregarded every personal belief I have, Personally it would mean I have trampled on my own faith.
IF that money was only benefiting me it would mean I have ignored the cry's of the needy in my community, but again that's just my personal beliefs.
Its why any politicians come thumping a bible and barring a cross get my immediate disdain, they are no Christian.
reply to post by Bluesma
I don't think everyone lusts for power, mainly people who feel that they have no power, no personal power to influence others.
There are a lot of people who have the self confidence to feel comfortable with their own level of control over the world. There also a lot of people who see wealth and power as a ball and chain, the imposes on their liberty, and ability to love life.
I don't think communist countries have any less worship of wealth or power, probably more.
I think that there have been periods in the U.S. when the middle class had reached a point, where very few people desired more than they currently owned, and had no real desire to become wealthy.
I don't think everyone lusts for power, mainly people who feel that they have no power, no personal power to influence others.
There are a lot of people who have the self confidence to feel comfortable with their own level of control over the world. There also a lot of people who see wealth and power as a ball and chain, the imposes on their liberty, and ability to love life.
I don't think communist countries have any less worship of wealth or power, probably more.
I think that there have been periods in the U.S. when the middle class had reached a point, where very few people desired more than they currently owned, and had no real desire to become wealthy.
reply to post by mikegrouchy
"Why do people worship themselves?"
All I can do is speculate, egoism, desperate need for power, which probably comes from a lack of self confidence, and all the usual reasons.
I have no desire to be rich. Sure as a kid,and even as an adult, I had such fantasies, but when I come back to reality, I realize that too many problems come with wealth, and the accumulation of wealth in this current day and age means doing bad things to others.
There is also the issue, that wealth and power have gravity, draw probably more bad than good, forces one to live in a gilded cage.
There is an exchange between liberty and wealth, one typically has to sacrifice one for the other.
So please do tell, why do you worship wealth, or why do you think that others do.
"Why do people worship themselves?"
All I can do is speculate, egoism, desperate need for power, which probably comes from a lack of self confidence, and all the usual reasons.
I have no desire to be rich. Sure as a kid,and even as an adult, I had such fantasies, but when I come back to reality, I realize that too many problems come with wealth, and the accumulation of wealth in this current day and age means doing bad things to others.
There is also the issue, that wealth and power have gravity, draw probably more bad than good, forces one to live in a gilded cage.
There is an exchange between liberty and wealth, one typically has to sacrifice one for the other.
So please do tell, why do you worship wealth, or why do you think that others do.
My personal opinion is that it's the darkness in many people. Or... dare I say it?, stupidity.
Or perhaps social and media programming.
Most people don't understand or refuse to acknowledge that most of the wealthy got rich directly or indirectly by fraud. By legalised fraud/theft whereby they stole their wealth from the most of society.
In fact our entire world monetary system and the “economy” built on top of it have been based, for more than a century in the case of the most recently subjugated nations, on legalised fraud/theft.
On a blatant lie.
That the same asset can be concurrently loaned out several times, to different people who have each been told they're the sole beneficiary of the lease, and that that's somehow not fraud and nobody is worse off.
If I rent you my apartment for the month then go around and rent it out to 10 more people over the same period of time all the while telling each and every one of you that you are the sole lessee, the only beneficiary of the rent contract, how is that not fraud?
How are you not worse off when you come over to move into the apartment I've leased you only to find 9 strangers with their belongings there already?
How are you not worse off than if you still had the money you paid in advance for rent in your pocket?
How am I not a criminal?
Yet banks legally do exactly that using actual, physical cash in lieu of the apartment, and yet it is perfectly legal when they do it.
The same exact crime.
How is that right?
How is that just?
And all the rich people either own/control banks, are invested in them, or use their charter to issue money from out thin air to enrich themselves by leveraging and using that same leverage to make the very gambling they contracted a loan for profitable by inflating asset prices.
Or perhaps social and media programming.
Most people don't understand or refuse to acknowledge that most of the wealthy got rich directly or indirectly by fraud. By legalised fraud/theft whereby they stole their wealth from the most of society.
In fact our entire world monetary system and the “economy” built on top of it have been based, for more than a century in the case of the most recently subjugated nations, on legalised fraud/theft.
On a blatant lie.
That the same asset can be concurrently loaned out several times, to different people who have each been told they're the sole beneficiary of the lease, and that that's somehow not fraud and nobody is worse off.
If I rent you my apartment for the month then go around and rent it out to 10 more people over the same period of time all the while telling each and every one of you that you are the sole lessee, the only beneficiary of the rent contract, how is that not fraud?
How are you not worse off when you come over to move into the apartment I've leased you only to find 9 strangers with their belongings there already?
How are you not worse off than if you still had the money you paid in advance for rent in your pocket?
How am I not a criminal?
Yet banks legally do exactly that using actual, physical cash in lieu of the apartment, and yet it is perfectly legal when they do it.
The same exact crime.
How is that right?
How is that just?
And all the rich people either own/control banks, are invested in them, or use their charter to issue money from out thin air to enrich themselves by leveraging and using that same leverage to make the very gambling they contracted a loan for profitable by inflating asset prices.
Originally posted by wrabbit2000
For some of us, the automatic and near knee jerk dislike to any form of accumulating wealth or being wealthy is just as baffling. The guy I do the mod work for at another site is very wealthy. He earned all of it, too. Nothing given, nothing handed over. He's also a very nice and down to earth guy you wouldn't guess had wealth if he didn't mention it for relation to current events lately.
Some people do use money as a means to an end, right over the top of their fellow man. The Gordon Gecko types in the real world (Wall Street movie fame, for those who didn't see it). Some also use Faith or just desperate need for love and acceptance to achieve the same thing in running the big, very powerful cults. Different tool...same malicious intent.
So the extreme are bad, but lately? It seems like pretty much anyone who has more then we personally have is supposed to be a person we envy to the point of dislike, at best. At least among entirely too many. Class War has become the new fad ..as it would also seem.
class war has always been a fad of the wealthy.....if not, why would anyone build mansions, or palaces if not to have a permanent, publicly displayed example, of how much better they are than anyone else? why would a wealthy person not be happy with a 126-foot yacht like this one......
blog.ycoyacht.com...
instead of a 280-foot yacht, like this one......
blog.ycoyacht.com...
reply to post by poet1b
I have no problem w rich. I have some friends who have multiple business n work hard. They r humble people. I got no problem with the wealthy. I have a problem w the monopoly men n central bankers who steal wealth through fraud n corportism instead of competing fairly through capitalism.
I have no problem w rich. I have some friends who have multiple business n work hard. They r humble people. I got no problem with the wealthy. I have a problem w the monopoly men n central bankers who steal wealth through fraud n corportism instead of competing fairly through capitalism.
Originally posted by poet1b
reply to post by mikegrouchy
"Why do people worship themselves?"
All I can do is speculate, [color=gold] egoism, desperate need for power, which probably comes from a lack of self confidence, and all the usual reasons.
These are the same reasons people worship a specific wealthy person.
They see in them what they want to become themselves.
Mike