What is wealth to the American people?“They say money is the root of all evil, I see money as the root of all people”- Joey Bada$$. Money does truly run the entire world, and is the reason why most wars start. I believe we are able to blame money on people becoming selfish. Before there was a little piece of paper that meant the world to people there was still a currency in place. People used trade instead of cash, however I still believe it to have been a competitive way of trade, people most likely bragged if they had something better than the rest. However, before there was an actual dollar, I think things were better and people were much more generous. If you helped a neighbor, they would help you, or give you a little present that didn’t necessarily have value. Now it usually always equals money. It has changed so much, even just hearing stories from my parents and what a dollar used to mean to them, versus what it means now. We have currency for structure, without a proper currency I don’t think we’d ever get to where we are now, …show more content…
without it I don’t think we’d ever have the power to build cars and without that I don’t think we'd be able to build the proper equipment for construction. “You aren’t wealthy until you have something money can’t buy” -Unkown. Before there was a true currency in place, people would trade. I think this is far more generous, reward someone that actually has a purpose rather than a paper bill. I would rather have something that has sentimental value rather than 10$. However money is now required for everything. And way too much just to have a normal living situation. I do believe that trading is still a source of currency, however I think it’s always been in place somehow, but currency is not a form of structure. They do have very many similarities; however, people expect a certain amount of money for different kinds of work. Just like trading you are going to trade someone something that took you ten days to make and them only an hour. They had to be balanced in some sort of way. We now have in place so that each currency is equal to each other, sense there are many different countries with different styles of money they are provided an equal dollar amount which is an extremely complicated process. This doesn’t make very much sense to me, I understand how each country wouldn't want George Washington on their one dollar bill but each currency should equal each other. Back in the good old days when money wasn't an issue most things would be traded fairly. If people ever need some sort of help with anything most people would contribute to the community rather than look for money, not that those things don't happen to this day, it's just not as frequent. However I believe it's making a comeback, especially in a small community like Manchester. It seems like people realize different struggles and help in way they can. Such as when Hurricane Irene hit us there was a crazy amount of help and no one was really looking for money as a return if anything they were donating to the people who lost everything. Currency is unfortunately the only reason things get done. It is the main reason we have structure, the government runs off of money entirely. Without the money that the government is provided, nothing would get done. We wouldn’t have roads we wouldn’t have schools, we wouldn’t have the houses we have today. Everything we do requires funding or someone who is intelligent, and although you can learn a lot of things on your own, you need school to provide some sort of education. No one would want to spend years and years on something and get nothing in return. I recently looked under the hood of my car, just a day or two ago. I looked and thought of this project, so many expensive and complex parts are in each of those cars, it is truly mind blowing. I cannot imagine these cars ever being able to function without at some point they were being funded to make it and provide the necessary education to put these things together. Money is a requirement, at sixteen years old I’m already learning the importance of a dollar.
Working a part time job of only 20 hours a week, provides me enough money for occasional food with friends and gas money. But there is something extremely powerful about money. It hurts, a lot. Watching the money from my bank account slowly decrease as my gas tank is filling up, makes me sob. It's hard to see 40$ go away in 30 seconds. That’s four hours of work vanished into thin air. If only I could trade my smile for free gas, that would be ideal. I wish things were different and people weren’t so depended on money. Living expenses are absurdly high now. The average cost of a house in America is 188,000 dollars, while the average home income is $57,000. That would take a combined income of the house four years to pay off if they put their entire income into the home. Things are too expensive because the demand for money is too
high. Currency is the way to our life, the way society runs, a sad and unfortunate truth. I believe the world was a better place before a currency was in place, I would assume people would be more generous towards each other. Although many people do look out for each other now and really do care for more people rather than just themselves I believe it's not what it used to be. Nor do I think things will ever be back to how they were. Just thinking of the change is huge, from people trading livestock and food to the old coins and now paper value. I don’t know why they would change it from a cool coin with some crazy artistic skills being shown on it, to a cheap piece of paper. However it is very much needed, without it we wouldn’t have the luxuries we have today. We wouldn’t have teens working for themselves we wouldn't have the beloved Starbucks that just came to town. So many things would be different and it would be awful, however I wouldn’t have to drain my pockets just to get me from school and back, stupid gas. Joey definitely said it right, money is truly the root of all people! Thanks Joey!
In Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream is a documentary by Alex Gibney whom shows how wealthiest Americans whom live Manhattan 740 Park Avenue are able to control most population’s wealth. As well, the psychology effect wealth has on people.
In the essay “The Mansion: A Subprime Parable,” Michael Lewis unfolds the real face of the American dream. He talks about his own personal experience in his look out for a house and his struggle with the house he rented. Most Americans have bought houses they cannot afford. Banks offered loans, they have lent mortgages that many don't have enough financial resources to pay them back. Agents have falsely guaranteed that real estate prices will be in constant rise, they promised them that there will be no declination in prices.
Wealth, one of the main goals for millions of people around the world, but what is wealth? Wealth is the idea of possessing an abundance of valuable possessions or money and using this for personal pleasure rather than to help other people. The notion of wealth can sit quite negatively. But I believe this idea of wealth can not only be with physical possessions; it can be the idea of being Spiritually Wealthy, Mentally wealthy, Physically wealthy as well as many others. All these Philosophy’s of wealth have been around for thousands of years dating back centuries, and are still extremely relevant today.
In “The Great Dictator” Charlie Chaplin said “In this world there is room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls.” What is greed? Greed is an excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth. As a citizen of the United States, many have heard of the term the “American Dream”. James Truslow Adams, in his book “The Epic of America”, which was written in 1931, stated that the American dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (Adams p.214-215). It’s according to this dream that many people acquire this goal of becoming successful at all cost in America. At all cost, meaning they would do anything to gain success. The U.S even though it is based on opportunity has fallen to greed. The U.S citizens have fallen to greed because of selfish desires, wanting to maximize profit, and a strong fixation towards self-growth.
Being in America, a society encompassed by those of a wealthy nature versus those striving to obtain as much wealth as they can in their own limitations, it seems inevitable for one to pass judgment on those who choose the glamorous lifestyle over any morals they may have had prior to their riches. After reading Money and Class in America, it can be concluded that Mr. Lewis Lapham makes an intriguing point as he states that it is seemingly unintelligent to assume that one that is wealthy in pocket is also wealthy in intelligence. Everyday, greed filled Americans prove this judgment to be blatantly wrong, as they partake in the extravagant lifestyle without much thought in the immorality that comes with the lifestyle. Though some may say that
Got Bucks in your pocket? How much? 10k Rupees or 150 dollars? More than that? Okay let's take Maximum of 50k rupees i.e. 750 dollars! Or you'd say my dad is a millionare! And Blah blah blah! So, That's it? What all can you do with it? Stupid people would say I can do anything with it, can buy anything I desire to! Well here I question you...Can you buy feelings too?
Whatever your opinions are on the world, it can be certainly argued that this world runs on money. It’s what people work their whole lives to attain and even when it’s attained and one can live a suitable life with it, it’s still sought after as if it’s an endless chase of small victories. Money provides economic freedom and helps us achieve the products and services we want in life. The big question here is what should that money be able to buy? Should prostitution be legal? Should we be able to buy hitman to take away another souls life? These are the questions you have to ask when it comes to what money can buy and the morality behind it. I want to share my opinions on this topic because I believe that yes there are some lines that need to be drawn but for the most part, I am under the belief that money should be able to buy everything that you want as long as it doesn’t directly affect another human beings safety.
Tax. This word has many different connotations, but most of them fall into the negative category. As most people know, taxes are a good thing for everyone, but they still evade the thought of paying them all year long. Many people think of taxes negatively due to the fact that money is being taken out of their bank account. When they need a scapegoat for their financial sorrows, often the “rich” are put in the cross-hairs.
Money and Happiness are two things that we have all given a lot thought. We put lots of effort into these two things either trying to earn them or trying to increase them. The connection we make between money and happiness is strange because they are two very different concepts. Money is tangible, you can quantify it, and know exactly how much of it you have at any given time. Happiness, on the other hand, is subjective, elusive, has different meanings for different people and despite the efforts of behavioral scientist and psychologist alike, there is no definitive way to measure happiness. In other word, counting happiness is much more difficult than counting dollar bills. How can we possibly make this connection? Well, money, specifically in large quantity, allows for the freedom to do and have anything you want. And in simplest term, happiness can be thought of as life satisfaction and enjoyment. So wouldn’t it make sense that the ability to do everything you desire, result in greater satisfaction with your life.
These three questions are asked on a daily basis: how much is enough, why are people willing to risk everything they possess just to get more money, and if money is so alluring, how is it that many wealthy people so distressed and unhappy? Many wealthy people, or just people in general, aren’t necessarily satisfied with what they have so they will do anything in their power to get more money. Nobody really understands why someone would be willing to lose everything they have just for something even more. People will always, under any circumstance, want more than they already have. They won’t be thankful that they have a house over their heads, clothes on their back, food to eat, and extra money to
A question that always seems to come up, asks if money can buy happiness. Many people believe that it can, but just as many say it cannot. Even though there are people who say money is the key to happiness, there are several good reasons that it isn’t. First, we must recognize the difference between comfortability, and happiness. Another key, is that memories cannot be bought. And you there is no price for love. Next is the use of excess income. And how it is used to show off the amount someone makes. Another key example is the inability to buy someone’s happiness, or memories. Money can however buy time in a way. It can even make someone happy, when used appropriately. The last and closest evidence to support the idea of money buying happiness,
Life is great when you 're young and have very little to worry about. With almost no responsibilities or bills, what money you do happen to make from your afterschool job will likely be spent on outings with friends, food, clothes and electronics. As you grow and start to build a life for yourself, you will soon realize the importance of money management and that setting goals will be very helpful to you and your wallet.
Money is probably one of the most important things in this world. Without it, life would be very hard. With it, you become economically stable making life would be easier in some ways. But the real question is, can money actually make someone physically and emotionally happy? There are many sides to this debate; some who say yes and others who say no. Though most people agree with the statement, “Money doesn’t buy happiness,” there is still a large amount of people who disagree with it. They believe that money does indeed buy happiness and that it’s the most important thing in the world. There is no right or wrong answer to this question, it’s just a matter of what you believe in and your values.
People nowadays are no longer aware of the history of money since at their thought, the value of money is more important than some historical story of its first existence. According to most philosophers, money is a physical medium of exchange that involving a development of carrying out transactions or a unit of measurement and a storehouse for wealth. In other words, money is a clearly identifiable object of value that commonly acknowledge as payment for goods and services given. It also can be used as repayment of debts among business or people as long it’s legally within a country. Back then when the term of money is not been introduced, people has used livestock or anything that directly useful for themselves as a medium of exchange. Money
Saving money brings security for any future expenses. The earlier in life an individual begins to save, the better they will be set financially in the years to come. There are several reasons why it is important to save money. A few of these reasons are for emergencies, retirement, and simply for luxury spending. Having money will benefit each of these examples.