Why the constant drive for money?

Question

Sounds like a retarded question and probably is but this is how I see things... having a house, food, and insurance covered. Reading is free, Weight-lifting is free after buying weights, and enjoying the time you have is free (what more do you need?). I don't get the strive for $100,000 a year. The average American income is $24,000 and that is like a janitor's job. Make enough to know you don't have things so you can appreciate them. Will the huge house you barely live in be better than having a home that you can spend the time doing things to improve your life? (self-improvement is better in my mind. having the best toaster and the fastest cars isn't self-improvement) With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud. - Confucius, The Confucian Analects

That is why I don't understand when people say a Liberal Arts degree is worthless.... all they see is dollar signs. I rather be educated and live poor than live in agony of trying to be rich.

I agree with you jennifer. "this is how I look at things". I guess I'll never undersatnd why people aren't content with the things that come free in life. Obviously I want to support my family.... but sometimes when you want to support your family you get in this drive to think you need more support than you actually need. But let the rat run the rat race... let them be. You make great points!

Answer 1

satisfaction comes in different forms. some think that their strive for money will make them happy, and for some of those people, it will. But they may never be satisfied. Look at some of the wealthiest people in the world, they then complain about being the center of media attention, when actually, that comes with money! Then you have those folks who work their buns off, make a decent wage but never really get "ahead". In fact, they may be more ahead than the rest of us.

I don't think it's wrong to strive for a large salary, lets face it? it's expensive out there---to raise a family, to raise yourself, to buy the necessities, but I agree that its not the most important thing for all people. Self worth shouldn't be based on your salary, but not everyone sees it this way. Sometimes they see a bigger salary as being a form of self improvement.

And, sometimes money takes the place of personal growth, sometimes it stands for personal growth. Its a matter of how you look at it and how much you are willing to accept as "satisfied" for yourself. Contentment also comes at varying speeds. People are content at different levels. You seem quite content with what you have and for what you have achieved. You're in a good place for you, but that doesn't mean its a good place for others.

Let the rats run the rat race. Enjoy yourself and leave them be.

Answer 2

Why the constant starve for 100,000.


Probably because the cost of living where I live is coincided low. The average job pays 19,200 -15,360.

The only way to get 24,000 is to go to college or take a job that will kill you sooner or later.

I went the college rout, and got the 24,000 and you you know what? The cost of living, owning even a crappy home that is fall apart and needs everything fixed, (much different then remolding,) cost 120,000 average. A good house is 300,000. Just to brake even and not have to rely on credit would take 80,000 a year!

I'm a graphic designer and when I'm home, I do absolutely nothing, because I'm broke. I go to work, eat stuff, put gas in the car, and pay rent and all the bills and then I go back to work. If I were making a 100,000 a year, I could have a house that isn't in shambles, or go on a vacation.

Now, I'm going to try a job that will kill me. It pays 3000 more a year. I'm not doing anything anyway. I'll still be poor but at least I'll be able to put extra money on bills. Awesome!

Answer 3

Dollars The Divine Consciousness

Money is great. Having it in big like having the world. Your question is so great. Like the beauty of the nature, the breath is blowing beautifully.
Exactly. We cannt actually comment on RICH guys. We dont have what they have. So as giving comments on money as their constant drive, it will look like jealousy and prejudice of POOR guys to them.Only with rich mentality , we can judge from different views. I try to answer this.

Why the constant drive for money?

Reason :

1. History. The past introduces us the way of getting materials is through money. We follow. **IF we set different things in this world is gained through different ways, that will be great. Money wont have such powerful force. We can make the money as equal to other intermedia between man and things.

2. Power of Money. People perceive the money as the most powerful thing when they are lack of money. As perception grows stronger, the stronger the drive. It wont end even the philosophy of non-money type be used in this world.

3. The distorted society. Media, tabloids, paparrazi, talk about money. Everywhere you go has something to do with money. Only because the society is feeding it so much more till it cannt stop. ** I wonder if this world has a place where no money is related.

Cheers
Yee Cs

Answer 4

Pop and Mainstream culture is Hedonistic and has no interest in facing the true self, so they dedicate themselves to a constant search for social confirmation & sensational or emotive gratification which they can never fill themselves with. They are like the un-nerved cigarette smoker who begins to chain smoke under stress. And that's the way Wall Street wants them, because that way they are easily convienced to buy all the latest needful things.

This realization is exactly what started the Radical Movement in the late 60s or early 70s and to a large extent what motivated the Hippie Drop Out Movement! Both became anti Pop Culture, anti Brand Name, anti Viet Nam and were seen as Anti American.

Answer 5

Perhaps William James had it right.

James noted that our lives are filled with decisions, but we do not know in advance the outcome of every decision. Those who are seeking happiness might decide to pursue it through lots of money--

Let's face it, people think dialectically. Too little money is a cause of misery--was it Dickens who wrote somthing like "annual income 20 pounds, expenditure 19 pounds; result happiness; annual income 20 pounds, expenditure 20 pounds and sixpence, result misery"?

And so if too little money = misery, wouldn't too much money = happiness?

But as James noted, the indeterminate nature of our decisions means that we may live our lives in pale regret, not knowing if they were the right ones. And so consider all those whose riches, they later learned, would not bring joy.

There's also the old mensuability factor. We know for sure who has a lot of money (as opposed to who has a lot of intellect or passion or whatever), and so it's easy to think "I'm in the top 5%" when the dollar totals add up to it.

Answer 6

If you think of all he people who use drugs or alcohol to deal with emotional pain, then think of all the people who have learned to dull or cover up in other ways, would the pursuit for money fame and power not be other methods. Unhealed pain is infinite, negative and therefor infinitely negative. The Judgment is negative, the Will is positive. The lower side is the anxiety for security for future is not an emotional affliction, but it IS negative.


"General envy constituting itself as a power is the disguise in which greed re-establishes itself and satisfies itself, only in another way. The thought of every piece of private property as such is at least turned against wealthier private property in the form of envy and the urge to reduce things to a common level, so that this envy and urge even constitute the essence of competition. Crude communism is only the culmination of this envy and of this levelling-down proceeding from the preconceived minimum. It has a definite, limited standard. "

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm


Idea is positive when we identify it as positive, but how we identify, if by exclusion for an other possibility for which we are negative as self value is envy, but this is a belief of the moment and the Judgment does not judge its self.

Answer 7

You've created a false dilemma.

There is no need to suffer to become rich. I earn far more than the average American. However, I earn my income through helping others. I just happen to be compensated for it. And to help others, an education is important.

The second assumption that you've made is in what people spend their money on. My money is invested in my future and my retirement and providing for some family members.

It's very easy to see the world as "them" versus "us".

Answer 8

I totally agree... but I think it's easier said than done. I want a simple life... for me that is... but I want a fuller life for my family, my children. Society is constantly changing... so does lifestyle. In every transaction you make, money is involved. I want my children to have a better life than I did... I bring them to a school that offers good education. I have to give them good food for good nourishment. I want the best for them... but how will I without money? So I have to work harder to achieve my goal. Too materialistic you may say...but that's how it is today. It's sad how our world has come to be this way but there is nothing we can do... change is constant. We have to mingle in it... go with the flow. If I'm done with giving my family the best I can, and they go their own ways, then maybe I can always go back to living the simple life I always wanted... and let them decide what they want to do with their own. Sometimes, we have to be practical to survive.

Answer 9

You spent time to write this.
I am heading for a mental downfall: become more stupid.
I lack understanding, deep-rooted understanding to live.
I command you to rise, to be more efficient and joyful. Whatever happen to you is fine.
Words won't help you, but activities that bring life to your intelligence.
when the storm comes, you will have reasons to stop the storm of health. Overcome yourself, that is the moment.