The social value of money?

Question

Why is having so much money important to Americans? Does it subliminally confer reproductive advantage, and that's why people seek money, or is it simply a matter of security?

Answer 1

Humans have always been striving to reach the highest levels of society. It goes back to our primate ancestors. You can see it happening in chimpanzee and baboon groups, where there is an inner core who get the best mates and the best food, and the outer fringe who live on the scraps and are at most risk of predation. These same benefits and more are still true for us: better healthcare, better food, better mating opportunities, better education, more child care, and so on.

In American society, more so than many other western nations, wealth determines health. Our healthcare system is not universal, meaning that people or their employers have to pay for our medical coverage. People working in the lowest tiers of the service industries often have no medical coverage at all. There is medicare, of course, but this is a very stripped-down system and requires lots of waiting and reduced options.

Americans also are somewhat unique in that their higher education is not subsidized. If you want a good job you need a degree, but attaining one is a very costly prospect. It is second only to a house mortgage in the highest costs most people pay. It doesn't help that tuition at most universities is increasing at a pace roughly twice that of inflation.

So in several ways you can see that Americans need money to survive, more than in socialized countries. But there may be a cultural aspect as well. Historically, America have shunned the notion of social classes. Although practically speaking there has been and always will be a separation between the rich and poor, this is not an explicit division as seen in societies of Europe or Asia. Britain has its royalty. India has its caste system.

But the U.S. has never had this nominal stratification. Instead, you see the powerful pretending to be "one of us" by dressing casually and acting like working class types. Witness George Bush Jr. clearing brush on his ranch to impress on the voters how down to earth he is.

The effect of this absence of explicit classes is to give every American the idea that they too can become prosperous. With some hard work and smart thinking, one can build up an empire like Bill Gates or Sam Walton. And of course, there are always the hopefuls who play the lottery.

The "it can happen to you" message is often used to motivate people to work harder. The Internet boom of the 1990s saw many young professionals working long hours for little more than a few risky stock options. Americans, it has been pointed out, take shorter vacations and work longer weeks than counterparts across the Atlantic. Is it because of the lure of money? Or maybe they just don't know how to enjoy their time off?

Another reason could be that money is more valuable here. In some countries, there is less to spend your money on. Real estate is just too expensive, so many people have no prospect of ever owning a house, as is the case in many parts of Europe. And in other places, inflation is so high it quickly erodes any savings that people have, such as in Zimbabwe with its 2000% inflation rate.

Those are just my thoughts. Sorry, I'm too lazy to look up any sources. ;-)

Answer 2

It comes down to market value. Can the job being done by the person being paid be done by somebody else just as well and for less money? There was only one Michael Jordan in the NBA. His talents were in great demand, so his market value went up. Teachers and social workers are a dime a dozen. If a teacher quits or demands more pay, it's very easy to find a similar replacement. Teachers get offended when the reality hits that they are expendable in the job world, but that doesn't change the fact that people will shell out $100 or more to see a sports idol perform. You can go to any town in America to hear a teacher talk.

Answer 3

It seems that way, money has brought a new found supremacy previously held by the physical strength of a man. It seems to draw the attention of the beautiful gold diggers or the alpha females and together they mate and reproduce passing their alleles onto the next generation.
Who grow to possess the fantastic traits of wealth, stupidity, ignorance, and power. Also known as the American.

Answer 4

money is what it is....created by man, for man. it is something the human race created to form a society around. its a goal and ideal a lifestyle a dream. it is what gets people out fo bed in the morning and lead a life of productvity and not chaos. it is the reason why you dont run around punching people in the face and instead settle things in a court. it is the reason and cause for many of modern days problems and solutions. the only problem is that it seems to create the problems in the first place. which is why im moving to montana and living off the lay of my land.

Answer 5

I think it has to do with a little bit of both and to some others greed. If you don't have it, you can't get by and if you can't get by you turn to crime. Everything is based around money.

have you ever her the sayings:

*Money, Power, Respect and money makes the world go round.

Answer 6

It is a sad fact. Being rich will help you get laid. On the other hand not eating also is a compelling reason for seeking cold hard cash.

So the answer to your question is : Yes.

Answer 7

It's becasue we're a materialistic country. The more stuff you have, the better you are. The better car, house you have, the better you are. Sounds like the 1920's all over again.

Answer 8

I don't think it's having so much money that we desire, I just think it's the lifestyles we desire so much which in return require a lot of money so it SEEMS as thought we are money lovers when in actuality we just love lush and luxury.

Answer 9

Basically, it gives proof of their ability to work, produce and provide.
Unfortunately, in our society it has evolved into being an end in itself. - That's wrong!
Yet we still have an instinctual reaction that urges us to SHUN those who tend to brag about how they got rich without working for it.
Three cheers for human decency and dignity!

Answer 10

Lack of religious values leaves not much of an other choice.