Why is money such a big deal?

[fishbulb703]

I'm sorry, I am probably just an ignorant college student. Why can't we all just be happy with a job and some good friends and a (one or multiple) lover. I live in a shit studio apartment (the water is currently off) and we heard gun shots last night. But right now I have both a dog and a human to squeeze. Shouldn't that be life's goal? Content and happy, its pretty simple.


Does that make me an anarchist?

[taught_me_patience]

1. Not an anarchist

just a typical college student.

[fishbulb703]

4. Does that make me ignorant?

[taught_me_patience]

24. Ignorant to the cost of life n/t

[Skink]

2. what happens when you can't affoard the rent?

[fishbulb703]

5. I get a job as a cashier at Publix.

[gateley]

11. And what if Publix won't hire you? And the gas station won't either? nt

[Deep13]

3. Money is vital if one doesn't have enough for...

...the basics. After that, more is just convenient because it allows a person to do what he or she wants occasionally. For some, it is a pathological obsession that has to do with social rank. The richer one is, the higher ones station in the social order. For the ultra rich, it is all about maintaining the ruling class.

[PCIntern]

6. Money is important:

that's why they call it money.

From the film The Heist with Gene Hackman (Danny DeVito spoke the line or words to that effect)

[gateley]

52. That's great -- hadn't heard that! nt

[Heidi]

7. I don't think it makes you an anarchist. But this view does seem naive.

A good job, some good friends and some lovers won't pay your medical costs if you get sick. It won't support a child or fix your car if it breaks down.

I wish it were as simple as you wish it were. But it's not.

[NoNothing]

12. It also won't let you pursue hobbies

Or travel the world
Or fix the plumbing
Or listen to the symphony
Or sample fine cuisine

There are a lot of fun, exciting, and useful things that money can purchase. It may not be necessary for happiness, but it does help!

[raccoon]

46. Or eye exams, and glasses/contacts, if you need them. Or dental care. nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Buying shit and stuff.

:shrug:

[gateley]

9. Peace of mind, freedom from worry how to provide for yourself and your loved ones. nt

[Warpy]

10. Nah, learning what you need instead of what you want

is probably one of the most important distinctions out there. Learning that lesson in my hippie years has saved me a whole lot of grief during the times my joke of a body has crapped out and I've gone through periods of real poverty.

Being happy with your needs met is the start of wisdom. Letting your unmet wants dictate your unhappiness is not.

[Blue_Tires]

55. +1

[BeyondGeography]

13. Hold on to that feeling for as long as you can

Very healthy. I was like that before I started making a little money and having kids. My problem is the process of making money and the sacrifices involved get more absurd to me by the year, but I actually need quite a lot of it.

But enough about me.

Those low-cost rentals are great. Keep the overheads low and you'll have more freedom than a net worth millionaire who's heavily in debt and competing with the Joneses. I had to kill a rat with a baseball bat in my scrappy apartment once, but, hey, the written account was so compelling my landlord gave me a new sheetrock ceiling. Three weeks of no heat in November was too much to take so I moved on, but I was pushing 35 by then...

[Taitertots]

14. Where did the money for your college tuition come from?

It is a big deal when you don't have it.

[last1standing]

15. Do you want to live?

If you do then money is necessary for health care when you get sick or injured.

Do you want children? If you do then you'll need money for their food and clothing - as well as running water and a safe place to raise them.

Do you want to send those children to college? Then money has to come from someplace to pay for it. Otherwise they will spend an existence in menial labor that will likely age them before their time or incapacitate them from injuries.

Even the fact that you are going to college makes it likely that you want something better for yourself in life than working for pennies in a field or on an assembly line.

Money is both necessary and good. The desire for more of it than you need is greed. The key is in understanding moderation.

[polichick]

16. It makes you wise. Try not to let our fucked-up culture corrupt you...

...when you get out of school.

[Echo In Light]

28. +1 - and don't let other 'happy' slaves try to tsk-tsk you w/their so called logic

;)

[fishbulb703]

31. The simple things always turn out to be the best. Thanks guys.

My parents are giving me so much shit for not wanting more. They both work for the DoD in DC. Go figure. :P

[polichick]

34. I hope you're studying something you really love to do...

So many people get off track by letting their parents or society push them into a field that means nothing to them.

Best of luck!

[wtmusic]

17. Heh. I remember feeling that way once.

Enjoy it while you can.

[Fumesucker]

18. It's how we keep score in America..

Intelligence and knowledge count for nothing, only money and to a lesser extent athletic ability are of any use in determining your social status in America.

[HughBeaumont]

19. Because we don't live in Norway, that's why (if ONLY).

This is the U.S., the absolutely SENSIBLE country where you have the privilege of working ridiculously HARD and long for luxuries like . .. a roof . .. or health care . . . or food . . . or education . . . or retirement . . .:sarcasm:

Reality is, your forward movement in life is almost completely tethered to how gainfully you're employed.

Also, every decision you make BETTER be the right one, because this country has NO room for mistakes or errors. :sarcasm:

[raccoon]

47. Great post. nt

[county worker]

20. I'm going to San Francisco this weekend for fun. I know I can afford it and all my bills are paid.

I can remember when I didn't have a cent in the bank and it was Friday night and I had to stay home all weekend. Money makes the difference.

[proudohioan]

21. I think it's a wonderful goal, and doesn't make you an anarchist.

But life gets more complex as you get older. Being a cashier at the Pubix may pay the rent right now in a shit studio. It won't even come close if you have a family to support on that income.

It's true that money doesn't buy happiness, however, it sure buys away a lot of UNhappiness!

Best of luck to you enjoying life as you are doing so right now. You seem to have the basics of happiness right there with you.

:-)

[no_hypocrisy]

22. It's important b/c with it, you have the potential of independence from others,

a better variety of decisions and outcomes, and if you're so inclined, power. I'll be happy with the first two options.

[undeterred]

23. Try living without it.

[Oregone]

25. A happy slave is the best kind

Content and happy, yes, thats a great goal. But if you think that its easy to be that way when you live in a society where you have to work until you die, I would say you are sadly mistaken. Regardless, you can reach a zen like state no matter how terrible the conditions are, but that is no excuse for the conditions, nor is it a reason to not to seek a better existence.

Ive had similar thoughts. Now I have children and a mortgage, and I need to buy food and other necessities. I see my labor make others rich. My labor barely provides freedom for me to do what I want. I can only have such freedom if I sought a complete agrarian existence...but tell that to the wife and kids.

Life gets complicated. I don't need a ton. I mean, I could have complete freedom on 1 million dollars. But until I have any security or equity, Im working against the grain.

[timeforpeace]

26. Why are you in college? To make more money after or something else?

[fishbulb703]

27. Philosophy major. aka: No Reason, heh.

[Oregone]

33. You should of majored in religion and became an ascetic monk

I mean, why not? Beating your back to a bloody pulp and existing on rice and water alone sounds like a kick in the pants.

[fishbulb703]

38. A full belly of rice sounds good to me. *shrug*

Throw some curry or tobasco in there and its a meal fit for royalty.

[handmade34]

37. my last one in school is a philosophy major

I love him dearly, despite it :)

[fishbulb703]

41. Lol, you sound like my dad.

"I love you, but you're an idiot"

He loves me anyway though.

[timeforpeace]

45. Have you noticed any real majors that interest you and lead to employment? Switch now.

[fishbulb703]

48. I go to Florida, business and agriculture don't interest me.

I'd rather be a cashier.

[timeforpeace]

60. Seems odd that they only offer those two majors. Oh well, you would know.

[Bobbie Jo]

29. Money is a tool.

Nothing more, nothing less. Some people have more tools to navigate through life. Some learn to work miracles with the tools they have.

[Echo In Light]

35. Well put

[Xenotime]

57. ...a tool used by the rich to rule over the poor.

And it's time for that to stop.

[handmade34]

30. being an anarchist has nothing to do with it

Money is a substitute for those that don't have (all those things you enjoy). Money can be a big deal when you live in a society that does not recognize responsibilty for its neighbor. You may be ignorant and ignorance is bliss and there is nothing wrong with that. I suspect that you are not ignorant. I was happiest in life the summer I was homeless and my kids and I lived in the woods and bathed in the creek and spent our days exploring and playing games. But then, fall came with winter close behind and I didn't want my kids to freeze to death. It should be simple, or at least much simplier than what it is. Unfortunately we have created a system within our society that does not always take of those that need to be take care of and that exploits and abuses power. Most of the talk of money is pleas for a more equitable system and one that doesn't have to be so dependant on money.

[JVS]

32. Friends require money.

[fishbulb703]

50. ? nt

[TransitJohn]

36. When I was young (late teens-early 20's) I

only wanted enough money to stay stoned on kind bud and stay on Grateful Dead tour. So I can relate. Think of money as a Dobbsian manifestation of slack.

[fishbulb703]

39. Heh, ironic. My bf wants me to go on Further Tour right now.

[damntexdem]

40. It's not a big deal at all. That said, you might as well send all of yours to me.

;-)

[sandnsea]

42. Kids want a bed, books, clothes,

They want to go to the movies, be part of some organized activity, learn to play an instrument or dance, need glasses or braces. Then they want to go on dates and look pretty so they can get dates. And occasionally go somewhere outside their neighborhood. Maybe even go see a waterfall or something.

And all of that costs money. It does now, it always has.

[fishbulb703]

43. Good thing I'm gay right?

Plus I have twice as many clothes =P

[sandnsea]

44. Gay people don't have kids? You weave your own cloth?

How can you brag about having twice as much clothes while saying money doesn't matter.

[fishbulb703]

49. Some of us still use coin laundry. nt

[sandnsea]

51. You don't wash them in the sink or tub?

and dry them on a door?

That's what real poor folks do.

[Gregorian]

53. All I wanted was a six pack and a lathe.

That's what I used to say in college. Then I didn't want to pay rent. Then the house I bought was in a place I began to hate. So I moved to the country. All I could afford was land with an ancient and very tiny cabin. I mean, rattlesnakes crawling across the floor ancient. So I sold it and bought something else. Repeat ad infinitem.

So basically, boredom and improving one's condition in life. Oh, and also for future security. I never bought the future thing. But everyone I've ever known has been working for a future goal. I work for right now, and live for right now. I could type all day, but I've got a crew to manage, as we finish the project I've been working on for the last two years, on the last property I bought. And this one isn't going to be the last. I'm still trying to find a place people haven't fucked up. That's my story. Trying to find a place that's livable. It takes more money than I ever realized.

[tavalon]

54. Not necessarily an anarchist,

but certainly wise beyond your years.

[Odin2005]

56. Greed. People think transient pleasures will give them permanent happiness.

[NM_hemilover]

58. Well..........

Since you have discovered a way to trade warm hugs & fuzzy thoughts for internet service and rent,.......I can't say I'm anything but jealous, and maybe you don't need money. I like having my stuff, but people keep expecting me to pay for it. I don't think it makes you an anarchist, just inexperienced, enjoy it while it lasts.

[FedUpWithIt All]

59. Kicked and rec'd

And a hearty, "Welcome to DU"

:hi:

[Paper Roses]

61. Enjoy what you can now, when you get a little older, things will

be radically different. Trust me on that!

[timeforpeace]

62. Not an anarchist at all. Takes hard work to be an anarchist. A cashier maybe, but not an anarchist.