The omnipotent capitalist?

So... money drives the world. Firstly, there are three primary reasons to make money; survival, material comforts and power. The first two factors are quite straight forward and free of controversy unless we consider the means to these ends. The third factor is more thought provoking. Money for power... power over people.

What is power over people? The capacity to control them? It is important to understand the kind of people you would control (their motives) and also whether you control them in the truest sense of the word. The kind of people you control would be just like you... wanting to make money for mere survival, material comforts or power. I attach no moral connotation to making money for power over others. I only stipulate that it is not possible. Why? In one of my previous posts, I wrote about freedom. I wrote that we were all born free and are always free and most of us just don't realize it. You can only control a free man to a certain extent and that extent is purely physical. Even that isn't guaranteed. You can control a man's actions with the power of your money. But, can you control his thoughts and feelings?

"As you think, so you are" - Gautama Buddha

I feel this thought is very relevant here, though not complete. I'd rather say; as you think, feel and act, so you are. The crux of the matter is the same though. To control mankind, you will have to control not only the actions but also the thoughts and emotions entrenched in the human psyche.

So, does money move the world? Of course it does. It is beyond doubt that the world is primarily composed of those who lack self respect in some form and who seek approval from outside for a 'self' they do not believe in themselves. Such people will be only too glad to be drawn by the money power you wield. That is a world where money gains you approval. But, does it? You will definitely get nods of approval from most (not all) but, will you get thoughts of approval? Is it really approval if the nod and the thought don't complement each other? We already know the answers to these questions. But, most prefer to turn a blind eye to them, live in denial. It is from such people that the phrase "ignorance is bliss" was born.

So, you can safely assume that you have reasonable (not complete) control over my actions through your capital power. But, this is only until I value your capital power more than my freedom of action.

Money is the means to an end and power over others is not an end. It is a myth.

Moolah talk

Well, some long overdue talk about this amazing thing that makes and breaks plenty of lives. Moving great economies and newly married couples alike. The reason this pops up is obviously because it's starting to irritate me a little bit now. One starts realizing the value of money once we have something to gain or lose from it.

That brings it down to priorities then. We speculate on the monetary value of our priorities and start slogging it out accordingly. We spend a large proportion of our lives playing roles... like a actor in a play. "Hey Mr. Playwright! how about cutting me some slack!", our minds seem to keep shouting on this arduous journey toward a goal we choose.

I feel the danger lies in the power of the script to alter our being. It has the capability to leave us numb...numb enough to forget our goal or forget it's importance or even what it felt like to have the fire of purpose.

Many choose this warpath. Many lose. Why pit ourselves against ourselves? I would understand fighting the world. But, why fight our being?

I think about this illusive medium of exchange often. "How much does it matter?", I keep asking myself. "Not much!", comes the answer... The best things in life come free.