The hoarding or investment of Wealth

Deus October 03, 2022 at 09:59 5300 views 37 comments
We cannot take our millions nor our mansions nor our fancy cars to the grave with us.

Wealth and wealth management then is an excercise of power and influence to those who have that kind of capital but even that is short sighted in the face of the reality that we are mortal.

So for a human beings brief and short existence on this planet the accumulation of such wealth can become an unhealthy obsession.

To what end ?

Comments (37)

I like sushi October 03, 2022 at 10:44 #744403
Reply to Deus Bad health. You just said so.
universeness October 03, 2022 at 10:55 #744407
Quoting Deus
So for a human beings brief and short existence on this planet the accumulation of such wealth can become an unhealthy obsession.

To what end ?


A very ancient question. Even the bible has 'easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' I use this, just to suggest that even the ancient theists didn't have many positive things to say about rich people. Typing as an atheist, I concur with those who hold that the existence of the 'rich, powerful and sycophantic few,' is one of the main causes of the threat of extinction, currently faced by the human race.
Deus October 03, 2022 at 10:56 #744409
I did say so but I must contradict myself here. The accumulation of wealth and worldly possessions can be healthy until you die of course so there is that.

So let me then delve into human happiness and selfishness at what point do we truly realise that we in fact are happy and not just feeling a chemical biofeedback mechanism that tells us what we are doing is right ? Is it just happiness itself and the general feel good factor ? I would go as far as to say so.

At some point it doesn’t matter how rich you are that at a basic human level you will have to interact with other human beings for no man is an island although you might own an island.

Perhaps the janitor that works on can simply say … I am not your property or your slave but then another dependent idiot will take their place so it’s not a win win but a lose lose.

Creating dependability on someone worse off than you is parasitic at best and at wirst exploitative.
Fooloso4 October 03, 2022 at 15:17 #744505
Where there is not universal healthcare the accumulation of wealth is a reasonable defensive strategy. This does not mean that more is always better, but how much is enough to pay for medical bills and loss of income in the case of serious illness? Even with health insurance life savings can be wiped out.
T Clark October 03, 2022 at 16:13 #744520
Quoting Deus
To what end ?


For our children.
Deus October 03, 2022 at 16:16 #744521
Reply to T Clark

Contrast this to say Gates amongst others who although ultra wealthy do not feel the necessity to pass on this wealth to them.

Perhaps it’s right … spoiling your offspring with such flattering wealth can perhaps be depriving them of the real struggle of being a human being and the importance of earning your way
T Clark October 03, 2022 at 16:23 #744526
Quoting Deus
Contrast this to say Gates amongst others who although ultra wealthy do not feel the necessity to pass on this wealth to them.


He's leaving his children enough that they'll never have to work again if they don't want to. This is much more than I would ever be able to leave to mine.


universeness October 03, 2022 at 16:39 #744532
Quoting Fooloso4
Where there is not universal healthcare the accumulation of wealth is a reasonable defensive strategy.


Seems like a good argument for demanding free universal healthcare for all from cradle to grave.
The human invention called money seems an unsatisfying reason given by those who don't support such.
Fooloso4 October 03, 2022 at 16:45 #744534
Quoting universeness
Seems like a good argument for demanding free universal healthcare for all from cradle to grave.
The human invention called money seems an unsatisfying reason given by those who don't support such.


I am in favor of universal healthcare, but the fact is we do not have it in the US. In the absence of what should be we must act on the basis of what is.
unenlightened October 03, 2022 at 16:48 #744536
It's called 'aristocracy'. It's the default system of government of which capitalism is a manifestation. The alternative is the communal ownership of wealth which is disgusting, as every schoolboy know.
Deus October 03, 2022 at 16:50 #744539
Reply to unenlightened

Ah yes the posh Eton going twats that are doing an excellent job of ruining the economy.

Still I prefer this circus to communism
unenlightened October 03, 2022 at 16:52 #744540
Reply to Deus The queen is dead, long live the king!
universeness October 03, 2022 at 17:03 #744552
Quoting Fooloso4
I am in favor of universal healthcare, but the fact is we do not have it in the US. In the absence of what should be we must act on the basis of what is.


I support your fight for free at point of delivery, universal health care in the US.
ssu October 05, 2022 at 20:30 #745534
Quoting Deus
We cannot take our millions nor our mansions nor our fancy cars to the grave with us.

Wealth and wealth management then is an excercise of power and influence to those who have that kind of capital but even that is short sighted in the face of the reality that we are mortal.

So for a human beings brief and short existence on this planet the accumulation of such wealth can become an unhealthy obsession.

To what end ?

Have you inherited anything?

Inheritance, a family farm or a beautiful rare painting is something you pass on to the next generation. Or then you are that selfish asshole who sells it and spends the money on alcohol, drugs, sex and driving in a taxi. Because you don't care the fuck about anything or anybody else but pleasuring yourself. You aren't taking anything with you when you die!

And then your children remember this wonderful summer place or this rare painting that the family had which awed everybody, but then you came and now it's just a distant memory.
BC October 05, 2022 at 21:17 #745546
Quoting unenlightened
It's called 'aristocracy'. It's the default system of government of which capitalism is a manifestation. The alternative is the communal ownership of wealth which is disgusting, as every schoolboy know.


you beat me to it, but YES.

The USA has an untitled aristocracy of heirs and entrepreneurs who began accumulating about 15 minutes after they landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620 (figuratively speaking). Land was the basis for the first big fortunes, especially when speculation was rampant. Agricultural production produced by slaves was a major wealth builder. After that, minerals (petroleum, among others) and manufacture produced great wealth. It still does.

Manipulation of money (a buck, a yen, a ruble, or a pound) and its various derivatives is a major source of wealth growth -- you have to be pretty flush to even begin that game.

Getting and holding wealth seems to be the point. A man whose assets less debts is maybe a quarter million dollars isn't wealthy, but can weather more storms than somebody without a pot to piss in. A man with 3, 30, or 300 billion dollars is practically no safer than a man with 1 or 2 billion dollars.

So, Jesus, the good steward provides for his family's well being and can help a few poor people, but a rich man owns most of Jerusalem and won't be getting into heaven.
Agent Smith October 06, 2022 at 08:22 #745669
Quoting Deus
wealth management


I believe that's a skill one has to learn, the easy way or the hard way. Saving for the lean season is a good idea, but sometimes people go overboard and hoarding results. How large does one's safety net need to be before one feels safe enough to use the money that one's piled up in the vault?
Deus October 06, 2022 at 08:23 #745670
Reply to Agent Smith

It’s an outdated trait and hoarding can be unhealthy not just for self but others
Agent Smith October 06, 2022 at 08:25 #745672
Quoting Deus
It’s an outdated trait and hoarding can be unhealthy not just for self but others


Money!
Deus October 06, 2022 at 08:27 #745674
Reply to Agent Smith

It might buy you everything on earth but not love.
Agent Smith October 06, 2022 at 08:29 #745676
Quoting Deus
It might buy you everything on earth but not love.

I’m not saying your wife is a whore just saying you ain’t really in love.


True, true, but you know what, money does buy ... everything. We just have to quote the price right, oui mon ami?
Deus October 06, 2022 at 08:30 #745677
Reply to Agent Smith

Can you really put a price on love ?
Agent Smith October 06, 2022 at 08:33 #745680
Quoting Deus
Can you really put a price on love ?


I dunno, but it seems possible and actual in some cases.
Deus October 06, 2022 at 08:36 #745684
It may indeed be the case in any case a blonde is fair in all states rich or poor.

If a man loves a woman but the woman only loves the man for the money thats not love. Although it could be in fair circumstances.
Agent Smith October 06, 2022 at 09:37 #745707
Reply to Deus

Maybe I've watched too many movies; life is a movie too, oui mon ami? One thing I learned though is not to generalize from a small sample.
god must be atheist October 06, 2022 at 09:39 #745709
Quoting Deus
It [i.e. money- ED] might buy you everything on earth but not love.


True. Very true. But the lack of money may stop you from making someone you love fall in love with you. And I ain't sentimental or callous.
god must be atheist October 06, 2022 at 09:41 #745710
Quoting Agent Smith
One thing I learned though is to not generalize from a small sample.


How large samples did you go through to get to this generalization?
Agent Smith October 06, 2022 at 12:17 #745781
Quoting god must be atheist
How large samples did you go through to get to this generalization?


Statistical question. If memory serves, 30 is the magic number.
ssu October 07, 2022 at 06:53 #746088
Quoting Deus
If a man loves a woman but the woman only loves the man for the money thats not love. Although it could be in fair circumstances.

The major factor is of course the human relationship when to people are in love. Yet then comes then question when people look for a mate to start a family that our in our society money is important. It's not just the income, but in a meritocracy usually the more talented people end up in jobs paying more. We still have these old ideas that a man should take care of his family, even if it usually is now that the parents should be able to take care of their children.
Seeker October 08, 2022 at 05:58 #746464
Quoting ssu
Yet then comes then question when people look for a mate to start a family that our in our society money is important.


Most romantic relationships stand and fall by the ability of the male to provide for economical stability, love has much less to do with any long term success. From an anthropologist's perspective it is a logical conclusion in the context of reproduction and safety of progeny.

The guise of romantic love merely tries to cover up for our animal origin but in the end it is all about reproduction and the consideration of any material means nevertheless just as the same holds true for any other social mammal.
javi2541997 October 08, 2022 at 06:22 #746465
Quoting ssu
Yet then comes then question when people look for a mate to start a family that our in our society money is important.


:up: :sparkle:

Quoting Seeker
Most romantic relationships stand and fall by the ability of the male to provide for economical stability, love has much less to do with any long term success. From an anthropologist's perspective it is a logical conclusion in the context of reproduction and safety of progeny.


Agree :up:

To be honest, I even think love doesn’t exist or is just merely a state of mind where someone feels obsessed with a person. As you perfectly said, the romantic side of a relationship would disappear in long term. I like how you compare economical stability (inside relationships) with safety. Sadly, this principle is fading away in youngest generation.
Agent Smith October 08, 2022 at 09:01 #746478
Quoting javi2541997
Sadly, this principle is fading away in youngest generation.


Evolution? We lose some "bad" traits and we gain some "good" ones. This is the Kali Yuga; the age of pessimism has dawned on humanity. :snicker:
javi2541997 October 08, 2022 at 09:32 #746496
Reply to Agent Smith To be honest, I only see involution. We have lost a lot of good habits on the basic sense of civilization and ethics. We deserve to be pessimistic because most of the youngest people do not act proving the contrary. There are exceptions, of course. But the amount of persons that do not care about anything is disturbing.
Agent Smith October 08, 2022 at 09:46 #746501
Reply to javi2541997 What's involution? Anyway, as far as I can tell, the "universe" has, contrary to what scientists claim, contracted.
javi2541997 October 08, 2022 at 10:09 #746511
Quoting Agent Smith
Anyway, as far as I can tell, the "universe" has, contrary to what scientists claim, contracted.


Are you really sure?
Agent Smith October 08, 2022 at 10:11 #746512
Quoting javi2541997
Are you really sure?


Who is?
javi2541997 October 08, 2022 at 10:18 #746517
Reply to Agent Smith Well, a lot of studies claim that the universe is expanding.
Agent Smith October 08, 2022 at 10:32 #746519
Quoting javi2541997
Well, a lot of studies claim that the universe is expanding.


Indeed!