The Death of Wealth Reverence

I was born late in the 70's and raised on TV throughout the 80's and mid 90's.

We adored wealth.

I personally dreamed of being rich one day.

I felt smart and driven and motivated and that would be enough to make me rich in America.

The problem is now, 2023 and looking at mega-wealthy people - I don't want to be them.

I don't want to be like them.

I don't like them.

I don't even like the people who promise to GIVE IT ALL AWAY...do it today.

Why, because you have collected this wealth, do you think you know best how to use it?

Collecting and using are two different things entirely.

I suppose the only way to get mega-rich is to be a douche, and it helps to be born into a douche family.

That would explain Elon, Zuck, Gates, Trump and the others.

As a child, watching Richie Rich and Lifestyles and their ilk - I didn't think that each jet ski could have been a school bus.

But it can...maybe not 1:1 schoolbus to jetski, I don't know the exchange rate.

Each Mega-Yacht could be a ferry connecting Culebra to Fajardo and it could be run for 1,000 years for free.

It isn't about if the economy is a zero-sum game or not...it is simply those with the resources have chosen personal enjoyment over communal good.

If I had a boatload of money, I think what would make me happiest would be to give it away in many small but meaningful amounts.

One Christmas I asked for Dollar Coins so that I could hand them out easier to people on the street asking.  It wasn't a large amount - maybe $20, but I recall giving each away and how much more joy I got from it than a bottle of wine.  A dollar didn't change anybody's life, or even day except my own, but that's the whole point.

If I had a lot of money I would give it away because that I think would be the most fun use of the money.

That, and a really high thing with water underneath that I could jump off of safely.