Saturday, December 10, 2005
there's always the alternative
With everything being about shopping lately (xmas coming up and all), I started thinking about economics a little, and the popular cliche of "money can't buy you happiness". It seems that this has been widely researched. Former studies suggested that it couldn't, new ones suggest that it can. Here's my theory. First of all, i think that a lot has happened in the years between the studies, and what possibly held true then does not mean that it holds true now. We live in quite a different world now as we did even as little as 10 years ago (in a world of gadget happy, billion dollar, capitalism that is the WEST). so maybe it wasn't true then, but it is true now. that's my first opinion.
Second, and for those that know me, you won't be surprised by this, I think money can buy you happiness. not just b/c when i go shopping i feel better (though i do, and my perception is my reality- and most of you feel the same way so stop being in holier than though denial). I think that given a few conditions, money can buy you happiness. i think that you have to have good family, friends, and people in general around you who won't rob you blind, stab you in the back, or stab you literally, and good security after you become rich. i think that you have to have some control and wil power. and i think that you at least have to have some half a mind so that you can process everything that's happening around you. under these conditions, i think that it would make you happy. think about it: you have a family member who needs a transplant- you can buy it (let's not talk ethics here, this is Economics 101 not philosophy 101).
and, lets not forget that money (read capitalism) is, despite what logic dictates, a leveling playing field. if you're part of a minority, if you're disabled, if you're somehow different, being able to buy what others have makes you feel like you're part of that community. it makes you an insider. we bond as a community by the things that we have. its sad, but true. at least in the west. i don't mean family or friends, but definately with the larger community that is the city, country, society that you live in.
finally, let's assume that money can't buy me happiness, i'm not opposed to renting,
so there's my two cents this holiday season. happy shopping.
Second, and for those that know me, you won't be surprised by this, I think money can buy you happiness. not just b/c when i go shopping i feel better (though i do, and my perception is my reality- and most of you feel the same way so stop being in holier than though denial). I think that given a few conditions, money can buy you happiness. i think that you have to have good family, friends, and people in general around you who won't rob you blind, stab you in the back, or stab you literally, and good security after you become rich. i think that you have to have some control and wil power. and i think that you at least have to have some half a mind so that you can process everything that's happening around you. under these conditions, i think that it would make you happy. think about it: you have a family member who needs a transplant- you can buy it (let's not talk ethics here, this is Economics 101 not philosophy 101).
and, lets not forget that money (read capitalism) is, despite what logic dictates, a leveling playing field. if you're part of a minority, if you're disabled, if you're somehow different, being able to buy what others have makes you feel like you're part of that community. it makes you an insider. we bond as a community by the things that we have. its sad, but true. at least in the west. i don't mean family or friends, but definately with the larger community that is the city, country, society that you live in.
finally, let's assume that money can't buy me happiness, i'm not opposed to renting,
so there's my two cents this holiday season. happy shopping.
The End of Privacy - Whitaker