-Andrew

Thanks so much for submitting your comment and opinions. They really got me thinking.

1.) “Few things are as humanistic and have saved as many lives as the simple growth and pursuit of of wealth.”

I could counter this claim and say that few things have killed as many lives as the simple growth and pursuit of wealth.

2.) “Compare the psychological well being of those who are financially secure vs. those who don’t have any money.”

This is can certainly understand but there are many people who are extremely poor but stay positive and keep hope close. Their psychological well being may be just fine.

“The more you have the less worries you will have.”

Personally, I just can’t see how that’s possible. If I had a lot of things I would be worried about losing them. But my mentality is that “when you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose.”

3.) My thinking behind this is on the personal level, not necessarily on the corporate level.

4.) “On the other hand where shortcuts ARE taken are those who do not seek profit.”

I would beg to differ. It’s obviously not true for everyone but many of those who are pursuing wealth want it right away. And I’m sure many give into the temptation of taking a shortcut.

5.) Again, this article is meant for individuals, not corporations.

6.) “Yes, because what is at the root of all profit? Meeting human needs and creating value for our fellow human beings, it is the highest and moral human pursuit.”

I like to think that there are some people out there who want to meet human needs and create value for others just because it’s the right thing to do, not for profits.

7.) “For example, why should an old man plant a tree in front of my house if it will grow to full height in 40 years where other people will enjoy it? Because it increases the value of your house/neighborhood today based on the future conditions which will make you more money today.”

Perhaps he wanted to the tree to grow long after he’s gone because he just wanted people to simply enjoy it, not because it will increase the home values in the future.

8.) “And the best way to ensure happy memories and stable families is lots and lots of money. A family that takes lots of vacations, lives in a good neighborhood, (etc. etc.) will have more nice memories than a lazy family who lives in a trailer.”

So a family who is poor can’t have any good memories? My family was very poor when I was growing up. And when I was young I told my mother; “we might not have a lot, but we sure do laugh a lot.” We laughed a lot about and during some of our toughest years. There are plenty of families who have lots and lots of money and are miserable.

Thanks again for responding.

-Andrew

(1)
Absolutely 100.00% correct.

Few things are as humanistic and have saved as many lives as the simple growth and pursuit of of wealth. As a very simple example, an earthquake powerful enough to kill a dozen people in California will kill hundreds of people in some less affluent country and thousands in a Third World nation. Greater wealth enables California buildings, bridges, and other structures to be built to withstand far greater stresses than similar structures can withstand in poorer countries. Those injured in an earthquake in California can be rushed far more quickly to far more elaborately equipped hospitals with larger numbers of more highly trained medical personnel.

(2)
“The more cars you have, the bigger the house, the more gadgets you have; the more responsibilities and worries you’ll create for yourself.”

The more you have the less worries you will have. Compare the psychological well being of those who are financially secure vs. those who don’t have any money.

(3)
“When all you focus on is earning as much money as possible, everything else takes a backseat, especially quality.”

Actually quality is a sideffect of maximizing profits. The Toyota production system which fanatically focuses on quality will beat UAW union run American brands every time and send them to the bailout line.

(4)
“When you look for the shortcuts and fail, you’ll find that you wasted more time doing that than if you took the long road there.”

Obviously shortcuts are bad. But exactly where the long view is taken is by those who are seeking profits. Just read Warren Buffett’s philosophy of value investing. On the other hand where shortcuts ARE taken are those who do not seek profit. A DMV attendant doesn’t have to be nice to you, they will keep their jobs because they make their money from government.

Another example, in the early twentieth century, both Sears and Montgomery Ward were reluctant to begin operating out of stores, after decades of great success selling exclusively from their mail order catalogs. It was only when the 1920s brought competition from chain stores that cut into their profits and caused red ink to start appearing on the bottom line that they had no choice but to become chain stores themselves. (In 1920, Montgomery Ward lost nearly $10 million and Sears was $44 million in debt.) Under a non profit system, they could have remained mail order retailers and there would have been little incentive for the government to pay to set up rival chain stores to complicate everyone’s life.

(5)
“You want that crisp, fresh pile of cash and you’ll destroy any competition that gets in your way to get it.”

Absolutely 100.00% wrong. The competition that exists by seeking profits is so radically different that it is actually of a diametrically opposite character. It is not competition over any limited, nature-given supply of means of subsistence. On the contrary, it is a competition in the positive creation of new and additional wealth. Ford and General Motors, IBM and Apple, and so on, are not competing in the seizure of a fixed supply of automobiles or computers provided by nature. They are competing in the positive creation of automobiles and computers—of ever more and better automobiles and computers. While animals in the jungle chase prey, which they seize with their teeth and claws, producers under profit seeking chase dollars, which they gain from willing customers only by virtue of sending after the dollars more and better goods—goods which they have created.

(6)
“It will always be the second inventor. Why? Because that inventor tapped into people’s needs.”

Yes, because what is at the root of all profit? Meeting human needs and creating value for our fellow human beings, it is the highest and moral human pursuit.

(7)
“At the end of the road of life, you won’t have all the money you’ve been grabbing along the way. It floats away.”

Nope, I think people should care about future generations and the conditions they will inherit. The best way to care for future generations is to make profits today. For example, why should an old man plant a tree in front of my house if it will grow to full height in 40 years where other people will enjoy it? Because it increases the value of your house/neighborhood today based on the future conditions which will make you more money today.

(8)
“The only thing that will stay with your soul are your memories. Memories of your friends and family, and the good times you had with them.”

And the best way to ensure happy memories and stable families is lots and lots of money. A family that takes lots of vacations, lives in a good neighborhood, (etc. etc.) will have more nice memories than a lazy family who lives in a trailer.

(9)
Conclusion: Looking at the history of the Soviet Union and all of its socialist republics like East Germany leads to the inevitable conclusion that not pursuing money (aka not pursuing meeting the needs of our fellow human beings) always crashes at a dead end.

http://www.myonehundredthings.com/2009/03/how-to-make-money-fast/